Employee of the Year 2025 - Portfolio of the Civil Service
Deputy Governor's 2025 Awards
Deputy Governor’s 2025 Awards Ceremony
Elation filled the room as Jovanna Ebanks Wright, Principal of the Sir John A Cumber Primary School, was named the Cayman Islands Government (CIG) Employee of the Year for 2025. Mrs Wright was given the top civil servant award at a ceremony held at the Kimpton Seafire Resort last Thursday night, 16 April, in front of top government officials, civil servants and loved ones.
Mrs Wright was selected by Deputy Governor Honourable Franz Manderson from among 12 Employee of the Month awardees, under the Deputy Governor’s Award Programme.
“Tonight, we celebrate 12 individuals who define excellence, not by title, not by intention, but by what they do every day.
Their actions set the standard; their commitment lifts others; their examples shape our Civil Service, and in doing so they remind us all of what we are capable of.”
- Honourable Franz Manderson, MBE, Cert. Hon., JP
Deputy Governor & Head of the Civil Service
Employee of the Year - Jovanna Ebanks Wright
Mrs Wright was recognised for her role in leading the Sir John A Cumber Primary School (SJACPS) from an Office of Education Standards rating of ‘Weak’ to its first rating of ‘Good’ in 2025.
Chief Officer of the Portfolio of the Civil Service and Deputy Governor Designate Gloria McField-Nixon, Cert. Hon., JP, said Mrs Wright has supported positive outcomes not only for herself and her teams but also for hundreds of children at SJACPS, standing side by side, head to head, with our leading private sector institutions.
Mrs McField-Nixon praised Mrs Wright for showing that, “in Cayman Islands schools – where ‘Weak’ no longer exists – we can demonstrate the power of leadership, of vision, of passion.”
Mrs Wright is the first civil servant in the 13-year history of the Deputy Governor’s Award Programme to hold the top honour twice, having been part of the 2020 CIG Team of the Year.
In her acceptance speech, Mrs Wright said the award was “a reminder to continue striving, to continue leading with purpose and passion, and to continue believing in the power of education to change lives.”
Lifetime Achievement Award
This year’s ceremony held special significance as it marked the final one under the leadership of Mr Manderson prior to his retirement in July 2026.
In a highlight of the evening, he received a lifetime achievement award for his leadership and strong commitment to Civil Service excellence, the delivery of government priorities, and employee engagement and recognition.
Her Excellency The Governor Jane Owen (right) and Portfolio of the Civil Service Chief Officer and Deputy Governor Designate Gloria McField-Nixon presented the award.
Employee of the Year Nominees
The nominees for 2025 Employee of the Year were the 12 Cayman Islands Government Employees of the Month. Each was selected for their contribution to one of the six goals of the Civil Service Strategic Plan 2024-2026.
2025 Employee of the Year nominees pose with Chief Officer of the Portfolio of the Civil Service Gloria McField-Nixon (left) and Deputy Governor Hon. Franz Manderson (9th from left). Missing from photo are May Employee of the Month Shawna-Kay Sinclair-Miller (whose award was accepted by Matthew Hylton (2nd left) and June Employee of the Month Tanya Scott.
January
Francesca Hamann
Senior Graphic Designer
Department of Communications, Cabinet Office
Strategic Goal: Deliver an Outstanding Customer Experience
Febuary
Desmond White
Head of Department, Teacher for Design & Technology & Robotics Coach
John Gray High School, Ministry of Education
Strategic Goal: Pursue Excellence in Talent Development
March
Kimari Fletcher-Barrett
Human Resources Director
Human Resources Department, Ministry of Education
Strategic Goal: Deliver an Outstanding Customer Experience
April
Karima Connor
Administrative Manager
Financial Reporting Authority, Portfolio of Legal Affairs
Strategic Goal: Deliver an Outstanding Customer Experience
May
Shawnna-Kay Sinclair-Miller
Administrative Officer,
Office of the Deputy Governor, Portfolio of the Civil Service
Strategic Goal: Delivering an Outstanding Customer Experience
June
Tanya Scott
Associate Director, Exchange Services and Acting Associate Director, Portal Services
Department for International Tax Cooperation, Ministry of Financial Services and Commerce
Strategic Goal: Develop Exceptional Leadership
July
Kimberly Kirkconnell
Senior Customer Service Manager
Department of Education Services, Ministry of Education and Training
Strategic Goal: Deliver an Outstanding Customer Experience
August
Jovanna Ebanks Wright
Principal,
Sir John A Cumber Primary School, Ministry of Education and Training
Strategic Goal: Deliver an Outstanding Customer Experience
September
John Wesley
Office Manager and Audit Assistant
Internal Audit Service, Portfolio of the Civil Service
Strategic Goal: Pursue Excellence in Talent Development
October
Jeniffer Bodden-Haylock
Administrator
Workforce Opportunities & Residency Cayman, Ministry of Caymanian Employment & Immigration
Strategic Goal: Develop Exceptional Leadership
November
December
Moments of Magic
RCIPS Representatives Accept Their Moment of Magic Award
In another standout moment of the ceremony, the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service walked away with the “Moment of Magic” award, for their efforts to combat burglaries. The citation noted that between 2014 and 2024, burglaries fell by 73%, to 209, and fell further in 2025, to below 200. This, even though the population had increased by more than 50% in the same period.
