Three women leaders to get awards

The International Women’s Forum of Trinidad and Tobago (IWFTT) will celebrate three globally recognized leaders for their impactful work in social activism, science, and conservation at its upcoming Inspirational Women Awards (IWA) Gala ceremony in September. Roberta Clarke, Prof Christine Carrington, and Dr Diva Amon are set to receive the prestigious honors on September 29 at the Hyatt Regency (Trinidad) hotel in Port of Spain.

Under the theme 'The Power of Possibility: Celebrating Five Years of Women Who Inspire Change,' the IWFTT aims to showcase dynamic women who have driven meaningful change in communities both locally and internationally. IWFTT president Lisa Agard highlighted the significance of honoring these individuals during the awards' fifth anniversary.

Roberta Clarke will be presented with the Inspirational Champion of Women award. A lawyer and activist, Clarke has dedicated her career to social justice and gender equality. Her work with UN Women spanned leadership roles in the Caribbean, Libya, East and Southern Africa, and Asia and the Pacific regions, where she focused on integrating gender-responsive policies into development agendas. She also served as a commissioner and president of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR), advancing legal protections for women, LGBTI persons, and human rights defenders across the Americas. Clarke holds degrees from the University of Oxford and The University of the West Indies and currently chairs the Coalition Against Domestic Violence (CADV).

Professor Christine Carrington will receive the Inspirational Advocate Award. A professor of molecular genetics and virology at The University of the West Indies, St Augustine campus, Carrington is a Chaconia Medal Gold recipient with over 30 years of experience in infectious disease research. Her expertise includes genomic surveillance, virus evolution, and phylodynamics. She pioneered the Covid-19 IMPACT project, establishing Trinidad and Tobago's first capacity for rapid whole-genome sequencing and enabling genomic surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 variants for 17 Caribbean countries.

Dr Diva Amon, recognized for her contributions to conservation, will also be honored. The article mentions her leading a deep-sea expedition, though further details on her specific award and achievements are not fully elaborated in the provided text.

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As we commemorate the fifth anniversary of the awards, under the theme of ‘The Power of Possibility: Celebrating Five Years of Women Who Inspire Change’, it is not surprising that we wish to showcase these incredibly dynamic and dedicated women who have brought meaningful change to communities at home and abroad.