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UWI St. Augustine Launches ‘Her Space in AI’ to Strengthen Women’s Role in Artificial Intelligence

For Release Upon Receipt - June 3, 2026

St. Augustine


St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago – June 3rd 2026 - As artificial intelligence continues to reshape education, work and everyday life, The University of the West Indies (The UWI) St. Augustine Campus, Artificial Intelligence Innovation Centre (AIIC) has launched Her Space in AI, a new working group focused on strengthening women’s participation, belonging and capacity-building in the field of AI.

 The working group co-chaired by Ms Amanda Zilla was launched on April 23, 2026, during a panel discussion titled “Women in AI: Ghosts in the Machine,” organized in honour of International Girls in ICT Day 2026. The event was held at the Daaga Auditorium and livestreamed for virtual participation.

 Held in collaboration with CIBC Caribbean and the Artificial Intelligence Innovation Centre, the discussion explored the role of women in shaping the future of AI and the opportunities AI can create for women in the Caribbean.

 The name Her Space in AI reflects the group’s purpose: to help build a supportive ecosystem that promotes the active involvement and belonging of women in the AI field. The group will operate as a collaborative research, development and mentorship community, bringing together scholars and technology practitioners across multiple fields. Its work will focus on initiatives, campaigns and capacity-building opportunities related to AI literacy, digital skills, the gender digital divide and the impact of AI on women’s lives and livelihoods.

 AIIC’s Executive Director Dr Craig Ramlal said the working group is being established as an inclusive and collaborative space, open to participants from the private sector, public sector, academia and the international community.

 He said women’s involvement at all stages of the AI life cycle is essential because AI is already shaping their lives and livelihoods in both positive and negative ways.

 “Their participation helps ensure that potential harms, biases, and broader forms of inequality are recognised and addressed.”

 Dr Ramlal also noted that gender bias in AI is a well-documented challenge and said the AIIC intends to play an active role in addressing this through the creation of the working group. He added that by bringing together diverse voices, perspectives and expertise from across disciplines, the group can contribute meaningfully to solutions while building capacity among the next generation of girls interested in AI.

 In her launching of the working group, Ms. Amanda Zilla, discussed the realities faced by many women locally and regionally within this field and which differed from the environment of the AIIC which she described as one where “persons regardless of their gender and all other identifying  labels were free to voice their opinions, propose ideas and have their contributions taken seriously”. She further stated that in recognizing and discussing these experiences and disparities, it became clear to the AIIC team that it was imperative that they build “a  safe space for women to contribute, mentor each other and advocate for each other's best interests in a sustainable manner that reaches far beyond the boundaries of campus to the wider world.”

 The panel featured Dr Phaedra Mohammed, Lecturer in the Department of Computer and Information Technology, UWI; Tamika Ramkissoon, Senior Product Manager and AI Engineer at I’deffect; Sarah Rudder-Chulhan, Associate Director Digital & Client Experience of CIBC; and Amanda Zilla, Principal Investigator of the Dream Lab cluster of the AIIC.

 

 

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 About The University of the West Indies

 The University of the West Indies (The UWI) has played a crucial role in Caribbean development for over 75 years, consistently contributing to the improvement of the well-being of people across the region.

Established in 1948 as a university college of London in Jamaica, with just 33 medical students, UWI has grown into an internationally respected, global university with nearly 50,000 students. Today, it boasts five campuses: Mona in Jamaica, St. Augustine in Trinidad and Tobago, Cave Hill in Barbados, Five Islands in Antigua and Barbuda, and its Global Campus, along with international centres in partnership with universities across North America, Latin America, Asia, Africa, and Europe.

 The UWI offers over 1000 certificate, diploma, undergraduate and postgraduate degree options in Culture, Creative and Performing Arts, Food and Agriculture, Engineering, Humanities and Education, Law, Medical Sciences, Science and Technology, Social Sciences, and Sport. As the leading university in the Caribbean, it is home to the largest pool of intellect and expertise in the region, dedicated to addressing the critical issues facing both the Caribbean and the wider world.

 Validated by its inclusion in the Times Higher Education (THE) annual rankings since 2018, The UWI has affirmed its position as one of the top universities globally. It stands out as the only English-speaking institution in the Caribbean featured in four of THE's prestigious ranking lists. The World University Rankings evaluate over 2,000 research-focused universities worldwide, while the Golden Age University Rankings highlight institutions established between 50 and 80 years ago. The Latin America Rankings focus specifically on universities within Latin America and the Caribbean. Additionally, the Impact Rankings assess universities based on their contributions to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

 This recognition has also springboarded the establishment of The UWI’s International School for Development Justice (ISDJ), a global online graduate business school aimed at preparing future leaders for sustainable development.

 The UWI is an SDG-engaged university consistently recognised among the best in the world. Discover more at www.uwi.edu.

 

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