Sherando R. Ferril: A voice, stage and screen actress, executive producer, writer, producer and director of audiovisual content. She is the CEO of YaadBridge Entertainment, a film and media production company with a focus on telling Caribbean Stories for a local and global audience as well as training Caribbean creatives. She is also one of the founders of Ananse House and a director of Women In Film & Television – Jamaica, Mentor, Trainer and Mother.
Having attended and lectured at The New York Film Academy – Burbank California, she holds a Masters in Film & Media Production. Holding true to mission – sharing culturally rich material on global platforms while erecting bridges that establish global connections.
Audiovisual performances where she played lead include: the recently premiered Chokehold feature film shot in Saint Martin, which has been featured at the Cannes, Essence and Toronto International film festival, Bola Blue Eyes (digital theatre), Power Connection (audio drama), Sweet Rind short film (for which she won seven global best actress awards), Dirty Diana (stage play). As well as a litany of audio dramas, and commercials. She is also responsible for producing film and television as well as writing, producing and directing over 200 episodes of varying audio drama series and Podcasts for government and private sector clients. Her most recent undertaking is currently in post production; The Jamaican Bodyguard a full length feature political action drama film
Coach Trudi B. Parson. Marketplace Minister, educator, generational debt eraser, generational wealth builder, the business launch coach extraordinaire, CEO & Founder of Fortify | The Business Launch Firm. She is a business leader with a visionary and kingdom based structure to strategically impact Generation X, Z and Millennial communities through business coaching, disruptive masterclasses, wealth building fireside chats and financial literacy programs.
She attended Liberty University and has received a Bachelors of Science in Multidisciplinary Studies with a concentration in Criminal Justice and Religion. She also holds a Masters of Arts in Human Services with a concentration in Marriage and Family Therapy from Liberty University. She is currently furthering her education and networking reach at Northcentral University in their Doctor of Business program with a focus on Organizational Leadership.
Coach Trudi B. Parson owns five businesses with over 25 years in operation in the tax preparation and planning industry specializing in individual and business taxes, 1099 and direct sales clientele. She is an expert in starting and scaling businesses to lucrative success and more than 19 years of longevity using kingdom principles and believes in building firm foundations for sustainable growth. She is Coach Trudi B. Parson, your 2022, 2023 & 2024 Business Person of the Year.
Charles Smart stands at the confluence of data and AI, steering Fortune 100 giants like Macy’s, Shipt, Maersk, and CVS through the intricacies of AI and data governance. His vision and leadership have made him a notable figure in crafting data governance frameworks that not only comply with regulations but also drive innovation.
With over two decades of experience, Charles has evolved with the data landscape, recognizing early the transformative potential of AI. His insights have graced the stage of prestigious gatherings, notably the AI4 conference in Las Vegas, where his expertise illuminates the path for AI and data governance.
Beyond the boardroom, Charles channels his expertise into practical workshops across the U.S., demystifying emergent technologies like the Metaverse and Blockchain for the franchise sector. His knack for practical application transforms shiny new technologies into real-world solutions, enhancing value across various industries.
In the realm of filmmaking, Charles merges his technical acumen with a creative spirit, advising on AI’s pragmatic integration into film production.
Charles’s journey transcends technical prowess, embodying a holistic blend of artistry and innovation. His dual identity as an artist enriches his approach, infusing creative solutions with a deep understanding of technology’s evolving narrative.
His work not only anticipates change but also architects it, making him a sought-after mind in shaping the dialogue around technology’s future. As you join the AI Film Making Workshop, prepare to dive into a world where Charles Smart’s visionary leadership meets the hands-on application of AI, crafting the next frontier in film and beyond.
Rachael Holmes Grace’s experiences as a transformation agent span large complex corporations, the Silicon Valley startup scene, the arts and education. A proud Brooklyn native from a Jamaican family, she is an artist, abolitionist and ICF credentialed coach who practices through an inclusive healing-centered lens and approaches all branches of her work through mindfulness, somatics, acknowledging factual history, applied positivity, rest, and a particularly heightened sense of play.
She is an accredited member of Actors Equity Association and Screen Actors Guild with a body of work that includes lead roles in Marvel’s Wolverine: The Lost Trail, Amazon’s Mad Dogs and Elementary on CBS. Sparked by a summer Fulbright awarded in high school, Rachael Grace continued her exploration of storytelling, power, justice and language, studying the Shakespeare canon at Oxford University and earning her BA in International Relations from Williams College and Sorbonne University where she focused on the tectonics and many types of war- particularly genocides- and gender parity in peacetime governments. She then earned her M.F.A. in Acting as a Jacob K. Javits Fellow at Tisch School of the Arts at New York University.
Mr Ewan Simpson is an Attorney-at-Law, with a Master of Laws (LL.M) in Intellectual Property (IP) from the University of Turin/ WIPO (2010), called to the Jamaican Bar in 2004, having completed studies at The University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona (B.A. Geography) and Cave Hill (LL. B), as well as the Norman Manley Law School.
He is trained and certified as a public procurement professional, accredited in Corporate Governance, as well as Project Management and Civil Aviation Management.
Ewan is a drummer/ percussionist, vocal coach, singer, artiste manager, music producer, as well as an event management consultant. A consummate team leader with a diverse but focused skill set, convinced that the engagement and strategic exploitation of Intellectual Property in the context of the Cultural and Creative Industries, is a fundamental game changer for developing states like Jamaica.
A mentor, advocate and lecturer in the areas of Intellectual Property Law, Entertainment Law and Cultural Enterprise Management, this proud son of Glenmuir High School in Clarendon, is currently the General Counsel for The Urban Development Corporation, is the Chairman of the Jamaica Reggae Industry Association, and is an Adjunct Lecturer at the University of the West Indies Mona, in the Institute of Caribbean Studies.
Dr. Deborah Hickling Gordon Ph.D is a Jamaican cultural economy consultant, strategist, speaker, and author with a passion for advancing cultural policy and creative industries in Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and Small States. She led a groundbreaking research team in 2022 to develop a methodology for cultural policy design and mapping for the Global South.
As a respected member of the global UNESCO Expert-Facility, Dr. Hickling Gordon provides cultural economy research, governance training, and media literacy services. She has played a key role in advancing cultural policy in CARICOM, leading training missions in Belize, St Lucia, and Trinidad and Tobago.
Dr. Hickling Gordon is also a lecturer at the University of the West Indies, Mona, where she coordinates the Bachelor of Arts in Cultural and Creative Industries. She has authored cultural economy policy frameworks for the Government of Jamaica, conducted mapping studies, and is the author of “Cultural Economy and Television in Jamaica and Ghana.” Dr. Hickling Gordon is an experienced media producer and practitioner and serves as the convenor of the Public Relations Society of Jamaica.