2020 Caribbean Insurance Conference

• Tuesday, June 2, 2020

  11:30 am - 12:30 pm: The Impact of Decriminalising Marijuana on the Industry and the Society

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Professor Wendell Dwight Abel

Professor Abel completed his medical training at The University of the West Indies (The UWI) and Johns Hopkins University in the United States. He holds a Bachelor of Medicine, a Bachelor of Surgery, a Doctorate in Psychiatry and a Master’s in Public Health, and is currently a Professor and Head of the Department of Community Health and Psychiatry at The UWI Mona Campus. He is also the Senior Consultant Psychiatrist at the University Hospital of the West Indies. Professor Abel has been a policy advisor and advocate for mental health in Jamaica and the Caribbean for many years and has written more than 83 journal articles as well as several technical reports and book chapters which focus on a range of mental health issues.  He has played a critical role in shaping public policy for persons living with all disabilities, and has worked with agencies such as the Organisation of American States (OAS), Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO), the European Union (EU) and CARICOM. This work has in turn helped to facilitate several policy and programme initiatives such as the integration of mental health into education and primary health care, drug and violence prevention and treatment, and marijuana policy reform. In recognition of his work in the medical and mental health fields, he has been awarded numerous recognitions including the Order of Distinction in 2007, and most recently The Vice Chancellor’s Award (UWI) for Community Service (2018), and the GLEANER AWARD – Health & Wellness (2018). 

• Monday, June 1, 2020

  2:30 pm - 3:30 pm: Health Insurance and Trends in the Caribbean

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Douglas McArthur Halsall, OD

Mr. Halsall has spent more than 40 years leading the development of Information Technology in Jamaica, and is credited with introducing computer services to Jamaica’s banking, credit union, retail, hospitality & tourism, and health insurance industries, as well as the design and implementation of the Government’s current Budgetary and Accounting system. Other notable achievements include implementing the first ATM on the island, introducing the first online, real time health insurance adjudication system in the Caribbean, developing an Electronic Medical Records system for Jamaica, assisting with the conceptualization and development of the National Health Fund, and managing the digitization of the University Hospital of the West Indies. Prior to starting AIS, Mr. Halsall served as Chairman and CEO of NCR Jamaica for 10 years where he was responsible for moving NCR Jamaica to the position of leading country across Latin America and the Caribbean in performance and sales. In 2005, the Government of Jamaica, supported by the Opposition, recognized his contribution to Technology by conferring on him the prestigious Order of Distinction, one of Jamaica's highest National honors.

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Alison Salka, Ph.D.

Alison Salka joined LIMRA in 2012 and is responsible for driving the strategy and direction of its member benefit and research programs. She oversees a team of more than 85 professionals in LIMRA’s Research division who conduct benchmark studies, discovery research, and thought leadership designed to help member companies better understand industry issues and trends. The research agenda covers financial services products, markets, distribution, and strategy. She is also responsible for member benefit conferences and study groups, as well as LIMRA’s Compliance Assurance Products and research based product development. She is also a managing director of the LIMRA LOMA Secure Retirement Institute. Salka previously led the retirement research and competitive intelligence team at Prudential, and was also a director of retirement research and business analytics at MassMutual. She has earned a Master’s degree from the College of William and Mary and Ph.D. from Vanderbilt University.