The Cayman Islands Chamber of Commerce’s ‘Leadership Cayman Class of 2026’ travelled to Cayman Brac this month for the programme’s annual opening retreat.
The visit marked the first major milestone of the six-month scheme, which is designed to expose participants to the civic, social and economic issues shaping Cayman while strengthening leadership skills across sectors.
This year’s cohort of 24 professionals travelled to the sister island for several days of structured workshops, community engagement and sector-focused learning.
The retreat opened with an intensive leadership workshop facilitated by Dr Peter Hammerschmidt, an expert in team building and conflict resolution.
Over two days, participants explored individual leadership styles through interactive exercises and group challenges aimed at enhancing communication, collaboration and self-awareness – a hallmark of the Leadership Cayman experience.
In a chamber press release, programmes coordinator Jada Ramoon said the opening retreat set a strong tone for the year ahead.
“The opening retreat was a massive success; the class was very interactive with Dr Hammerschmidt,” she said.
“They all meshed so well together and hit it off immediately. I am looking forward to continuing to work with the class and to see what they will achieve.”
The visit included the Sister Islands Perspective seminar, which provided participants with insight into public leadership and community development in Cayman Brac and Little Cayman.
The event featured a panel made up of district commissioner Mark Tibbetts, Insp Leslie Laing-Hall, who is area commander for Cayman Brac, and Josh Baker, deputy registrar and campus manager of the UCCI Cayman Brac campus.
They shared perspectives on governance, public safety, education pathways and the evolving needs of the sister islands’ communities, underscoring the importance of community-centred leadership across all levels of Cayman society.
In keeping with programme tradition, the cohort also took part in a guided tour of Cayman Brac, visiting key cultural and historical sites including the Lighthouse, Heritage House and the farm-to-table restaurant Le Soleil.
They also toured Faith Hospital to gain first-hand insight into healthcare delivery in the sister islands.
With the participants now back in Grand Cayman, the Class of 2026 will begin the programme’s full schedule of bi-weekly seminars, site visits and facilitated discussions.
The chamber said alumni consistently describe the opening retreat as the experience that transforms the cohort from a group of professionals into a unified leadership community – something the organisation believes is already evident in this year’s class.
More about Leadership Cayman is available in Cayman Independent’s explainer here.
