VOICES Bi-Monthly Magazine of the University of Technology, Jamaica | May - August 2021 6 Mrs. Patricia Sutherland, expressed pleasure in having the opportunity, through the lecture, to honour her mother, and “to every year, remind ourselves what she stood for, why we are so grateful for having had her in our lives.” Mrs. Sutherland pointed to her mother’s ethos of “adding value to the next person” in each of her interactions, noting that the lecture is a means through which the Joan Duncan Foundation hopes to achieve this, by facilitating enlightening and edifying discussions. Professor Colin Gyles, Acting President, University of Technology, Jamaica, remarked on the successful relationship between UTech, Jamaica and the JMMB Group, which has been a fruitful, productive and longstanding one, with over eighteen years of successful collaboration. Prof. Gyles also highlighted that JDSEEL is instrumental in providing education and training for leaders who will be the drivers “for developing businesses that will help our economy to flourish.” Additionally, the Acting President noted that all students at UTech, Jamaica are exposed to entrepreneurship as a discipline, so that “whatever field they study in they are able to translate that knowledge into an entrepreneurial setting to allow for development of new enterprises.” The presentation also featured a short video documentary in tribute to Joan Duncan in which her children shared reflections on her life’s work and legacy. During the final segment of the broadcast, Mr. Duncan, Mrs. Duncan-Sutherland and Professor Gyles participated in a discussion featuring youth leaders. The panel comprised UTech, Jamaica students Roxanne Sadler and Shelice Anderson, Robyn Murray, President, UTech, Jamaica Students’ Union and Loya Haughton, 2014 Joan Duncan Scholar who all posed questions. The students reiterated the need for leaders to build environments of trust, where people are able to freely collaborate and form partnerships. Questions were also fielded from audience members joining from UTech, Jamaica and JMMB Group social media platforms. also spoke to the example of his mother, Joan Duncan, detailing valuable lessons learned from her, such as building and capitalizing on the resilience and creativity of Jamaicans to partner for social transformation. “We also have our vision of love, which anchors us,” he noted, adding that this vision underpins his leadership at and informs the culture of the JMMB Group. In offering additional advice, Mr. Duncan emphasized engagement “in an open and honest, and non-divisive way”, urging the breakdown of negativity and toxicity, with investment in a growth mindset. “You have to be a possibility thinker. You have to move out of the negative space, be open to ideas, do your research, and have a plan,” he advised. Mr. Hector Wheeler (left), Associate Vice President, Advancement and co-chair of the UTech, Jamaica/JMMB Joan Duncan Memorial Lecture in conversation with Mrs. Patricia Duncan-Sutherland, Chair, JMMB Joan Duncan Foundation and Professor Colin Gyles, Acting President, in studio, Television Jamaica during the broadcast of the memorial lecture on May 16, 2021. Mrs. Patricia Duncan-Sutherland, Chair, JMMB Joan Duncan Foundation Professor Colin Gyles, Acting President, UTech, Jamaica Cont’d from page 5...8th Annual Joan Duncan Memorial Lecture Leadership During Crisis
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