University of Technology, Jamaica TO CONFER HONORARY DEGREES ON NATION-BUILDERS
DR. PATRICK DALLAS, RICHARD BYLES AND OLYMPIAN SHERICKA JACKSON AT ITS 2023 GRADATION CEREMONY
The University of Technology, Jamaica (UTech, Jamaica) will confer honorary degrees on distinguished Jamaicans Dr. Patrick Dallas,a renowned ICT and Engineering Process Control expert, Mr. Richard Byles, accomplished corporate leader and current Governor of the Bank of Jamaica; and internationally acclaimed Olympian Shericka Jackson, at its 2023 Graduation Ceremony.
UTech, Jamaica will host Graduation Ceremonies on Friday, November 17, 2023, and Saturday, November 18, 2023, both beginning at 10:00 am at the Alfred Sangster Auditorium, Papine Campus. Graduates of the Faculty of Engineering and Computing, the Joint Colleges of Medicine, Oral Health and Veterinary Sciences, College of Health Sciences and the Faculty of Law will be presented on Friday, November 17, while graduates of the College of Business and Management, Faculty of Science and Sport, Faculty of The Built Environment and the Faculty of Education and Liberal Studies will receive academic awards on Saturday, November 18, 2023.
Dr. Patrick Dallas is a distinguished figure in the Chemical Engineering, Control Engineering, ICT, and Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) industries. He is the current CEO at Convergent Technologies Ltd. and also serves as an Adjunct Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Engineering and Computing, UTech, Jamaica where he has also served in a research advisory capacity and has mentored scores of the faculty’s students.
A prominent leader in the Jamaican telecommunications landscape, Dr. Dallas has spearheaded the introduction of numerous computer telephony integration (CTI) products and advocated for a forward-thinking interconnect Policy in Jamaica. He played a pivotal role in the consultative talks with the Government of Jamaica on the Jamaica Telecommunications Act of 2000.
As a former President of the Jamaica Computer Society and founding Chairman of both the Jamaica Software Developers Association (JAMSDA) and the Jamaica Adiotext Service Providers, Dr. Dallas’ influence on the ICT industry has been extensive. His tenure as Chairman of the Government of Jamaica’s Central Information Technology Office and the Board of Examiners (Licensing of Electricians) reflects his commitment to advancing technology standards.
In addition to his pioneering efforts, Dr. Dallas has been pivotal at the helm of significant software development prospects and advocated fervently for the sector’s growth. He has been instrumental in positioning software development as a key driver of economic transformation in Jamaica.
Dr. Dallas holds a BSc in Chemical Engineering and an MSc in Chemical Systems and Process Control Engineering, both from University of Veszprém, Hungary and a PhD in Control Engineering from the University of Bradford, UK.
For his stellar contribution to research in chemical process engineering, process control engineering, ICT convergence, business process integration, and the strategic application of STI in national development, Dr. Patrick Dallas will be conferred with the Doctor of Technology Honoris Causa (Hon. DTech) at the UTech, Jamaica Graduation Ceremony on Friday, November 17, 2023.
Mr. Richard Byles, Governor of the Bank of Jamaica (BOJ), has contributed five decades of professional service excellence spanning the fields of information, marine services, industrial development, investment, management, insurance, banking, tourism, property services and central banking in the private and public sectors of Jamaica.
He has significantly influenced the exercise of responsible public financial management and economic development in modern Jamaica, leveraged through his illustrious career and track record and is one of the most accomplished corporate leaders in Jamaica.
In his current role, the BoJ Governor also serves as the Chairman of the CARICOM Central Bank Governors’ meetings for 2023. Mr. Byles is also Chairman of the Board of Commissioners of the Financial Services Commission. His most recent previous assignments included being Chairman of Sagicor Group Jamaica Limited, following 13 successful years at the helm of Sagicor Group Jamaica as President and Chief Executive Officer. In addition to serving as Chairman for several Sagicor Group-related boards, he was also Chairman of a number of other private sector boards, including Desnoes and Geddes Limited (Red Stripe Jamaica), and a Director on Panjam Investment Ltd., among other boards.
During his tenure at Sagicor, Mr. Byles distinguished himself as the first private sector Co-Chairman of Jamaica’s landmark Economic Programme Oversight Committee (EPOC), which was responsible for monitoring Jamaica’s performance under the economic transformation and sustainable debt reduction programme as part of an Agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
Mr. Byles holds a B.Sc. in Economics from the University of the West Indies, Mona and an M.Sc. in National Development from the University of Bradford, Yorkshire, England.
In recognition of his sterling contributions to business leadership, Mr. Byles was inducted into the Private Sector Organization of Jamaica (PSOJ) Hall of Fame. He was also awarded the Doctor of Humane Letters by Northern Caribbean University, and the Doctor of Business by the University College of the Caribbean. Other honours bestowed on him include the American Friends of Jamaica International Achievement award and the American Chamber of Commerce Lifetime Achievement Award.
In recognition of his sterling contribution to Jamaica’s social and economic development, UTech, Jamaica will confer the Doctor of Laws Honoris Causa (Hon. LLD) on Mr. Byles at its Graduation Ceremony on Saturday, November 18, 2023.
Olympian Shericka Jackson, OD
One of Jamaica’s most acclaimed sprinters, Olympian Shericka Jackson, who competes in the 100, 200, and 400 metres, in 2022 became the fastest woman alive and second fastest woman of all time in the 200 metres.
Jackson started her career as a 400 m sprinter, winning bronze at the 2016 Rio Olympics, 2015 World Championships and 2019 World Championships. At the same competitions, she added medals in the 4 x 400 m relays, taking silver, gold and bronze, respectively. She also earned the gold medal in the 4 x 100 m relay at the 2019 World Championships.
After Jackson shifted to shorter sprints in 2021, she won bronze in the 100 m at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, adding gold and bronze for the 4 x 100 m and 4 x 400 m relays respectively. That year, she achieved sub-10.8-second and sub-22second personal bests in the 100m and 200m respectively and with her 400 m lifetime best below 49.5 s, she became one of few women to reach such marks at all those events simultaneously.
At the 2022 World Championships, Jackson won a silver for the 100 m, gold in the 200 m setting a national record, and a silver for the 4 x 100 m relay. She was the 2022 Diamond League 200m champion.
Coached, by the Hon. Stephen Francis, OD, of the UTech, Jamaica based MVP Track and Field Club, Jackson is currently the only athlete in World Championship history to win medals in the 100, 200 and 400 metres (and by extension, the 4x100 and 4x400 metres relays). She is also the second athlete in history, behind Marita Koch to win medals in the 100, 200, 400, 4x100 and 4x400 metres at the World Championships and/or the Olympic Games. She was awarded the national honour of the Order of Distinction in 2022 for distinction in her field. Jackson has commenced studies in the BSc. in Sport Science course of study at the University of Technology, Jamaica.
In recognition of her phenomenal achievements in sprinting and her contribution to nation building, UTech, Jamaica will confer Shericka Jackson with the Doctor of Laws Honoris Causa (Hon.LLD) at its Graduation Ceremony on Saturday, November 18, 2023.
Commenting on the honorary degrees to be conferred on the outstanding Jamaicans, Dr. Kevin Brown, President, UTech, Jamaica stated “University of Technology, Jamaica is pleased to honour these three distinguished nationbuilders in recognition of their stellar contribution to Jamaica’s growth and development in the distinct areas of engineering, business and sports.”