Cathy Houts

Cathy is a Tax Partner at KPMG and has been based in the Cayman Islands for over 14 years.

Professionally, her experience is focused on the U.S. taxation of investment funds and Cayman regulatory matters. She is passionate about Learning & Development and is heavily involved in the professional and personal development of her colleagues at KPMG and the wider Cayman community. Cathy frequently presents on tax technical matters as well as other subject areas relevant to gender equality in the workplace. During her time in Cayman, she co-founded NextGen Cayman (100 Women in Finance) and was a main committee member of 100 Women in Finance.

Along with her spouse, she is a proud working parent of two young boys and advocates for women’s advancement into senior leadership positions in the financial service industry. She believes in the development of interpersonal relationships and conscious, deliberate action is required to making meaningful change for gender equality.

Joy Oremule

A successful Caymanian HR professional, Joy Oremule has experience in many areas. As Manager, HR & Employee Development at Caribbean Utilities Company Ltd, she plays a n integral role in the company's success.

As a graduate of Eckerd College, she holds a Bachelor's degree in Business. She is pursuing a Master's in Human Resources at the University College of the Cayman Islands. She has recently completed a level five certification in International Leadership and Management (ILM).

She is actively involved in her community through various projects and initiatives. She has served on the Board of Directors of the Cayman Islands Society of Human Resource Professionals (CISHRP).  She has been a member of the GEC Board since 2021.

She is committed to supporting, empowering, engaging, and developing gender equity in the workplace.

Dr. Lance Barnes

Dr. Lance Barnes is the Head of Information Communication Technology (ICT) for the Ministry of Education, where he leads the team responsible for ICT services across all government schools. He has held several senior roles within the Cayman Islands Government and has contributed significantly to developing civil servants through leadership and educational programs.

He holds a doctoral degree in leadership and crisis management, a master’s in management with a focus on human resources, and a bachelor’s degree with honors in computer science. Dr. Barnes also serves as an adjunct lecturer at both of the islands’ universities.

Committed to community service, he served as president of the Cayman Islands Athletic Association from 2017 to 2021.

Stephanie Byrne

With real enthusiasm for continuous improvement and a strong passion for people development, Steph has worked globally across the private, public & non-profit sectors in diverse cultural and social environments.

Her professional background is in the engineering and construction industry, where she has gained extensive experience in developing and delivering a range of projects and collaborating with stakeholders at all levels, from senior officials and local governments to young children and apprentices.

Committed to making a lasting positive impact, Steph has joined the board to expand her advocacy for gender equality and ensure a sustainable and equitable future for generations to come.

Steph takes a systems approach, with an ability to think critically and hollistically, to tackle issues and provides valuable insights to help drive meaningful change.

Sarah Humpleby

Sarah joined the Board in 2023.  Sarah has also been very involved with 100 Women in Finance having been on the launch committee for the Mid-Career Group in 2020, on which she now serves as co-chair.  

As an advocate for equity, she is a member of several global industry bodies, such as the International Association for Women in Aviation and the Advancing Women in Aviation Roundtable network, and is passionate about facilitating a level playing field for future generations.

Sarah Blake

Sarah joined the Board in 2022. Sarah has dedicated her studies to understanding the social impacts society has towards understanding and practicing Gender. During her Master’s in Security, Conflict, and Human Rights, she specifically focused on the security of women within the city of Bristol, United Kingdom. Sarah continues to practice her passion for equity and inclusion as a People and Culture Assistant at Grant Thornton, Cayman Islands.