The Trinidad and Tobago Insurance Institute is governed by a Board of Governors which has executive oversight of the Institute.
Board of Governors
ROBERT TRESTRAIL
CHAIRMAN
Robert Trestrail is currently the President and Chief Executive Officer of Sagicor Life Insurance Trinidad and Tobago Limited. Robert joined the Sagicor Group in 2001 and has held several Executive positions throughout his tenure with Sagicor. He is currently the President and Chief Executive Officer of Sagicor Life Insurance Trinidad and Tobago Limited and serves on several Boards within the Sagicor Group.
With 30 years of experience in the Insurance and Financial Services Industry, Robert has served the private sector in Trinidad & Tobago as President of the Trinidad & Tobago Chamber of Industry and Commerce (TTCIC) and has been a Board member of The Chamber for over 12 years. He has also served as a Member of the Appeal Tribunal of the National Insurance Board, a Director of the Association of Insurance Companies in Trinidad & Tobago and presently holds the position of Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Trinidad & Tobago Insurance Institute (TTII).
UTHRA RAMNARINE-HILL
DEPUTY CHAIRMAN
Ms. Uthra Ramnarine-Hill is a seasoned Chartered Insurer with over two decades of progressive expertise in the insurance sector, including Insurance Operations, Claims, Underwriting, Risk Management, Reinsurance, Audit, and Compliance.
In tandem with her extensive experience, Uthra holds an MBA from the University of Bedfordshire and a BSc from the University of London. She is an ACII-designated Chartered Insurer and an Associate in Risk Management (ARM) and Reinsurance (ARe) with the American Institute of Chartered Property and Casualty Underwriters. Uthra currently serves as a Director on the Board of the Insurance Association of the Caribbean (IAC) and is a the Deputy Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Trinidad & Tobago Insurance Institute (TTII), where she previously served on the Council of Trustees.
She is the General Manager of Trinidad and Tobago Insurance Limited (TATIL) and in addition to her executive responsibilities, she remains committed to developing future insurance professionals as a part-time lecturer at TTII.
DEAN ROMANY
Mr. Romany is currently the President of Guardian General Insurance Limited (GGIL) and serves as a Director on many boards within the Guardian Group and other regional bodies. He was appointed to this position in 2018. Prior to this, he served as Group Chief Risk Officer for Guardian Holdings Limited. Among his many roles within the Guardian Group included a number of executive positions. Mr. Romany has over thirty (30) years of industry experience starting as a Technical Advisor at Caribbean Home Insurance Company Limited. He is also a Fellow of the Chartered Insurance Institute (FCII).
ANDERSON BISNATH
Anderson Bisnath is a seasoned insurance executive with nearly 20 years of experience across life and health insurance operations, sales, and leadership. He currently serves as Vice President, Insurance Operations at Guardian Life of the Caribbean, where he leads underwriting, claims, new business, customer service, and premium accounting, with a strong focus on operational excellence and digital transformation.
Since joining Guardian Life in 2013, Anderson has held several senior leadership roles, including Vice President of Service Operations and Vice President of Employee Benefits Sales & Operations. In these roles, he has played a key role in strengthening client relationships, enhancing customer experience, and building and leading high-performing teams.
Earlier in his career at Colonial Life Insurance Company, Anderson developed a strong foundation in underwriting, benefits administration, and project leadership.
Anderson holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Management from Saint Joseph’s University (Pennsylvania) and a Certificate in Project Management.
CHRISTOPHER WOODHAMS
Mr. Christopher Woodhams commenced his career in IT and was promoted to successive senior positions in Beacon and which allowed him to become more engaged in the key activities of the CEO position.
He was able to gain and today demonstrates as CEO, a solid understanding of leading governance and operational practices especially the risks associated in the Insurance industry, while actively collaborating with the Board, and Executive Team in achievement of the Company’s plans and financial goals.
Mr. Woodhams has intimate knowledge of the Insurance sector and is well known and respected throughout by senior executives within the industry, including with reinsurers. He also serves as the current Vice President – General and Director on the Board of the Association of Trinidad and Tobago Insurance Companies (ATTIC).
He has also amassed relevant knowledge and experience in the critical aspects of the operations which can have significant impact upon the financial obligations and risk of the Company, especially as it relates to regulatory requirements.
Winston Williams Biography (Board of Governors)
As PALIG’s CEO Caribbean, Winston Williams provides strategic leadership and direction to the Caribbean team, overseeing the execution of the company’s strategic plan ensuring operational excellence, financial sustainability and alignment with wider corporate objectives.
Winston joined PALIG in 2013 as a Branch Manager after holding role of Vice President of Sales and Marketing at a regional insurance company. In his role at PALIG he consistently delivered year on year growth and achieved numerous local, regional, and international industry awards and recognitions.
Winston holds several distinguished academic achievements. He is a Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC?) and a Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU?). He earned a Master of Business Administration (MBA) with Distinction, graduating as Valedictorian. Additionally, he is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP), a Chartered Insurance Agency Manager (CIAM), a Registered Financial Consultant (RFC), and a Master Financial Advisor (MFA).
JAROD PERRYMAN
Mr. Jarod Perryman is currently the Managing Director of Scotia Life Trinidad and Tobago Limited and Director of Wealth at Scotiabank Trinidad and Tobago Limited. He has been in the banking and insurance industry for the past 25 years holding positions of increasing responsibility over that period. Mr. Perryman joined Scotia Life Trinidad & Tobago Ltd in 2013 and has led teams both locally and regionally.
Mr. Perryman holds a Master’s Degree in Strategic Planning from the Edinburgh Business School, a Post Graduate diploma in Marketing from the Chartered Institute of Marketing in the U.K. and a Master Financial Advisor Designation, from LIMRA.
SEAN AYOUNG
Mr. Sean Ayoung currently serves as Director, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Operating Officer of TRINRE Insurance Company Limited, a locally based insurer operating in Trinidad and Tobago with subsidiaries in Guyana. He is accountable for providing strategic leadership and executive authority in support of the board’s long-term direction and for translating board intent into sustainable and profitable institutional performance. His leadership style fosters confidence, alignment and disciplined execution across the organization.
Mr. Ayoung places strong emphasis on constructive and transparent regulatory engagement and views supervisory relationships as integral to sound governance, prudential oversight and institutional trust.
Among Mr. Ayoung’s accolades, he is a Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (FCCA) and holds an MBA from Heriot-Watt University which strengthens his ability to integrate financial discipline with strategic vision, organizational leadership and long-term value creation. He also serves on other boards and is engaged in advocacy initiatives supporting persons with special needs, aligning his leadership responsibilities with a broader commitment to meaningful social impact.
SHARON BYNOE (FORMERLY MELVILLE)
Sharon Bynoe is a graduate of the University of Guyana, holding a Bachelor’s degree in Accountancy and a Master’s degree in Business Administration. She currently serves as the General Manager of NAGICO Insurance (Trinidad and Tobago) Limited, a role she has held since 2015. Prior to this appointment, she served the organization as Chief Accountant and Company Secretary, delivering strong financial stewardship and corporate governance leadership.
Sharon is a Fellow of the Life Management Institute (FLMI) with more than thirty (30) years of experience in the insurance industry, spanning both general and life insurance. Prior to joining NAGICO in 2012, she spent eighteen (18) years at CLICO – Guyana, more than a decade of which was in managerial roles. During this time, she enhanced her professional expertise through a range of leadership development programmes both locally and internationally. Her involvement on several key internal committees; including Claims and Underwriting; further deepened her understanding of the operational and technical aspects of the industry.
Sharon is an active member of the Rotary Club of Port of Spain – West. Guided by the organization’s motto, “Service Above Self,” she remains committed to service, volunteerism and the mentorship of young people.
Sookdeo beepath
Mr. Sookdeo Beepath joined the insurance industry in Trinidad and Tobago in 1972 as a clerical officer. Thereafter, he began taking courses in several insurance disciplines at the Academy of Insurance.
He continued his insurance education in Mumbai, India and Zurich, Switzerland. He holds a Certificate in Human Resource Management, a Diploma in Industrial Relations, and an MBA Business Management at the Arthur Lok Jack Graduate School of Business and he is also a Certified Financial Planner.
He served as President of the Trinidad and Tobago Insurance Institute (TTII) and the Association of Insurance Institutes of the Caribbean. He was a member of the Board of Directors of the Association of Trinidad & Tobago Insurance Companies (ATTIC) and Chairman of its Claims Committee.
He currently shares his wealth of knowledge lecturing to the Bachelor’s Degree in Risk and Insurance at the University of the West Indies, and part time with the TTII.
THEOPHILUS FRANCIS
Founder of Pioneer Insurance Claims Services Company Limited, is now Executive Adjuster with Axis (Eastern Caribbean), Mr. Francis is also the current President of Association for the Caribbean Commonwealth Loss Adjustors (ACCLA). He has been practicing for the past 43 years and his involvement in loss adjusting in particular formally began in 1972 when he joined one of the major indigenous adjusting firms in Trinidad and Tobago. In addition to local training, he also attended the College of Insurance in the UK. He has worked throughout the Caribbean from Guyana on the South American mainland, through Colombia in the west to the Bahamas in the north-west and has been involved in the management of hurricane catastrophes for the last two decades.
NAVIN DOOKERAN
Mr. Navin Dookeran joined Agostini on June 1st 2015. Having worked in the insurance industry for over 20 years, Navin has developed his underwriting skill in all classes of business viz. Property, Motor, Pecuniary, Energy, Marine, Liability, Travel and Personal Accident. He attained the Advanced Diploma in Insurance (ACII) from the Chartered Insurance Institute London and the Associate in Risk Management (ARM) from the American Insurance Institute.
Navin also attended the prestigious Alois Alzheimer Scholarship at Munich Re in Germany where he learned further insurance, reinsurance and business principles over the 6-month period. He then completed his Masters of Business Administration (MBA) from the Heriot Watt University in 2010. He has conducted numerous in-house training on all classes of insurance, a part-time lecturer at the University of the West Indies for the Insurance and Risk Management Degree and he was formerly the Chairman of the ATTIC Underwriting Committee.
The Trinidad and Tobago Insurance Institute is managed by a Council of Trustees. The Council is conscious of the fact that the organization has an important role to play in the advancement of the local Insurance Industry and is committed to developing the Institute.
EDWEENA NEWALLO-DOTTIN
PRESIDENT
Edweena Newallo-Dottin’s experience in the insurance industry is vast. Over her plus 30 years in the industry, she has worked both in the technical and administrative parts of the business, including human resources, property management, marketing and operations. Mrs Newallo-Dottin, who is a member of the management team of Maritime General Insurance Co Limited, has served on the Trinidad and Tobago Insurance Institute’s Council of Trustees since 1995 and took over its presidency in 2014. She currently sits on the Boards of the Association of Insurance Institutes of the Caribbean (AIIC) and the Joint Secretariat Corporation (JSC).
Mrs. Newallo-Dottin has served on several governmental and non-profit boards and is a member the Chartered Insurance Institute. She has had extensive training both locally and overseas, the most recent being at the Academy for International Business Officials (AIBO) in Beijing, China.
DAWN NARINE-DALIP
VICE PRESIDENT
Mrs. Dawn Narine Dalip, BA, Executive MBA, FLMI/M, ACS
Mrs. Dawn Narine Dalip has been an insurance professional for the past thirty-seven (37) years and has held many positions at the senior Executive Level with local and regional experience and responsibilities in 13 territories across the Caribbean. She currently serves as TTII’s Vice President of the Council of Trustees, while lecturing for Long-Term workshops hosted by TTII; and is a former Director and Vice President – Life of ATTIC. Currently, Mrs. Narine Dalip is a part time lecturer at the University of the West Indies for the Management Studies Department in the BSc. Insurance and Risk Management.
DYAN LOUTAN – ALI
Dyan currently holds the position of Operations Lead – Trinidad and Tobago and Northern Territories for Guardian General. She brings over thirty-five (35) years of insurance experience within the Trinidad and Tobago market and has held executive leadership roles for most of her career. Her expertise spans underwriting, reinsurance, and general management, reflecting a deep and well-rounded understanding of the industry.
She holds the designations MBA and ACII – Chartered Insurer and has participated in numerous courses and workshops both locally and internationally.
Dyan has always been an advocate for education and is well known for her willingness to share her knowledge and experience with colleagues across the industry. She is an active member of the Trinidad and Tobago Insurance Institute (TTII) and served on the Education Sub-Committee and the Council from 2004 to 2018 and 2010 to 2018, respectively. She rejoined the TTII Council in 2023 and continues to champion education and the development of people.
ALLYSON MAINGOT
Ms. Maingot is a Talent Development Officer with Sagicor Life Insurance Trinidad and Tobago Limited and is a certified trainer with over ten (10) years’ experience in designing, delivering and evaluating development programs for financial service professionals.
She holds a BSc in Management Studies from the University of the West Indies and the Associate, Life Management Institute (ALMI) designation from LOMA. Ms. Maingot is passionate about providing learning opportunities to pursue continuous development and maximize impact.
DENNIS BENISAR (Council of Trustees)
Dennis Benisar is an accomplished insurance executive with over 30 years of progressive experience spanning technical underwriting, claims management, reinsurance, finance, compliance, and corporate governance. An Associate of the Chartered Insurance Institute (ACII) and holder of the ACCA Diploma in Financial Management (DipFM), he has complemented his professional qualifications with extensive local and international training.
He has also contributed to industry development through service on both the Council of Trustees and the Board of Governors of the Trinidad & Tobago Insurance Institute (TTII), supporting the advancement of professional standards within the sector.
ISABEL CASTAGNE – HAY
Isabel Castagne-Hay is a member of the Board of Directors of M&M Broking Services Limited where she serves as an Executive Director.
She has a Bachelor of Science degree (1991) from Glasgow University in Scotland, following which she pursued formal insurance studies at the London School of Insurance where she won the C. E. Heath Award for Best Overseas Student. In December 1995, Mrs Castagne-Hay became an Associate of the Chartered Insurance Institute of England having completed the course of study and examination and, in 1997, she became a Chartered Member of the Institute.
Mrs. Castagne-Hay has served as President and is currently an ordinary Member on the Executive Board of the Insurance Brokers Association of Trinidad & Tobago (IBATT). In this capacity she has been part of the decision-making process for the Insurance Brokerage Industry providing representation at regulatory levels.
LARRY TAI CHEW
TTAIFA
Mr. Larry Tai Chew has over 33 years’ experience in the insurance industry and is the principal representative of two registered companies; Tai Chew Investment Services Limited, contracted to Guardian Life of the Caribbean Limited and Taigen Agency Inc. Ltd., contracted to Guardian General Insurance Limited.
He is currently the Vice-President of the Trinidad & Tobago Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors (TTAIFA) and formerly held the position of its President. He also holds the position of Foundation Chair on the Caribbean Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors Executive, and is a Sales Manager at Guardian Life of the Caribbean Limited.
He sits on TTAIFA’s Education Committee and is one of its Certified Senior Moderators with over 25 years’ experience, moderating a number of internationally recognized industry courses from the American College, USA and the Life Insurance Management Research Association (LIMRA).
He also conducts in-house training for the development of insurance intermediaries at leading insurance companies. His life’s mission is securing families and businesses and their future legacies through proactive Estate/Legacy Planning, and empowering Insurance advisors throughout the region through education and skills training.