The Tribune

The Bahamas Financial Services Board (BFSB) has honoured 31 persons for their contribution to the growth and development of the industry.

The 31 were presented with their awards at the 13th Annual Financial Services Industry Excellence Awards Dinner. All were nominees in the categories for ‘Executive of the Year’, ‘Mentor of the Year’, ‘Professional of the Year’, ‘Achiever of the Year’, and ‘FSI Student of the Year’.

Each nominee was presented with an award, prior to the announcement – Academy Award Style - of the Recipients for 2013. They were:

Executive: John Delaney QC, senior partner, Delaney Partners

Mentor: Katherine Y. Hamilton, acting manager - training, Commonwealth Bank

Professional: Sharon Colebrook, senior manager process optimisation, The Bank of Nova Scotia Trust Company (Bahamas)

Achiever: Marvin A. Dean, account executive, J.S. Johnson & Company

Student: Jasmine L. Williams – BBA Banking and Finance (with Spanish)

Ryan Pinder, minister of financial services, also awarded the 2013 ‘Minister’s Award’ to Antoinette Russell of Credit Suisse Trust, who is chairman of the Association of International Banks & Trust Companies in the Bahamas (AIBT).

Aliya Allen, the BFSB’s chief executive, commented on the theme of the organisation’s upcoming International Business & Finance Summit (IBFS) – ‘Survival of the Fittest’.

She said this speaks to the accepted view that with all the current challenges facing international financial centres, there will be those that survive and those that do not.

The quality and calibre of the award nominees, Ms Allen added, provided evidence that the Bahamas was equiped with the talent to ensure sustainability as a pre-eminent international financial centre.