Eric Bush
Chief Officer - Ministry of International Trade, Investment, Aviation and Maritime Affairs, Cayman Islands Government
Eric Bush, JP started his career straight out of University by joining the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service (RCIPS). Having achieved the “Best Academic Recruit”, Eric was then posted to the George Town Police Station, the Islands’ capital and headquarters for the Police. During his years in the police, Eric served on Uniformed Patrol, the Uniform Support Group (the armed section of the RCIPS) and the Financial Crimes Unit. Eric was awarded a Commissioner’s Commendation for his work which lead to the conviction of high level government officials in another Overseas Territory. Having served a number of years on the RCIPS and reaching the rank of Sergeant, Eric decided to venture into the private sector, first in the hospitality and hotel industry and then with the Cayman Islands’ National Flag carrier, Cayman Airways. Both where he served as Senior Manager in Human Resources. Public Service, being deeply imbedded in his DNA, Eric returned to central government in the Cayman Islands as Deputy Chief Officer in the Portfolio of Internal and External Affairs, specifically responsible for the uniform services. After a number of years serving as Deputy, Eric was promoted to Chief Officer of the Portfolio of Internal and External Affairs, which then became the Ministry of Home Affairs in 2013. The Ministry of Home Affairs is the largest Ministry within the Cayman Islands Government, with responsibility for over 1000 employees and 10 different departments, spanning from Police to Computer Services. With almost 10 years serving as Deputy and Chief Officer, Eric requested a transfer to become the Cayman Islands Representative to the United Kingdom and the European Union. On July 1 st , Eric and his family moved to London in July 2016 where he started his 3 year posting. Eric Bush is now Chief Officer of the new Ministry of International Trade, Aviation and Maritime Affairs, with the responsibility of all overseas offices including the opening of the new Cayman Islands Government Office in Hong Kong in September 2019.
Bernadette Carey
Partner, Carey Olsen
Bernadette Carey is a partner in Carey Olsen's Cayman Islands office, and Head of the Trusts and Private Wealth Group. She has a broad private client practice advising on wealth structuring and estate planning matters, including the administration, restructuring, and termination of trusts, as well as probate and testamentary issues. She also has significant experience in trust and estates litigation, regularly appearing before the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands on multi-party contentious trust disputes, estate litigation, and other cross-border private client disputes. Bernadette is an International Fellow of the American College of Trusts and Estates Counsel, and has been recognised for her trusts and private client work by Chambers, Who’s Who Legal, and Legal 500 with market sources describing her as 'incredibly hard-working' and 'an exceptional talent and a pleasure to deal with".
Sue Nickason
Vice President, Marketing and Sales, Dart Real Estate
Sue and her team are responsible for promoting the Cayman Islands value proposition, marketing and selling Dart Real Estate properties and listings represented by Provenance Properties, the official Christie’s International Real Estate affiliate in Cayman. Sue has worked in marketing and development with independent hotels and resort and resort-residential communities. She is highly experienced in working with developers from concept development and market assessment through to market implementation and operation. Originally from Canada, Sue moved to the Caribbean over a decade ago. She holds a MBA in Marketing (with Distinction) from the School of Hotel Administration at the University of Guelph, and a BA (Honours) from Mount Allison University, as well as certification in economic development, adult education, customer service, revenue management, investment migration and protocol.
Odette Samson
Partner, Deloitte
Odette Samson is an audit partner in Deloitte’s Financial Services- Investment Management group. Odette has over 20 years of experience advising clients on accounting and regulatory issues; including approximately 2 years at a reputable fund administrator in the Cayman Islands. She serves a wide range of investment management clients with varying fund structures, investment strategies and complex financial instruments. Odette also serves family offices, fund administrators and private banks. Odette was a founding Co-Chair of 100 Women in Finance (100WF) Cayman, is a member of 100WF’s Global Advisory Council and is on the Board of the Cayman Islands Alternative Investment Management Association (AIMA Cayman). Odette has authored numerous articles and industry publications and Chairs Deloitte’s annual participation in the GAIMOps Cayman conference. Odette earned her Chartered Professional Accountant designation in Canada and her Bachelor of Commerce degree at Mount Allison University, Canada. She is licensed by the Cayman Islands Institute of Professional Accountants and CPA Canada.
Shân Warnock Smith, QC
Shân Warnock-Smith QC is a leading Silk who practises from International Chancery and Trusts Chambers in the Cayman Islands and 5 Stone Buildings in London. Shân has a truly international practice which takes her around the world to advise and litigate in connection with trusts, estates and other private wealth issues.
Chris Duggan
Vice President, Business Development, Dart Real Estate
Chris Duggan is Vice President of Business Development at Dart Real Estate. Chris was previously VP of Community Development and also VP of Investment Operations at Dart Enterprises. Prior to joining Dart he was employed in the Cayman Islands financial services industry for many years including serving as Head of Private Banking for Butterfield Bank, where he worked for over 10 years prior to joining Dart Enterprises. Chris’s philanthropic work is well known in the local community and he currently serves in leadership roles on numerous boards and committees. He is currently the chairman of Cayman HospiceCare, Commandant of the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service Special Constabulary and director of the Young Caymanian Leaders Foundation. He is a recent Past President of the Cayman Islands Chamber of Commerce and has previously served as chairman of the Grand Cayman Labour Tribunal Board and Chairman of a local private school’s board of governors.
