IMA hosts Stakeholder Engagement Session to Shape 2025-2030 Strategic Plan
The Institute of Marine Affairs (IMA) convened its Stakeholder Engagement Session under the theme ‘Road to the Extraordinary: The Path Less Travelled’ on Wednesday 27th November 2024. This pivotal event brought together key stakeholders to collaboratively chart the organisation’s 2025-2030 Strategic Plan, with a focus on innovation, resilience and transformative decision-making.
Delivering the keynote address on behalf of the Honourable Pennelope Beckles, Minister of Planning and Development, Deputy Permanent Secretary, Ms. Melanie Noel emphasised the significance of stakeholder inclusion, stating, “All sectors of society need to be engaged. Public policy is not worth the paper it is on if stakeholders are not engaged.” She added, “Stakeholder engagement is essential for a country’s sustainability.” IMA’s Chairman of the Board of Governors, Mr. Ermath Harrington, welcomed participants and highlighted the organisation’s pillars of People, Plant, Process and Product. He underscored IMA’s commitment to “innovation and transformation”, noting that the journey ahead required bold choices and collective action.
Deputy Director of the IMA, Dr. Rahanna Juman provided an overview of the IMA, emphasising that the organisation’s greatest assets are its people, and noted staff’s capabilities and dedication. Director of Institute, Dr. Ava Maxam outlined the opportunities and challenges the organisation faces, including exploring new funding sources and investments to support its environmental initiatives.
During the session, IMA unveiled its proposed vision: “To be a centre of excellence at the forefront of marine and coastal research, expertise, innovation, development and outreach – locally for Trinidad and Tobago and regionally for the Caribbean.”
The proposed mission further reinforced the organisation’s objectives: “To be an internationally recognised marine and coastal research institute that addresses current and anticipated environmental challenges – specifically the triple planetary crises of pollution, biodiversity loss and climate change – for sustainable development.”