First Citizens Foundation

Mr Shankar Bidaisee is an attorney-at-law of eighteen (18) years’ admission to the Bar in Trinidad and Tobago and is based in Port of Spain, Trinidad. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish, an LLB Bachelor of Laws from the University of London, Master of Laws in Corporate & Commercial Law (UWI).

Throughout his career, Mr Bidaisee has demonstrated a deep commitment to legal practice, profession and corporate leadership. He began his professional journey as a Secondary School teacher before transitioning to the legal profession in which he now specialises in commercial and insurance litigation and real property litigation over the past eighteen (18) years. His legal expertise also extends to public service, having, inter alia, served as Counsel to the Commission of Enquiry into the conduct of several financial institutions including CLICO, Clico Investment Bank, Hindu Credit Union and others.

In addition to his legal career, Mr Bidaisee has played key roles in State Boards and other Statutory Bodies. He served as a Director at Urban Development Corporation of Trinidad & Tobago Limited (UDeCOTT), where he managed key national projects. He also served as a Member of Council of the Law Association of Trinidad and Tobago for approximately sixteen (16) years where he also held executive positions and as a Member of the Mediation Board of Trinidad and Tobago under the Judiciary of Trinidad and Tobago.

Mr Bidaisee’s leadership is also evident as he now serves as Chairman of both UDeCOTT and First Citizens Holdings Limited. He is a member of the Council of the Medical Board of Trinidad and Tobago and was instrumental in the creation and development of the Financial Intelligence Unit’s Anti-Money Laundering and Combating of Financing of Terrorism framework for the Legal Profession. Mr Bidaisee’s key focus is compliance and he is committed to upholding the law and promoting good corporate governance in the banking and other sectors.

Professor of Practice Dr Sterling K Frost, O.R.T.T., DBA, MBA, FCG, Acc. Dir. is an accomplished leader in banking, governance, human resources and academia with more than four decades of international experience across North America, Latin America and the Caribbean. His distinguished career combines strategic vision, operational excellence and deep board level governance expertise in highly regulated, multijurisdictional and multisectoral environments spanning banking, energy, manufacturing, education, philanthropy and the public sector.

Dr Frost previously served as Director of Human Resources for Citibank Latin America where he had oversight of 25,000 employees serving 1.2 million clients across 14 countries. This role deepened his experience in managing large scale, multinational and multicultural operations within a highly competitive and regulated financial services environment. He later joined First Citizens where he served as Group Deputy Chief Executive Officer – Operations and Administration, with executive oversight of legal, compliance and governance, technology, human capital, brand and marketing, operations and shared services and strategic planning. He concluded this executive role in December 2023 upon reaching the normal retirement age, marking the close of a remarkable chapter in corporate leadership.

He holds the role of Deputy Chairman across several entities within the First Citizens Group, including First Citizens Holdings Limited, First Citizens Group Financial Holdings Limited, First Citizens Bank Limited, First Citizens Bank (Barbados) Limited, First Citizens Depository Services Limited, First Citizens Trustee Services Limited, First Citizens Investment Services Limited, First Citizens Portfolio & Investment Management Services Limited and First Citizens Brokerage & Advisory Services Limited. He is also Vice President of First Citizens Costa Rica S A. He previously served on the boards of Citibank (Trinidad & Tobago) Limited, Banco Citibank Honduras, Cititarjetas de Nicaragua, Banco Citibank Panama and First Citizens Investment Services (Barbados) Limited.

Dr Frost has held directorships in the energy and manufacturing sectors including with St Lucia Electricity Services Limited, Angostura Holdings Limited, Angostura Limited and Trinidad Distillers Limited. In the public sector he served as Deputy Chairman of the Public Service Commission and continues to serve as Deputy Chairman of the Statutory Authorities Service Commission of Trinidad and Tobago. He also served as an Assessor at the Industrial Court of Trinidad and Tobago.

He was the founding Chairman of both the First Citizens Foundation and the Angostura Foundation, playing a pivotal role in shaping their philanthropic missions and currently serves as Deputy Chairman of the First Citizens Foundation. Dr Frost also serves as President and Chairman of the Chartered Governance Institute of Canada where he previously contributed to several board committees including the Audit and Risk Committee, the Examination Assessment Review Panel and the Governance and Admissions Committee. He currently chairs the Foundation for the Enhancement and Enrichment of Life (FEEL) a leading NGO in Trinidad and Tobago.

In higher education, Dr Frost contributes extensively to The University of the West Indies (UWI), previously serving as a Director of the UWI Mona School of Business and Management. He currently serves as Professor of Practice in Management Studies and chairs several UWI boards including the UWI Development and Endowment Fund Board, the UWI Global Institute for Climate-Smart and Resilient Development Advisory Board, the UWI Faculty of Social Sciences Advisory Board and the UWI Institute for Gender and Development Studies Advisory Board.

He also represents Costa Rica in the diplomatic sphere as Honorary Consul to Trinidad and Tobago supporting bilateral cooperation and the advancement of national interests.

Dr Frost has lectured at The University of the West Indies for over 23 years as an Adjunct Senior Lecturer teaching across undergraduate, postgraduate and executive education programmes. He has designed and delivered more than 25 management courses and seminars and is the author of the landmark publication Calibrating Organizational Culture: A Dialectical Model Towards Competitive Advantage, which synthesises decades of leadership experience into a framework for aligning culture, knowledge sharing and performance.

He holds both a Master’s and a Doctorate in Business Administration from The University of the West Indies and maintains professional designations as an Accredited Director and Chartered Secretary from the Chartered Governance Institute of Canada. He is also a certified Executive Coach by the University of California, Berkeley and a certified Change Practitioner by Prosci.

In recognition of his outstanding contributions in the fields of banking, education and community service, Dr Frost was awarded the nation’s highest honour, the Order of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago (O.R.T.T.). He is also the first individual in the history of the Institute of Banking and Finance of Trinidad and Tobago to receive the Distinguished Fellowship Award for advancing the theory and practice of banking and finance. His achievements in human capital development have been recognised with the Maxine Barnett Award for HR Excellence from the Human Resource Management Association of Trinidad and Tobago. He is also the recipient of the Distinguished Alumni Award from The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine Campus having been named one of 50 Inaugural Distinguished Alumni as part of UWI’s 50th Anniversary celebrations selected from a pool of 25,000 graduates that includes Prime Ministers, business leaders, judges and leading educators. This award recognises individuals who exemplify worldclass performance, innovation, critical thinking, societal advancement and a lifelong commitment to learning.

Mr Javan Lewis is a distinguished leader and the visionary founder of Jlew Signature Events Limited, a standout company within the event and project management sector. With over 15 years of extensive experience, Javan has been pivotal in pioneering innovative approaches to project planning and execution, consistently extending the boundaries of creativity and technological integration.

He earned his Master’s degree in Business Administration from Anglia Ruskin University. Under his guidance since 2007, and officially trademarked in 2014, Jlew Signature Events Limited embarked on a transformative journey to redefine how projects are conceptualised and delivered.

Jlew Signature Events Limited has seen significant growth, managing over 150 high-profile projects annually across local, regional, and international landscapes. Javan’s strategic vision has not only broadened the company’s client base but has also fortified its standing as an industry leader renowned for excellence in project management, with a keen focus on celebrating Caribbean culture and traditions.

A hallmark of Javan’s leadership is his unwavering commitment to innovation. He emphasises that each project should narrate a compelling story and create enduring memories by leveraging state-of-the-art technology. His foresight in trend dynamics positions the company at the vanguard of the industry, collaborating with elite vendors and creative professionals to ensure exemplary service.

In his role as Managing Director, Javan cultivates a culture of collaboration and empowerment within his team. He champions the idea that valuable insights can originate from any level within the organisation and promotes an environment of open communication and continuous learning. This ethos has resulted in a vibrant, diverse team that thrives on creativity and passion.

Beyond his professional endeavours, Javan actively engages in philanthropic efforts, supporting local communities through the funding of charitable projects. His commitment to excellence in project management and his innovative spirit continue to propel Jlew Signature Events Limited to new heights, inspiring peers and setting a benchmark in the management industry.

Ms Crystelle Smith is a seasoned human resources and talent strategy leader with over two decades of experience in banking, finance, and professional services across the Caribbean. She has consistently demonstrated the ability to align people strategies with business objectives, driving organisational resilience, strengthening governance, and cultivating robust talent pipelines.

Crystelle began her career in frontline banking operations before transitioning into human resources, where she led regional initiatives in benefits administration, workforce planning, and compliance across multiple jurisdictions. She later advanced within the global professional services sector, partnering with senior leadership to design and implement innovative learning and development strategies that enhanced employee capabilities and organisational performance.

In addition to her professional expertise, Crystelle has a long-standing personal commitment to education. For more than 15 years, she has tutored Spanish to students and professionals of all ages, fostering both language proficiency and cultural confidence. Bilingual in English and Spanish, she brings agility in navigating multicultural environments and building meaningful connections across diverse groups.

Crystelle holds a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish with a Minor in Human Resource Management from The University of the West Indies and has pursued advanced studies in project management and marketing through Heriot-Watt University’s MBA programme. She is also certified in Lean Six Sigma, public speaking, and facilitation excellence.

Recognised as a collaborative leader and trusted advisor, Crystelle has worked closely with C-suite executives, regulators, and international professional bodies to shape workforce strategies that align with organisational goals. As a member of the Board of Directors, she contributes expertise in HR strategy, governance, and talent development, supporting the bank’s sustained growth, resilience, and long-term stakeholder value.