**Promoting Industry Growth & Development**

The Bahamas Financial Services Board (BFSB) has launched the 6th year of **Financial Centre Focus**(FCF), an ongoing public education and awareness programme.

This initiative was developed to profile the industry and to co-ordinate programmes relating to human resource development — considered a key component in the continued success of The Bahamas as an international financial services centre.

Concurrently, the **Professional Industry Association Working Group** (PIAWG) was established, as a major element in BFSB’s outreach to all stakeholders and gatekeepers in the development of strategies and long-term plans for the industry. The annual FCF has been sponsored in collaboration with the PIAWG since inception.

As a main element of the FCF, BFSB introduced the **Financial Services Industry Excellence Awards**, designed to recognise role models for outstanding performance and contribution to the growth and development of financial services in The Bahamas.

**MFSI Award**

Since 2002, the Minister of Financial Services and Investments, has presented a special **”Minister’s Award”** as an integral part of the annual initiative. Selection is based on excellence in financial services, with awardees defined as those that *”exemplify excellence in all of its aspects and that go above and beyond the call of duty.”*

The winner of the Minister’s Award 2005 was Wendy C. Warren, CEO & Executive Director of the Bahamas Financial Services Board. Previous winners of the Minister’s Award were:

2004: Robert Pantry, Credit Card Centre, RBC Royal Bank of Canada

2003: Pauline H.A. Creary-Lightbourne, General Manager, Banque SCS Alliance (Nassau) Ltd.

2002: Ian D. Fair, Founding Chairman of BFSB, and (then) Chairman, MeesPierson (Bahamas) Limited

**BFSB Industry Awards**

The role models recognised by BFSB’s FSI Industry Awards have been:

***Executive of the Year***

2005: Paul J. Winder, International Business Development Manager, Ansbacher (Bahamas) Ltd.

2004: William Sands, President & CEO, Commonwealth Bank

2003: Heather Lynette Thompson, Partner, Higgs & Johnson

2002: G. Clifford Culmer, FCA, Partner, BDO Mann Judd

2001: Betty Roberts, Managing Director, SG Hambros Bank & Trust (Bahamas)
Limited

***Professional of the Year***

2005: Crestwell Gardiner, Vice President-Lending, Fidelity Group of Companies

2004: Carmen Dianne Davis-Bingham, Manager, Private Banking, Scotiabank

2003: Cheryl E. Major-Bazard, Director of Compliance Professionals (Regional
Position), FirstCaribbean International Bank Bahamas

2002: Joan L. Thompson, Corporate Secretary/Manager, Corporate Department, MeesPierson (Bahamas) Limited

2001: Cecile B. Greene, CA, FLMI, Vice President, Finance, Family Guardian Insurance Company

***Achiever of the Year***

2005: Francelyn Bethel, Executive Assistant, Oceanic Bank & Trust Ltd.

2004: Katriena M. Marshall, Member of Internal Control, BSI Overseas (Bahamas) Limited

2003: Alicetine Newbold, Office Administrator, Arner Bank & Trust

2002: Rayon A. Brown, Associate Actuary, Family Guardian Insurance Company

2001: Alden Gibson, Senior Client Accountant, Credit Suisse Trust Limited

***Development & Promotion Award** (introduced in 2004)*

2005: AIBT – Introduction of Foundations

2004: SCB Operations Review Committee / David Thain – Introduction of SMART Funds

This year, the **Excellence Awards Banquet** will be held on October 21 and BFSB will soon open nominations for candidates in each of the four categories above.

Nominations are open to the entire financial services industry including industry regulatory and supervisory agencies. A Blue Ribbon Panel selects the award recipients, who are announced for the first time at the Awards Banquet.

*Photo shows then Minister of Financial Services & Investments, the Hon. Allyson Maynard-Gibson, presenting the 2005 EOTY award to Mr. Paul Winder*