By: Antonio Dey | HGPTV Nightly News | October 31, 2025
Youths were encouraged to be multi-dimensional and open to diverse career opportunities in an ever-evolving job market during the Greater Guyana Initiative (GGI) Stakeholders Youth Forum on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM), held on Friday at the Guyana Marriott Hotel.
The event, which brought together secondary school students and industry professionals from sectors including aviation, oil and gas, and education, aimed to expose young people to the wide-ranging career prospects within STEM fields while emphasizing the importance of adaptability and continuous learning.
During a lively panel discussion, Deedra Moe, Global Director for Socio-Economic Management at ExxonMobil, shared insights from her professional journey, underscoring how her communication background has complemented her work in the STEM arena.
“STEM is important to all aspects, and it will become even more critical as we work to solve more of the world’s complex problems. Being part of that journey is very important,” Moe stated.
Jayda Overton, Vice President of the University of Guyana’s Society of Petroleum Engineers, encouraged students to leverage digital technology and artificial intelligence to enhance their learning and understanding of complex topics. Reflecting on her own career path as an Economics major, Overton urged students to remain open-minded when exploring professional opportunities.
“When I was 16 or 17, I didn’t have everything under control. But when you try new things, you grow. Keep trying until you build that confidence in yourself,” she advised, also stressing the need for inclusive opportunities for persons with disabilities in STEM-related fields.
Other speakers, including Carl Baird, Instructor at the Leonora Technical Institute, and Nalini Chanderban, General and Accountable Manager at the Art Williams and Harry Wendt Aeronautical Engineering School, echoed similar sentiments.
“Young people are already drawn to technology. With the right guidance, they can use that interest to build knowledge and careers,” Baird said.
Chanderban, highlighting efforts to expand technical training, added:
“Go get your science, your technology. Even if you don’t do the CVQ, we’re partnering with the Ministry of Education through programs at the Essequibo Technical Institute in Regions One and Two.”
The Greater Guyana Initiative is a collaboration between the Stabroek Block co-venturers—ExxonMobil Guyana, Hess Guyana Exploration, and CNOOC Petroleum Guyana—and the People of Guyana, aimed at promoting education, skills development, and national capacity building.
Scenes from Friday’s forum showed students engaging with panelists, networking, and exploring interactive STEM exhibits — all designed to inspire the next generation of innovators and problem-solvers.
