Meet the Executive

President

Shane Ragbir

Shane Ragbir is the Chief Data & Command Center Officer at Amalgamated Security Services Limited and the President & Director of the GIS Society of Trinidad & Tobago (GISSTT). He brings over a decade of leadership experience in data strategy, digital transformation, and geospatial intelligence, with a proven track record of driving organizational resilience and innovation. At ASSL, Shane leads enterprise-wide data governance, analytics, and 24/7 command center operations, ensuring regulatory compliance, service reliability, and actionable insights that support strategic decision-making and emergency readiness. In his role at GISSTT, Shane has been instrumental in shaping the Society’s strategic vision, advancing the adoption of GIS across Trinidad & Tobago and the wider Caribbean. Under his leadership, GISSTT has expanded partnerships, secured significant grant funding, and championed capacity building through training programs, workshops, and public awareness initiatives. His advocacy work continues to influence policy, strengthen collaboration between sectors, and expand the Society’s regional footprint. Shane is a Project Management Professional (PMP) and Certified GIS Professional (GISP) with academic credentials in Geomatics and Geoinformatics from the University of the West Indies. He has been recognized with numerous awards, including the 2015 CIO 100 Honoree Award and multiple Chairman’s Awards at ASSL for innovation and excellence. Passionate about the transformative power of geospatial technology, Shane is committed to empowering organizations and professionals to leverage GIS for sustainable growth, smarter decision-making, and national development.

Vice-President

Priya Harnarine

Priya Harnarine is a Project Management Professional, Business Development Strategist, Engagement Specialist and Certified Bid and Proposal Writer with a strong academic foundation in International Relations and Global Studies, grounding her work in a deep understanding of global systems and cross-cultural engagement. With more than seven years of experience across the private sector, non-profits, and international organizations, Priya has designed and executed business development strategies, secured donor funding, and built high-level partnerships that strengthen organizational growth and sustainability. She is recognized for her ability to connect diverse stakeholders, cultivate networks, and translate complex challenges into collaborative, actionable solutions. Her career spans project management, proposal development, and stakeholder engagement, where she has consistently delivered measurable results and long-term impact. Whether leading strategic initiatives, developing innovative engagement frameworks, or mentoring future leaders, Priya brings vision, structure, and creativity to every endeavor she undertakes.

Treasurer

Avinash Ramcharitar

Mr. Avinash Ramcharitar began his career as a Geographic Information Systems (GIS) professional in 2010 at the Ministry of Sport of Trinidad and Tobago. He concentrated the use of GIS in the field of asset management and facilities management. Mr. Ramcharitar attained a BSc. Majoring in Physics with Minors in Environmental Physics and Electronics from the University of The West Indies, St. Augustine Campus in 2007 and recently graduated from the said institution with a M.Sc. In Geoinformatics.

Geospatial Technology Specialist

Cassie Roopnarine

Cassie Roopnarine is an experienced professional with over five years of extensive expertise in disaster management, specializing in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and their application to address challenges pertinent to disaster resilience. Holding a Master's degree in Geoinformatics and a Bachelor's degree in Geography with electives in Environmental and Natural Resource Management (ENRM), Cassie boasts a robust academic foundation in GIS and geospatial analysis. Her expertise extends to providing technical guidance and support to diverse stakeholders, offering invaluable insights into leveraging GIS for disaster management initiatives. Cassie has spearheaded the development of innovative solutions through the utilization of state-of-the-art tools and technologies to support various projects under GISSTT. Committed to promoting disaster resilience through data-driven approaches, she is deeply passionate about educating individuals on the pivotal role of GIS in disaster management. Cassie's tenure at the ODPM has afforded her invaluable experience in disaster risk reduction and community resilience-building endeavors. Possessing profound expertise in risk assessments, she recognizes the paramount importance of a human-centric approach, emphasizing vulnerability, exposure, and capacity alongside susceptibility analysis. Acknowledging the significance of localized data collection and analysis, Cassie is dedicated to advocating for participatory methodologies, particularly in small island developing states such as Trinidad and Tobago. Her unwavering commitment to humanitarian response and community development renders her an invaluable asset in advancing global disaster resilience efforts.

Geospatial Technology Specialist

Rayna Sookdeo

Rayna Sookdeo, MSc (Geoinformatics), is a Geospatial Technology Specialist with over five years of experience in geospatial sciences and UAS mapping. She brings hands-on experience as a UAS pilot skilled in advanced drone technologies including RTK-enabled systems and LiDAR sensors which she leverages to support scientific research and environmental monitoring. Rayna has contributed significantly to the Institute of Marine Affairs (IMA) and the GIS Society of Trinidad and Tobago (GISSTT), where she has served as Geospatial Technology Specialist on projects such as Building Resilient Communities (BRC) and Women-Cantered Disaster Resilience (WCDR). At the IMA, she has applied geospatial science to advance national and regional priorities in areas such as oil spill monitoring, marine spatial planning, blue carbon quantification of mangrove ecosystems, mangrove rehabilitation, and coastal resilience research. Her work informs policy, supports sustainable resource management, and drives scientific inquiry in Trinidad and Tobago. Her experience includes the management of end-to-end geospatial workflows, including high-accuracy data collection, quality assurance, spatial analysis, metadata management, and the development of advanced interactive visualizations. She also brings expertise in LiDAR post-processing, producing outputs such as high-resolution ortho mosaics, point clouds, and 3D visualizations, as well as in the analysis of high-resolution satellite imagery. An effective science communicator, Rayna excels at translating complex geospatial data for community members and stakeholders through technical documentation, training manuals, and compelling visualizations. Through her leadership at GISSTT, she actively promotes capacity-building, knowledge transfer, and the integration of geospatial technologies to strengthen the sustainable development in Trinidad and Tobago and Small Island Developing States (SIDS).