The Caribbean Philanthropic Alliance (CariPhil) will host Future Forward 2025 from October 28 to 31 at the AC Hotel Kingston, bringing together Caribbean and international changemakers to reimagine how philanthropy can drive sustainable development across the region and its diaspora. The four-day event will close with a special celebration at Strawberry Hill in the Blue Mountains.
The forum will unite leaders from civil society, business, and government to address some of the Caribbean’s most pressing challenges—from climate resilience and migration to gender equity and economic inclusion. For Caribbean Americans and members of the diaspora deeply invested in the region’s future, the event offers a powerful opportunity to strengthen cross-border collaboration and community impact.
“The Forum comes at a pivotal time,” said Anthea McLaughlin, CEO of CariPhil. “Caribbean communities are innovating daily, but they remain underfunded and underrepresented. Future Forward 2025 is about shifting that dynamic—empowering local leaders to shape the global philanthropic agenda.”
Designed in partnership with major organizations such as the OECD and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, the forum will help bridge the gap between global funders and grassroots initiatives. Through innovative programs like CLASP (Climate Philanthropy & Strategic Partnerships), Future Forward 2025 will connect financing directly to community-led projects across the Caribbean.
One of the forum’s signature events will be the Women Impact Awards on October 29 at the AC Hotel, celebrating trailblazing women across the Caribbean and diaspora whose leadership exemplifies transformational giving. Honorees include Dr. Michèle Pierre-Louis (Haiti), Thalia Lyn (Jamaica), Guerline Jozef (Haiti/USA), Dana François (Haiti/global), Keithlin Caroo-Afrifa (St. Lucia), Dr. Trisha Bailey (Jamaica/USA), Amina Doherty (regional), Donnya Piggott (Barbados), and Dr. Leith Dunn (Jamaica).
“These awards offer a global platform to celebrate women whose philanthropic leadership strengthens communities across the Americas,” said McLaughlin. “They remind us that women’s giving is not only generous—it’s strategic, collaborative, and deeply rooted in care.”
The awards highlight the growing role of Caribbean and diaspora women in shaping the region’s development agenda. Their giving often bridges global partnerships with local action, focusing on education, climate resilience, healthcare, and economic empowerment. Many also involve families and communities in their philanthropy, building intergenerational legacies of leadership and inclusion.
The celebration will feature a special message from the Clinton Global Initiative, along with performances by Tessanne Chin and Dr. Karrian Hepburn-Malcolm, adding a dynamic cultural and inspirational touch to the evening.
The conference will conclude with a high-level forum at Strawberry Hill, featuring keynote speaker Denise Bradley-Tyson, Chair of the American Heart Association’s Bernard J. Tyson Social Impact Fund, alongside leaders from the Equality Fund, MIT PKG Center, and the Caribbean Development Bank–SheTrades Initiative.
CariPhil’s Board of Directors, chaired by Professor Rosalea Hamilton, includes Susan Taylor Batten, Milton Samuda, Esq., Milton Speid, Dr. Michele D. Singh, and Deana James, President and CEO of the St. Croix Foundation for Community Development—representing a strong mix of regional and diaspora leadership.
“Future Forward 2025 is not just a forum,” McLaughlin said. “It’s a call to action—for the Caribbean to define its own future through collaboration, courage, and care.”
