The Chamber of Commerce’s ‘Leadership Cayman Class of 2026’ officially began this year’s seminar series with an immersive session examining the role of media in Caymanian society.
Titled ‘Media in Our Community’, the event offered participants a behind-the-scenes look at how local media informs, influences and reflects public life, while encouraging thoughtful discussion around leadership, trust and communication.
The session was supported by Compass Media as tour sponsor and the Cayman Islands Government as venue sponsor.
The evening began with a guided tour of the recently revitalised Compass Media facility on Shedden Road in George Town.
Led by Tripp Donnelly, participants explored the organisation’s evolution and strategic direction.
The tour highlighted how local media outlets adapt to serve an increasingly diverse and engaged audience.
The cohort then travelled to the Government Administration Building, where they enjoyed dinner before visiting the Government Information Services (GIS) filming and production area.
There, participants received an overview of how government communications are developed, reviewed and delivered to the public, with a focus on accuracy, transparency and timeliness.
The core seminar featured a panel discussion with three figures from Cayman’s media sector – Sandra Hill of Cayman Marl Road, Vanessa Hansen-Allot of Compass Media, and Wendy Ledger of Cayman News Service.
Each panellist brought a distinct perspective shaped by experience across mainstream, digital and grassroots platforms.
Discussions explored the challenges of maintaining credibility in an era of instant information, the growth of citizen journalism, and the responsibility of media organisations in shaping public opinion.
Participants engaged actively, with breakout sessions allowing for deeper reflection on media ethics, audience expectations and the relationship between journalism, governance and community trust.
The evening concluded with an informal debrief at The Roost, where conversations continued in a relaxed setting.
“I am very pleased with how the first seminar went,” said Jada Ramoon, programmes coordinator for Leadership Cayman.
“Everyone was highly engaged, curious, and willing to share their perspectives. It set a strong foundation for the year ahead.”
The seminar was supported by Leadership Cayman mentors Amber Caum, Victor Crumbley and Lisa Parks, with Melissa Whorms serving as moderator.
Leadership Cayman is a six-month immersive initiative for emerging leaders organised by the Chamber of Commerce and designed to deepen participants’ understanding of the islands’ social, economic and political landscape.
