Board of Directors
The Team
James E.D. Rawle, CD
Mr. James E.D. Rawle is the Executive Chairman of LASCO Manufacturing Limited, LASCO Financial Services Limited and LASCO Distributors Limited. He is also the Managing Director of LASCO Manufacturing. He did undergraduate studies in Natural Sciences at the University of the West Indies, from which he also holds the Master of Science degree in Organic Chemistry. He brings to the Board a wealth of knowledge and experience, having served in various senior managerial positions, at one of the leading multinational food companies in the world for over 41 years. His extensive training in Organic Chemistry has been the base for his far-reaching work in manufacturing, new product research and development, as well as production and plant management. He also has extensive functional experience in brand management, sales, marketing, finance and strategy formulation and execution.
Mr. Rawle has been past Chairman of several Public entities, including The Board of the Bureau of Standards, The Scientific Research Council, The Natural Resources Conservation Authority, The Environmental Foundation of Jamaica, Nutrition Products Limited and The Cocoa Industry Board.
Mr. Vincent A. Chen
Vincent Anthony Chen has over 45 years of experience in the field of law, having been admitted to practice as an attorney in Jamaica in 1967, and in the United Kingdom and British Columbia in 1976. His areas of practice include Admiralty Law, Commercial Law and Real Property Law. He is Notary Public for Jamaica, and a partner at the law firm Chen, Green and Company.
He currently holds the positions of Company Secretary and General Counsel for the LASCO Affiliated Companies. Mr. Chen’s duties include ensuring the Company abides by standard legal and financial practices, and maintaining corporate governance.
Sir George Alleyne
Sir George Alleyne, a native of Barbados graduated in medicine from the University College of the West Indies in 1957. He was appointed Professor of Medicine at the University of the West Indies (UWI) in 1972 and Chair of the Department of Medicine in 1976. He joined the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), Regional Office of the World Health Organization (WHO) in 1981, became Assistant Director in 1990 and Director on 1 February 1995 and after re-election in 1998, completed a second four-year term on 31 January 2003. In 2003 he was elected Director Emeritus. From February 2003 until December 2010, he was the UN Secretary General’s Special Envoy for HIV/AIDS in the Caribbean. He was Chancellor of the University of the West Indies (2003-2017) and a visiting professor at the Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University (2003-2017). He is now Chancellor Emeritus.
As Director of PAHO and subsequently, he has dealt with issues of health policy, equity in health, HIV/AIDS, non-communicable diseases, and the basis for international cooperation in health. He has addressed the complexity of the interaction between health and development and has also been actively involved with several aspects of Caribbean health. He has been a member of numerous International Committees, Commissions, Working Groups and Boards dealing with the issues above.
In 1990, he was made Knight Bachelor by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II for his services to Medicine. In 2001, he was awarded the Order of the Caribbean Community, the highest honor that can be conferred on a Caribbean national.
Wayne Beecher
Wayne has more than twenty years of senior management experience spanning the public and private sector where he has developed expertise in strategy, innovation, project management and technology application. He is the founder and CEO of alt^Catalyst, a professional service firm whose mission is to identify, inspire and catalyse the next generation of human centred design innovators. His most recent assignment was the management of a portfolio of development innovations for the Multilateral Investment Fund; the Innovation Lab for the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) Group. Since leaving the IDB he has been applying his energy and skills to seed and accelerate several innovative entrepreneurial ventures. He has also undertaken several impact-oriented assignments; with global and regional development partners, to unlock the entrepreneurship and innovation ecosystem in Jamaica and the Caribbean.
He is a certified project management professional, with a degree in Management Studies & Accounting and MBA.
Stephen Newland
Stephen Newland, a multifaceted entrepreneur, philanthropist, and artist who embodies the spirit of innovation and community service.
As the owner and operator of a thriving agri-processing business, Hopewell Farms, Newland has been establishing himself as a leader in the agricultural industry, leveraging his expertise to promote sustainable farming practices and support local farmers. Complementing his business endeavors, Stephen Newland serves as the Chairman of the Sunflower Environmental Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting environmental conservation and education. Through this role, he has been instrumental in conceptualizing, implementing and supporting projects that foster a healthier and more sustainable environment. Newland is an accomplished international recording artist and founding member and lead singer of the band ROOTZ Underground. With a music career that spans multiple genres and audiences, his artistic expression reflects his creativity, passion, and commitment to inspiring positive change.
Professor Rosalea Hamilton
Professor Rosalea Hamilton is CEO of the LASCO Chin Foundation since June 2018. She is a Board Director for LASCO Manufacturing Limited and is Chair of Caribbean Philanthropic Alliance since 2019. She was Vice President at the University of Technology, Jamaica (2008 to 2018) and was awarded a Professorship in the Scotiabank Chair in Entrepreneurship and Development. She established and led The MSME Alliance, a network of small business organizations, for ten (10) years. She also established the Institute of Law & Economics and worked as a consultant and public educator on trade, governance, gender and other areas of economic and social development. She has taught at the graduate and undergraduate levels in Jamaica and the US. She was Special Advisor and Trade Policy Consultant in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade (2000-2003) and served as Chief Advisor to the Prime Minister of Jamaica (May 2006-Sept 2007). She is a Board Director for LASCO Manufacturing Limited. In 2022, she was appointed as the Honorary Consul of the Republic of Sierra Leone in Jamaica.
Mrs. Anna-Kay McIntosh Richards
Anna-Kay McIntosh Richards joined the LASCO Chin Foundation in 2019 as the first Social Worker for the Schooling Support Programme. She advanced to Case Manager in 2022, overseeing psychosocial case assessments and core programme activities. Currently, she serves as the Programmes Manager, responsible for overseeing and supporting the Foundation’s programs and projects. Her responsibilities include co-managing core programs and engaging with stakeholders. Her dedication and expertise have significantly contributed to the Foundation’s mission and success.
Anna-Kay holds a Master’s degree in Communication for Social & Behaviour Change and a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work from the University of the West Indies, Mona Campus.
Lisa-Gaye Bender
Lisa Bender currently serves as the Operations Officer of the LASCO Chin Foundation. She joined the team in 2019 and in her current role, Lisa oversees the Foundation’s daily operations, while providing executive assistance to the CEO. With a strong commitment to the foundation’s mission, Lisa has maintained a high level of professionalism and plays a vital role in providing assistance in the execution of all of the Foundation’s programmes. Her solid work ethic and excellent interpersonal skills, make her an exceptional team player and service-oriented individual.
Errol Findley
Errol has been the Accountant for LASCO Chin Foundation since January 2019. With over 35 years of experience in Financial Accounting, he has worked in various sectors, including Central Government, the National Water Commission (NWC), and the Shipping Industry (25 years).
In 2013, Errol joined ACDI/VOCA – Jamaica, a USAID-funded project focused on climate change and adaptation, working in Accounts and Procurement. In 2016, he became the Project Accountant for another USAID-funded project, FIWI Jamaica.
Errol is CPA trained and holds an Honours Bachelor’s degree in Accounting. He is meticulous and believes that careful financial management, integrity, and honesty are crucial for a company’s success. He lives by the mantra, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you,” and enjoys walking in the hills, long drives in the countryside, and spending time with his teenage son.