CARIF 2025 offers two impactful days of forward-thinking discussions, high-level interviews with top leaders, incisive panel discussions, in-depth workshops, and unparalleled networking opportunities.
Leading players will tackle the most critical issues shaping the Caribbean’s infrastructure landscape, including:
Geopolitics, the world economy, and the implications for Caribbean infrastructure
Mobilizing Private Capital: Is investor appetite for Caribbean assets on the rise?
How can the region better leverage PPPs for infrastructure?
Delivering energy security through grid resilience
The persistent challenge of NRW: designing and financing effective programs to reduce losses
Deep Dive – Guyana – big plans for infrastructure
Is infrastructure keeping up with the tourism boom?
Sustainable aviation and airport infrastructure development as a driver of economic growth
Digitalization & Connectivity: A conversation on trends, successes and shortcomings in the Caribbean
Food Security & the economic opportunity of agriculture
Best practices to bolster health infrastructure in the Caribbean
Away from the CARIF Main Stage, we invite attendees to meet the market through numerous structured and unstructured networking opportunities, including the fountain-side cocktail reception, networking-enhanced thematic roundtables and deep-dive workshops, and to celebrate achievements over the past year in the annual CARIF Awards ceremony.
Nevis Island Administration Minister of Communication, Public Works, Water Services, Physical Planning & Environment, Posts, Labour and Disaster Management
KPMG International Global Head of Infrastructure, Government, Healthcare and TransportModerator
Securing the Flow of Funding into Caribbean Infrastructure: Who Is Stepping Up and Stepping In?
Amid geopolitical shifts and fiscal pressure, how can the Caribbean region secure a steady, reliable flow of funding to support essential infrastructure projects?
How can the region diversify funding sources to reduce reliance on any single donor or partner and build long-term funding resilience?
What near-term strategies can fill funding gaps for priority projects?
How does the Bridgetown Initiative 3.0 reshape access to development and climate-related funding for Caribbean nations?
What role do cost-recovery tools—such as user tariffs, government subsidies, and donor contributions—play in enabling financially sustainable service delivery?
How can Caribbean governments strengthen institutional capacity to deploy funding more efficiently?
Green Climate Fund Senior Infrastructure SpecialistModerator
Refreshments and Networking
Is Investor Appetite for Caribbean Assets on the Rise?
What do investors want to see from the region to increase their investment confidence? How can increased private sector participation, and the associated innovative know-how, impact the infrastructure pipeline?
The importance of guarantors is increasing in delivering successful transactions. Will this trend continue?
What innovations in financing mechanisms and programs have been most successful and what is on the horizon?
How can the region attract new investors to the space, specifically institutional investors?
Dentons Partner and Head of Banking and Finance Practice Group, Trinidad and TobagoModerator
Harnessing AI & Digital Innovation for Smarter Island Infrastructure
As Caribbean nations seek to modernize infrastructure and improve service delivery, how can digital innovation and AI accelerate this transformation? Guided by polling and expert commentary, this session examines the strategic integration of AI, e-Government tools, and digital infrastructure solutions to improve project design, execution, and long-term maintenance—tailored specifically to island realities.
What are the most impactful applications of AI and digital tools in the Caribbean infrastructure landscape today?
How can island states adapt global smart infrastructure solutions to fit local needs and capacities?
What role can digital twins play in planning and sustaining smarter infrastructure systems?
How can multilateral partners and the private sector collaborate to support this digital transition?
As Guyana works to bridge its infrastructure gap in step with its rapid economic growth, what is the long-term vision—and what near-term priorities will ensure the delivery of resilient, citizen-focused development?
How is the administration operationalizing its Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS), and what are the key milestones on the horizon?
What role are multilateral institutions playing in supporting Guyana’s infrastructure transformation, particularly in areas of transport resilience, energy modernization, and climate adaptation?
With connectivity a national priority, how will ongoing investments in roads and bridges transform transportation and trade—regionally and nationally?
ImpactA Global Founding Partner, Co-CEO and CIOModerator
Catalyzing Innovation for Caribbean Infrastructure: Developing Scalable Solutions for Energy, Agriculture, and Ocean Sustainability
This session spotlights innovators driving bold, scalable solutions in agriculture, energy, and ocean sustainability. Through case studies, we’ll explore how start-ups are transforming Caribbean infrastructure—and what it takes to unlock capital, scale solutions, and build the partnerships that turn ideas into impact.
How innovative start-ups are delivering infrastructure solutions across agriculture, energy, and ocean sustainability
What makes these models scalable, replicable, and regionally impactful
The role of cross-sector partnerships in enabling innovation
How to mobilize the capital needed to scale infrastructure-focused innovation in the Caribbean
Lessons from successful case studies that are driving measurable change
Tackling Water Infrastructure Challenges With Fresh Solutions
How can islands design and finance more effective programs to modernize water and waste-water systems? How can the region lean into innovations in technology and financing structures?
The persistent challenge of NRW: What is working to reduce losses?
Desalination and the clean energy need: What are the most economically viable solutions?
What innovative financing solutions can be pursued to modernize aging water infrastructure and build new facilities on islands?
Nevis Island Administration Minister of Communication, Public Works, Water Services, Physical Planning & Environment, Posts, Labour and Disaster Management
Caribbean Development Bank Director of Projects (Ag.)Moderator
Refreshments and Networking
IDB InfraScope: And the Region’s PPP Profile
Infrascope is a benchmarking index and tool used to assess the capacity of countries to implement public-private partnerships in infrastructure. Commissioned by the IDB and developed by the Economist Impact since 2009, it evaluates the enabling environment for PPPs in 26 Latin American and Caribbean countries.
CIBC Caribbean Head of Country for The Cayman IslandsModerator
CARIF Award Ceremony & Winner Showcase
Chairperson Day One Conclusions & Networking Cocktail Reception
CARIF ‘Rise and Shine’ Roundtables
Grab a coffee, pick your table, and join these lightly moderated conversation and networking sessions.
What Delivers Real Regional Connectivity? Airlift vs Hub & Spoke?
Rise and Shine Roundtable I
How can we best address the Caribbean’s ongoing challenge of improving regional connectivity? Should islands focus on expanding direct airlift, or would a coordinated hub-and-spoke model better serve mobility, trade, and economic integration?
How Can the Caribbean Retrofit Its Infrastructure for Efficiency and Resilience?
Rise and Shine Roundtable II
As aging infrastructure faces climate risks and rising energy costs, retrofitting becomes critical. This roundtable explores best practices in energy efficiency, structural upgrades, and climate-proofing—sharing what’s working across the region and how to fund it at scale.
Econoler Director for Latin America and the Caribbean
How Can the Caribbean Build True Coastal Resilience Amid Rising Risks?
Rise and Shine Roundtable III
With sea level rise, erosion, and storm surges threatening coastal communities, this roundtable explores how Caribbean nations can better understand, adapt to, and mitigate coastal risks. From nature-based solutions to hard infrastructure, what strategies offer the most effective and sustainable protection?
What Will It Take to Modernize Caribbean Road Networks?
Rise and Shine Roundtable IV
What should the future of roadway infrastructure look like? Examining priorities for expansion, maintenance, and modernization. How can countries build safer, more resilient road systems while managing costs, congestion, and climate demands?
Inter-American Development Bank Lead Transport Specialist
The Future of Caribbean Healthcare
Rise and Shine Roundtable V
What are the most pressing health care challenges facing island nations—and how can they be addressed? This roundtable will explore innovative models, partnerships, and policy reforms aimed at strengthening health systems and improving access to care across the region.
Strengthening Global Connectivity Through Telecommunications Infrastructure
Rise and Shine Roundtable VI
Telecommunications are vital to the Caribbean’s competitiveness. This roundtable explores opportunities for infrastructure investment, assesses the region’s digital readiness, and addresses how to strengthen cybersecurity. Discussion will also consider where future investments should flow to build greater digital resilience.
KPMG in CARICOM Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Lead
Is Infrastructure Keeping Up with the Tourism Boom?
As tourism surges across the region, this session will explore whether infrastructure is keeping pace with demand and how destination development strategies must evolve.
What are the critical infrastructure gaps tied to tourism growth?
How can destinations build and finance infrastructure that supports long-term sustainability?
What workforce development solutions are needed to scale the sector responsibly?
How should policymakers respond to the rise of cruise company private islands—and the implications for local economies?
Sustainable Aviation and Airport Infrastructure Development as a Driver of Economic Growth and Development
Prioritizing sustainable aviation and modernized airport infrastructure can be a catalyst for regional growth—so how do we turn that vision into reality?
Assessing innovations in green aviation technology, airport resilience, and low-carbon infrastructure investments
How can we unlock long-term benefits via more effective policy, financing, and public-private partnerships?
Projected impact on job creation, tourism and trade expansion
What are the most actionable strategies for aligning aviation development with climate goals and economic opportunity?
IFC Principal Investment Officer, Transaction Advisory, PPPs & Corporate FinanceModerator
Refreshments and Networking
Resilient Health Systems: Building Caribbean Healthcare Infrastructure for the Future
This session explores both physical and digital healthcare infrastructure needs across Caribbean islands, examining innovative approaches to create accessible, efficient, and climate-resilient health systems.
What strategic healthcare facility developments (hospitals, clinics, specialized care centers) are underway, and where do critical infrastructure gaps remain that require immediate attention?
Beyond buildings: How can the region strengthen healthcare supply chains through policy reforms, regional cooperation, and innovative logistics solutions?
Digital transformation: Leveraging telemedicine, electronic health records, and AI-powered diagnostics to overcome geographical barriers and enhance healthcare quality and access
Climate resilience by design: Engineering healthcare facilities with integrated backup systems for power, water, and communications to maintain essential services during extreme weather events
Delivering Energy Security and Grid Resilience: Essential Elements for Growth
Energy access and cost define the economic opportunity across islands. How are regional governments, utilities, developers and multilateral partners supporting initiatives to ensure reliable and affordable energy?
Reviewing modernizations underway or in the pipeline
How can utilities employ more innovative technologies for grid resilience? What is the role of AI in this space?
What are the newest developments in microgrids?
Regional initiatives for energy security: What does a successful roadmap look like?
Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) Director, Islands Energy ProgramModerator
Strengthening Food Security and Expanding the Economic Opportunity of Agriculture
Food security is a crucial element of the region’s resilience. How can islands, and the region as a whole, develop policies, practices and infrastructure to ensure access to sufficient fresh and affordable food, and turn agriculture into a driver of economic growth?
What innovations in agriculture and supporting logistics can increase food security? Looking at practices such as vertical farming- How can scale be achieved and have region-wide impact?
What import substitutions are most deliverable and how can governments incentivize these practices?
What is needed to developing better intra-regional agricultural trade: Policies, transport, agricultural storage
Leveraging private sector technological advances and smart agriculture
IFC Senior Investment Officer, Manufacturing, Agribusiness and Services, Latin American & the CaribbeanModerator
Networking Lunch
MSC Miami Cruise Terminal Tour
Optional Site Visit
Explore North America’s largest and most advanced cruise terminal. This guided tour of the 400,000 square feet MSC Miami Cruise Terminal includes biometric screening tech, shore power systems, and a striking 10,000 sq. ft. public art installation.
Advance registration required | $75 fee | Learn more
Financing the Future: Building Bankable Projects for the Caribbean
Interactive Workshop | Hosted by CIBC Caribbean, KPMG and Stantec
Even essential infrastructure projects won’t attract funding unless they’re structured to meet investor expectations. This interactive session will explore what makes a project “bankable,” featuring real-world case studies and a hands-on simulation: Would You Fund This?
Advance registration required | Complimentary | Learn more
