Empowering
Education & Entrepreneurship

About FirstRock Foundation

The FirstRock Foundation was formed on December 5, 2019 as the charitable arm of the FirstRock Group. With a keen focus on education and entrepreneurship, the FirstRock Foundation’s objectives include:

  • Stimulation and development of student interest in the field of education, primarily entrepreneurship
  • Outreach for students at the secondary and tertiary level who face social and financial challenges, thus inhibiting them from realizing their full potential
  • Support for children facing health challenges
  • Support for students at the secondary and tertiary level who contribute to new and innovative projects that will enhance the socio-economic conditions of youths
  • To aid in the development of centres of excellence in challenged communities
  • To provide for such social, cultural and athletic activities that will contribute to a healthful and productive environment

 

Board of Directors -FirstRock Foundation

Scholarships

Initiatives

Sheree Martin

Director 
FirstRock Foundation

Ms. Martin has spent the last fifteen years as an Executive driving business value in the Financial Services and Energy sectors. Known as an inspiring and strategic leader with the proven ability to establish effective teams and deliver results, she has a track record of achievements in the areas of Business Strategy, Marketing, Sales and Organizational Transformation.

Ms. Martin spent most of her professional career at the NCB Group where she led Marketing & Service Delivery for over seven years, the Non-Branch Channels business function of the Bank for two years and also served as the Executive Sponsor for the NCB Group’s Organizational Change Management effort in 2010.  In 2013, she led the Innovation Strategy for Digitization before leaving NCB to join the energy sector at JPS Company Limited in 2014. During her time at JPS, she led Human Resources, Government & Regulatory Affairs, Revenue Management, Customer Service and Energy Delivery. She returned to NCB in 2020 to drive the Group’s Client Experience and Organizational Health strategies as part of a wider Transformation Program. In this executive role, she is responsible for overseeing the targeted improvements in Customer Service and Culture across the organization. 

In addition to her corporate roles, Ms. Martin is a regular speaker on personal empowerment and a leadership development strategist who has worked with Executives and Entrepreneurs across the region. In 2016, she was named as Jamaica’s representative in the IWF Global Fellows Program for women leaders. She serves on the boards of several entities including Allied Insurance Brokers, the Planning Institute of Jamaica, the Caribbean Sustainable Energy Institute and the Convent of Mercy Academy (“Alpha”)

Dr Michael Banbury

Director & Co-founder
FirstRock Foundation

Dr. Michael Banbury is the Director and Co-founder of FirstRock Group. He is a Medical Doctor with a specialty in Primary Care and Diabetology. Dr. Banbury is a graduate of the University of the West Indies School of Medicine where he earned his Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery (M.B.B.S) and the Wharton Business School where his focus was in Distressed Asset Investing. He is also a Fellow of the Royal Society for Public Health (F.R.S.P.H).

Dr. Banbury serves at the Board level of various Private and Public sector entities and brings a wealth of management and business development experience. He is also a Director of Dolla Financial Services Limited and the Chairman of FirstRock Private Equity. 

Dr. Karen Phillips

Director 
FirstRock Foundation

 

Dr. Karen Phillips is a Consultant Physician and former HOD (Medicine) at KPH. She is also an Associate Lecturer at the University of the West Indies (UWI). She holds a DM in Internal Medicine (UWI) and MSc in Diabetes and Endocrinology (Queen Mary University of London).

Dr. Phillips is Co-Founder and Medical Director at REVAMP Rehabilitation Center as well as Co-Director at Meridian Medical Specialists. She has served on the executive of the Medical Council of Jamaica, the Medical Association of Jamaica, and is currently an executive member of the Association of Consultant Physicians of Jamaica as well as the Specialty Board of Internal Medicine (UWI).

Mrs. Pauleen Reid

Director
FirstRock Foundation

Mrs. Pauleen Reid is a devoted educator who received initial certification at Shortwood Teachers’ College.  She then advanced to the University of the West Indies where she earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English and later graduated from Central Connecticut State University with a Master of Science in Educational Leadership. She has contributed a chapter to the scholarly text Leadership for Success: The Jamaica School Experience (2017) Edited by Dr. Disraeli M. Hutton and Dr. Beverly Johnson. She is the featured subject of the book Pauleen Pamela Reid, Leader Extraordinaire authored by Dennesha Frazer.

Mrs. Reid has served as a member of the Jamaica Foundation for Lifelong Learning in Trelawny. She is also a Deacon at Burchell Memorial Baptist Church, Church Secretary, a Lay Preacher, and the Chairman for Church Mission.

Mrs. Reid’s achievements have captured national attention, as she was Lasco Principal of the Year for 2010-2011 and received the Prime Minister’s Medal of Appreciation for Outstanding contributions to Education. She is also a Past President of The Association of Principals and Vice –Principals and has also chaired the Professional Development Committee. She was the founding Principal of Holland High School in Trelawny was also a member of The Advisory Board of The National College for Educational Leadership as well as its International Relations and Marketing Committee, and Lead Administrator for The Executive Principals’ League. Though officially retired, she was contractually engaged by the Ministry of Education to serve as the Interim Principal at the newly branded Knockalva Polytechnic College, 2018-2022. She currently serves on the Joint Board of Teacher Education as an External Examiner for final year Teacher Trainees. Mrs. Reid is also a Director on the Board of Victoria Mutual Foundation. 

Joyce Chin

Director
FirstRock Foundation

Mrs. Joyce Chin has a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Illinois, USA, in Home Economics.  She taught Home Economics at Polo High School in Polo Illinois for one a half years before she married her husband and migrated to Jamaica.  She then taught fifth and sixth form students at the Holy Childhood High School for a year.  

Since then, Mrs. Chin has been a director/secretary of her husband’s company, David M. Chin & Associates, where she managed the office.

Mrs. Chin alongside her husband, has also managed a restaurant, disco, and supermarket over the years. She is now a retired businesswoman

Reverend Veront Satchell

Director 
FirstRock Foundation

Reverend Veront Satchell is a senior lecturer, author and devotee to public service. He is a long-time stakeholder of the University of the West Indies (UWI) where he earned his Bachelor of Arts, Master of Philosophy, and PhD. He is currently a senior lecturer at UWI in the Department of History and Archaeology. He has also earned several research awards including Principal’s Award for Best Research Publication 2012 and Principal’s Award for Most Outstanding Researcher in 2013. 

Reverend Satchell is the author of several books and articles including From Plot to Plantation: Land Transactions in Jamaica, 1896-1900, Sugar Slavery and Technological Change, Jamaica 1760-1830 and Emancipation and Reparation. He also serves on several boards including the Mico University College, The Queen’s School, Registrar General’s Department and the Jamaica National Heritage Trust.

Norman Reid

Chairman,
FirstRock Real Estate Investments Limited

Mr. Norman Reid is the Chairman of First Rock Real Estate Investments. He is a career Banker and has served the Financial Services Sector for over 40 years with his most recent post being Senior Assistant General Manager for Retail Banking at NCB. His expertise includes Risk Management, Leadership, Sales Management and Governance. He serves as a Director at the EXIM Bank, Access Financial Services and Growth Tech Limited. He also chairs the Sub-Committees of these Boards.

Norman holds a BA in Banking and Finance, a Diploma in Banking (ACIB) and a Diploma in Retail Banking from the BAI (BANK Administration Institute) USA. He is also a Fellow at the Institute of Banking and Financial services in the UK. Mr. Reid was also appointed as a mentor to the Emerging Leader Initiative administered by the Bank Administration Institute.