Dr. Vernon Paltoo

President

Appointed President of National Energy in 2013, Dr. Vernon Paltoo has worked on the conceptualisation, design, development and promotion of industrial and energy-related projects in Trinidad and Tobago at state agencies and academic institutions over the past 25 years. Prior to being appointed as President of National Energy, Dr. Paltoo served in several senior capacities including Vice President, Operations; Manager, Energy Industry Development; and Team Leader, Business Development. In this regard, he was instrumental in advancing key national projects including the methanol-to-power project, the ammonia/urea/melamine (AUM) project, the methanol to di-methyl ether project and the state-of-the-art Galeota Port project. More recently, his portfolio has expanded to include decarbonizing the energy industry, and the transition to sustainable energy development.

Dr. Paltoo currently serves as a director on the Boards National Energy Guyana Incorporated, National Energy Skills Center and National Helicopter Services Limited. He has also previously served on the boards of the Petroleum Company of Trinidad and Tobago Limited and InvesTT Limited. During his career, Dr. Paltoo has also contributed to the development of industrial sectors, having been a member of the Government Committees on Gas to Petrochemicals; Agriculture and Food Production; and Plastics, Printing and Packaging.

He has lectured on the energy industry on a part-time basis at The University of the West Indies and the University of Trinidad and Tobago. His areas of expertise include industrial development, engineering design, energy economics and project economics and he has authored and/or co-authored several academic papers, and regularly presents at conferences and seminars on behalf of the NGC Group of Companies. Dr. Paltoo holds a B.Sc. in Chemical and Process Engineering and a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering, both from The University of the West Indies.

Michelle Scipio-Hosang

Vice President, Port And Estate Management (Ag.)

Michelle Scipio-Hosang was appointed Vice President, Port & Estate Management (Ag.) in March 2022. During her 21 years at National Energy, Michelle worked in various shore-based supervisory and management positions. She has significant, demonstrative, and progressive experience in managing petrochemical terminals, providing support vessels for rig moves and other offshore operations within the marine and energy sectors.

Michelle’s key achievements at National Energy include:

• Leading the business strategies that facilitated the Company becoming a leader in the towage industry whilst maintaining an unblemished safety record.
• Growth of the Company’s towage market share from 25% to 75% to become the country’s largest local tug operator with a fleet of ten vessels.
• Diversifying the Company’s business scope from a local harbour towage provider to a regional harbour towage and offshore support service provider.

Michelle worked at sea for a period of nine years and had the opportunity to work on both local and international ships as a marine engineer. In 1997 she qualified as a Second Engineer with a UK issued license. Prior to joining National Energy, Michelle studied, trained, and worked for various companies in the maritime industry. In 2009, Michelle obtained her Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Maritime and Logistics Management from the Australian Maritime College, an institute of the University of Tasmania. As the first woman to be qualified as a marine engineer in Trinidad and Tobago, Michelle is recognised as a female leader in the local maritime industry.

Gregory Sealy

Vice President, Corporate Services and Business Development (Ag.)

Gregory Sealy was appointed Vice President, Corporate Services and Business Development (Ag.) in March 2022. Gregory is an Attorney-at-Law and Human Resource Generalist /Industrial Relations Practitioner with over 27 years’ experience, the majority of which has been in the heavy industry, petrochemical and oil and gas sectors.

He has held Senior Human Resource Management and Industrial Relations positions throughout his career including:
 

• Human Resources and Workforce Development Manager, Alutrint Limited
• General Manager - Human Resources, ArcelorMittal Point Lisas Limited
• Human Resources Manager - Employee Relations, Yara Trinidad Limited
• Manager - Industrial Relations, Caribbean Ispat Limited
• Human Resource Advisor, bpTT and
• Labour Relations Officer (Conciliator) Ministry of Labour

Gregory’s experience includes effectively leading Human Resource Teams, and the translation and implementation of HR initiatives geared towards the achievement of business plans. He also has training and expertise in Employment Law, Civil Litigation, Corporate/Commercial Law and Conveyancing and is very experienced, competent, and comfortable in leading Collective Bargaining Negotiations in challenging, strongly unionised environments.

With several years’ experience in Management and leadership in multinational organisations, Gregory has represented the various companies he has worked for in international forums and missions in Brazil, Argentina, France, Norway, China, and Guyana.

At National Energy, Gregory has held senior management positions in Human Resources, Corporate Communication and Strategic Planning. He is also a director on the Board of Phoenix Park Energy Holdings LLC, a subsidiary of Phoenix Park Gas Processors Limited.

Gregory holds a BSc. in Social Sciences from The University of the West Indies, a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of London (UK) and a Post Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice from the University of Staffordshire (UK). Gregory is licensed to practise law in Trinidad and Tobago.

Marcia Maynard

Vice President, Sustainable Energy Development (Ag.)

MSc., BSc., PMP, CPA, CMA, MAIChE

Marcia Maynard was appointed Vice-President, Sustainable Energy Development (Ag.) in March 2022. She holds a B.Sc. Degree in Chemical and Process Engineering and a M.Sc. Degree in Engineering Management from The University of the West Indies. She is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) and currently serves as the Chair of the Member Advisory Council for the Trinidad and Tobago CPA Chapter.

Ms. Maynard is a Project Management Professional (PMP) and serves as a member of the Project Management Institute (PMI) and as a Senior Member of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE). She is a member of the Women in Renewable Energy (WIRE) network, an initiative of the Clinton Foundation. Marcia, for most of her career, has worked in both the downstream energy and financial services industries.