The Caribbean Association of Banks (CAB) has announced the successful completion of higher education studies by three standout regional finance professionals through its joint scholarship initiative with The University of the West Indies (UWI). The CAB–UWI Scholarship Programme, a flagship professional development benefit extended to staff of CAB member institutions, represents the organization’s long-term investment in nurturing current and future leadership for the Caribbean’s evolving financial services sector.
Designed to remove barriers to advanced learning for eligible employees across member organizations, the program empowers working professionals to pursue academic advancement while retaining their industry roles, equipping them with cutting-edge knowledge and specialized skills to navigate the fast-changing global financial landscape. This cohort of graduates, which includes practitioners spanning credit administration, tax operations, and credit risk management, embodies the program’s core mission of fostering continuous improvement across the regional finance workforce.
Patricia C. Farrell, Credit Administration Manager at ACB Caribbean, graduated from the program in 2025. Balancing her academic commitments with ongoing senior leadership responsibilities in credit administration, Farrell’s milestone reflects a consistent dedication to professional excellence, lifelong learning, and personal career growth.
Also graduating in 2025 was Rochelle Alphonse, Senior Manager of Tax & Operations at Grant Thornton East Caribbean. Alphonse successfully managed the competing demands of a senior leadership role and rigorous academic study, with her achievement highlighting the discipline and determination required to advance professional expertise for the benefit of both her organization and the wider Caribbean financial community.
The most recent graduate of the cohort is Ashley Pickwoad, Senior Supervisor in the Credit Risk Unit at Heritage Bank Limited, who completed her program requirements in 2026. Pickwoad’s accomplishment in the specialized field of credit risk management reinforces the program’s focus on supporting targeted upskilling that directly strengthens industry capacity across key financial sub-sectors.
Wendy Delmar, Chief Executive Officer of CAB, emphasized the transformative impact of the scholarship initiative in a statement following the graduates’ milestone. “The CAB–UWI Scholarship Programme is one of the many benefits available to employees of our member institutions, and we are delighted to celebrate the success of Ms. Farrell, Ms. Alphonse, and Ms. Pickwoad,” Delmar said. “Their achievements demonstrate the transformative power of education and the importance of investing in people. CAB remains committed to creating opportunities that strengthen the capabilities of professionals across the Caribbean and contribute to the long-term success of our member institutions and the financial sector as a whole.”
The success of these three scholars underscores the tangible, lasting impact of CAB’s targeted investments in professional development across the region. Through ongoing initiatives like the CAB-UWI partnership, the association continues to help member organizations build a skilled, adaptive workforce capable of driving innovation, strengthening systemic resilience, and advancing sustainable economic growth across the Caribbean. CAB has formally congratulated the three graduates on this major career and academic milestone, recognizing their unwavering dedication to upholding the highest standards of professional and academic excellence.