Hon. E. Jay Saunders, Minister of Innovation, Technology and Energy spoke today May 1st, 2025 at the inaugural Girls in ICT Day Speech Competition, under the theme,’Girls in ICT – Inclusive Digital Transformation’.
The Minister added, “It is a true honour to join you today at this inaugural Girls in ICT Day speech competition under the theme “Girls in ICT – Inclusive Digital Transformation.”
As the Minister of Innovation, Technology and Energy for the Turks and Caicos Islands, I commend everyone: organisers, teachers, students, and parents for coming together to champion this vital cause.
Let me begin by saying that the future of technology must be inclusive. And that future will be brighter, smarter, and more equitable when girls and young women are empowered to lead in ICT. Across the world (and right here in our Caribbean region, and by what I’ve heard here today, here in the Turks and Caicos Islands) women are shaping the digital transformation that is redefining our world.
This journey is not new, and it’s certainly not just beginning. It is rooted in the extraordinary achievements of women who dared to think diVerently, who broke down barriers, and who chose to “create the future”, rather than just wait for it.
I want to take a moment to recognise a few remarkable women who have not only contributed to today’s digital world, but without whom some of our most popular technologies might not even exist.
Dr. Gladys West – An African American mathematician whose calculations were critical in developing the Global Positioning System— yes, GPS—the same technology that guides your phone, your Uber, and even search-and-rescue missions today.
Ms. Reshma Saujani – Founder of “Girls Who Code”, a global movement empowering girl to learn programming, challenge gender stereotypes, and build tech solutions that matter. Her work has given over 500,000 girls worldwide the tools to code—and to lead.
üMs. Ingrid Riley – A Jamaican tech entrepreneur and founder of *SiliconCaribe*, who has been at the forefront of building the Caribbean’s digital economy and supporting Caribbean tech startups, many of them led by women.
Dr. Maya Trotz, originally from Trinidad and Tobago, is a professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering whose work in sustainable development and water management integrates digital solutions with environmental science. She shows how ICT can serve not just profit, but also the planet.
Dr. Marian Croak, a Jamaican-American engineer, whose pioneering work in Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) allows billions globally to connect over platforms like Zoom, WhatsApp, Facebook, and IG Messenger — technologies that we use every day. Imagine the world without her visionary contribution!
Dr. Ayanna Howard, an esteemed roboticist and the first woman to lead Ohio State University’s College of Engineering. Her cutting-edge work in robotics and artificial intelligence opens doors to transformative solutions, from assisting children with disabilities to developing robotics in space exploration. Her relentless innovation embodies how technology can be harnessed to improve human life.
Ms. Lisa Gelobter, a Caribbean-American technologist whose work on Shockwave and online animation laid the foundations for streaming platforms like Hulu and Netflix, dramatically reshaped entertainment and culture worldwide.
These women prove that from academia to entrepreneurship, from the Caribbean to Silicon Valley, when women are included in tech, we all benefit.
Ladies, today is about you. You are not just the users of technology. You are the future creators of it. The world is facing many challenges, and the world needs your ideas, your creativity, your empathy, and your courage to design solutions.
Imagine building:
• Apps that support mental health in our schools.
• Platforms that connect Caribbean entrepreneurs to global markets.
• AI that makes government services smarter and more responsive.
• Renewable energy technologies that help us power our islands without
harming our environment.
Technology is your toolbox, and your imagination is the only limit.
Apple Computers once challenged us to *”Think DiVerent”*, and Nicholas Negroponte of the MIT Media Lab once said, “The best way to predict the future is to invent it.” These aren’t just slogans. They’re blueprints!
To the girls in this room, I say: don’t follow the status quo. Create your path. Think beyond what’s already been done. And build tools that reflect your values, your communities, and your dreams.
Innovation happens when you bring your full self to the table — i.e. your culture, your identity, your experiences as young women in the Caribbean. That’s what will set you apart. That’s what will drive inclusive transformation — not just for Turks and Caicos, but for our entire region and the world.
So, as we celebrate Girls in ICT Day, let us not only encourage girls to join the digital revolution. Let us support them, invest in them, and celebrate them. I support you, and I celebrate you!
To every girl thinking about a career in tech, know this: “You belong in ICT. The future needs your voice, your vision, and your genius.” When girls rise in tech, everyone rises,” Hon. Saunders concluded.
