UCCI DIRECTOR RECOGNISED AS LEADING AI AND EDUCATION INNOVATOR IN THE CAYMAN ISLANDS

UCCI Director, Tamsin Deasey Weinstein, has this month been recognized with a series of globally prestigious accolades, cementing her reputation as a pioneering force in artificial intelligence and education in the Cayman Islands. Her influence spans global industry, national policy, and academic innovation, marking a significant moment for the Cayman Islands as it continues to carve out a role in the rapidly evolving AI landscape.

This week, Deasey Weinstein has been selected for the inaugural cohort of the Perplexity AI Business Fellowship, a prestigious global AI programme designed to empower professionals at the forefront of artificial intelligence innovation. This highly competitive fellowship provides participants with access to exclusive mentorship, hands-on AI training, and direct engagement with industry leaders shaping the future of AI. This comes after her successful completion of a prestigious AI business leadership programme at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). The business fellowship programme features live fireside chats with some of the world’s most influential tech pioneers in the world, including Jensen Huang, CEO of NVIDIA, Aravind Srinivas, Co-founder and CEO of Perplexity AI and Roy Bahat, Head of Bloomberg Beta, among others. Participants also receive hands-on training in AI application development, with opportunities to build functional AI tools.

Perplexity AI is an innovative artificial intelligence company founded in 2022. The company has attracted significant investment from notable figures and organizations, including Jeff Bezos, Nvidia, and Databricks, and as of December 2024, it secured $500 million in funding, elevating its valuation to $9 billion.

As the only participant from the Cayman Islands, Deasey Weinstein’s selection places her at the heart of a global conversation on AI-driven business transformation. This recognition underscores her growing influence in the AI sector and her commitment to bringing world-class AI expertise to Cayman’s education system and broader business community. Through the fellowship, the University will also gain access to Perplexity’s cutting-edge AI enterprise tools, equipping UCCI with the latest advancements to drive innovation both locally and internationally.

At home, her leadership continues to shape the future of AI education in Cayman. Recently appointed as Co-Chair of the Cayman Islands’ AI Committee for the Ministry of Education, she is helping to lead efforts to integrate AI-driven innovation into the nation’s educational framework.

This role places her at the helm of a movement that seeks to position Cayman as a leader in AIenhanced learning, ensuring that students and educators alike have access to cutting-edge technology and AI-driven tools that will prepare them for the future workforce. She is dedicated to fostering AI literacy and ethical AI adoption within the community and ensuring that Cayman remains engaged in the global AI conversation while developing its own local AI initiatives.

As a second accolade, Deasey Weinstein also received a global educational leadership award this week, the prestigious Principal Fellowship in Higher Education from Advance HE. This UK based global distinction recognizes only a select number of professionals worldwide, who have demonstrated sustained strategic leadership in higher education. This is a testament to her impact, acknowledging her role in shaping educational policy, curriculum development, and institutional innovation.

With a career dedicated to AI and education, Deasey Weinstein has long been at the forefront of innovation in Cayman. Since 2023, she has championed AI education at UCCI, authoring the university’s first white paper on AI in education and leading the development of AI-focused curriculum for both students and faculty. Her commitment to innovation was recognized early when she received UCCI’s AI Innovation Award in 2024, and she has continued to push boundaries ever since.

In addition to her work in AI, Deasey Weinstein recently spearheaded the Future of Workforce in Cayman initiative, a national project aimed at addressing the growing skills gap across key industries. Launched in response to a 2023 Labour Market Assessment conducted by UCCI in collaboration with Workforce Opportunities and Residency Cayman and the Chamber of Commerce, this initiative has gained significant traction nationwide. Through a series of highimpact roundtable discussions with leaders from finance, construction, tourism, IT, and sustainability, the project has identified critical workforce challenges and developed actionable strategies to align education and training with industry needs. Deasey Weinstein’s leadership in this initiative underscores her dedication to building a future-ready workforce, ensuring that Caymanians are equipped with the skills necessary to thrive in an evolving economy.

Reflecting on these recent achievements, Deasey Weinstein shared her vision for Cayman’s future. “This is an extraordinary time for Cayman, and I am honoured to be at the forefront of this transformation in artificial intelligence and helping to equip Caymanians with skills they will need now and in the future. All these accolades reflect the growing momentum we are seeing in AI education, policy, and innovation across the regional and globally.

My hope is that through these initiatives, we can continue to build a future that is ethical, inclusive, and empowering for all Caymanians.”

Dr. Robert Robertson, President and CEO of the University College of the Cayman Islands (UCCI), stated, “Tamsin’s recognition on both global and national stages is a testament to her unwavering dedication to advancing artificial intelligence and education in the Cayman Islands.

Her innovative leadership continues to position UCCI at the forefront of academic excellence and technological advancement. UCCI is a passionate believer in advancing the workforce of tomorrow and we will continue to work with public and private sector individuals to make this happen.”

With each accolade and appointment, Deasey Weinstein is helping to shape a new era for the workforce in the Cayman Islands, one that bridges global advancements with local opportunities.

Her work continues to elevate Cayman’s presence in AI discussions worldwide, ensuring that the islands remain at the cutting edge of this technological revolution.