Symposium Agenda

21st February 2026

8:30 AM

Registration 

9:00 AM

Welcome

Lizzette Yearwood, Alternate Deputy Chairperson and Director, Alex Panton Foundation
9:05 AM

Welcome Remarks

H.E. Jane Owen, Governor of the Cayman Islands
9:10 AM

Remarks

Hon. Katherine Ebanks-Wilks, MP, Minister for Health, Environment and Sustainability, Cayman Islands Government
9:20 AM

Honouring Alex: Listening to Understand, Not to Respond

Jane Panton, Chairperson and Founder of the Alex Panton Foundation 

9:40 AM

When the Court is not Enough: Understanding the Limits of the Law in Protecting Children at Risk

Chief Justice Margaret Ramsay Hale
10:15 AM

Coffee Break, sponsored by Maples Group

10:35 AM

Improving Mental Health Outcomes in Teens & Young Adults

Dr. Stenette Davis,
BMedSci(Hons), MBBS, DM Psychiatry, Master Hypnotherapist
Consultant Psychiatrist, Integra
11:10 AM

The Role of Acceptance in Supporting Young People

Dr. Jennifer Robertson, Senior Counselling Psychologist, Aspire Therapeutic Services
11:45 AM

Mental Health First Aid Cayman Islands: Making Every Conversation Matter

Hylton Grace, Correctional Counsellor, Cayman Islands Government
12:15 PM

Lunch sponsored by Dart

12:55 PM

The Dual Path to Agency: Integrating Calming Spaces with Claiming Voices

Dr. Pearlyn Henry-Burrell, Acting Principal, Theoline McCoy Primary School
1:30 PM

Powerful Support Systems: How Connection Builds Resilience

Panel Discussion
Moderator –
Dr. Chantal Basson, Clinical and Educational Committee Chair, Alex Panton Foundation
Panel –
Elizabeth Brown-Richmond, Teacher, John Gray High School
Toni Edwards
Monique Hibbert, Youth Ambassador, Alex Panton Foundation
Laura Larner, Certified Professional Coach, Your Paradise Life

2:20 PM

Coffee Break

2:40 PM

Rewiring Hope: The Neuroscience of Stress, Anxiety, and Resilience in Cayman’s Youth

Dr. Ryan Punambolam, Consultant Neurologist, Doctors Hospital
3:15 PM

Healing through Expression: How Creativity Helps Teens Move from Overwhelm to Hope

Elissa Gross, Counsellor, Infinite Mindcare
3:40 PM

Parenting for the Future: Evidence-based Support that Builds Youth Resilience & Reduces Risk 

Miles Ruby, Parent Practitioner, Family Resource Centre
4:15 PM

Closing Remarks  

Emily Kelly, Executive Director, Alex Panton Foundation
4:35 PM

Closing