Kathy Smith appointed Chairperson of BIT

The Board of Industrial Training (BIT) has announced the appointment of its newly inducted Board, which will serve for the period January 23, 2026, to January 22, 2027.

Following her appointment by the Cabinet of the Government of Guyana, Ms Kathy Smith will serve as Chairperson of BIT for the 2026–2027 term.

This appointment is regarded as historic, as Ms Smith becomes the first woman to hold the position of Chairperson in BIT’s 115-year history.

Ms Smith brings to the Board a wealth of experience and knowledge accumulated over several decades. She is widely recognised as a prominent leader within the Guyanese business community and a strong advocate for private sector development and economic growth.

In 2025, Ms Smith also made history when she became the first female President of the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) in its 136-year history. Her leadership experience and commitment to strengthening the relationship between industry and workforce development will be invaluable to the work of the Board of Industrial Training.

Minister of Labour and Manpower Planning, Keoma D. Griffith, has expressed confidence that the newly appointed Board will continue to strengthen the role of the Board of Industrial Training in advancing national workforce development and expanding opportunities for skills training across Guyana.

Under the leadership of the Chairperson and the newly appointed Board, BIT will continue to focus on strengthening technical and vocational education and training (TVET), addressing skills gaps through stronger alignment with industry needs, and expanding partnerships with the private sector in support of Guyana’s growing economy.

The official members of the Board of Industrial Training (2026–2027) are as follows:

Chairperson – Ms Kathy Smith
Vice-Chair – Mr Ganesh Singh
Members
Mr John Edghill
Ms Andrea Benjamin
Mr Yannick Garraway
Ms Sheila Verasammy
Mrs Karen Roopchand
Mrs Desa Liverpool
Ms Penelope Harris
Mr Michael Turner
Mr Krishn Sharma
Mr Suresh Singh
Ex-Officio Members
Ms Indrani Ramnarine
Mr Jainarine Sarjoo Sookpaul
Mr Richard Maughn

The Board of Industrial Training remains committed to its mandate of supporting technical and vocational education and training (TVET) in Guyana through the development of a skilled, competent, and productive workforce.