Gavin Cassar - Non-Executive EGI Director

Gavin Cassar has over two decades of legal experience in trust, corporate and commercial litigation with specialty in Trusts and Banking Law. Mr. Cassar is Consultant Counsel to Cassar & Co., a law firm specializing in Commercial Litigation and Mutual Funds Consultation Services.

Sole member of the Worldlink for Law and international body of 70 law firms situated throughout North America, South America, Canada, Europe and Asia. Mr. Cassar is a Member of The Bahamas Bar Association and a longstanding member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners, England. He has attained a Bachelor of Laws Degree from the University of Wolverhampton, England on the 10thJuly 1991 with Honors. Graduating from Ontario Business College, Bellville, Ontario, Canada in 1985 with a Diploma in Business Administration and Accounting with Distinction. He has also received a Diploma in Negotiations from the Harvard University, Cambridge Massachusetts in 1997.

Father Palacious - Independent Non-Executive EGI Director

Archdeacon James E. Palacious is a reputable priest who actively served in Diocese for 42 years after being ordained in 1976. At the time of his retirement he was the Archdeacon for Administration on the Diocesan Office, assisting the Bishop in administration. As well as the #1 Vice President to the Bahamas Christian Council. He presently serves as a Business Consultant and the Business Development Manager of the Company BRON, owned by his son and engineer Carlos Palacious. Palacious is a graduate of the most highly distinguished Universities, such as Kelham Theological College, University of the West Indies, Princeton Theological Seminary and later Drew University, where he received a Bachelor of Arts in Theology, Master of Arts in Christian Education and Master of Philosophy in Religion and Society. Prior to being ordained in 1976, James Palacious gained experience as a Clerk at Deltec, the Banking Corporation, an Assistant Teacher for the Ministry of Education, and a Part Time Lecturer in Social Studies at the College of The Bahamas. Palacious also has the distinction of embracing many Civic Duties. Some of his Civic Duties include Justice of the Peace, Chairman of the Governor General’s Youth Award Management Council, Former Director of the Central Bank of The Bahamas, and Member of the Disciplinary Tribunal of The Bahamas Institute of Charted Accountants. Throughout Archdeacon James Palacious’ career he held many distinguished private and public sector board appointments.

Samantha Knowles-Pratt LL.B (Hons), TEP - Director of Corporate and Legal for the Equity Group

Mrs. Samantha Knowles-Pratt is an experienced lawyer, specializing in financial services, corporate and securities law, having served as a senior attorney and partner with a few of the country’s major law firms as well as with the Securities Commission of The Bahamas. In the past, Samantha has advised on complex issues particular to corporate and commercial law, including shareholders’ agreements, the sale of shares in a company, sales of a business and related issues, including regulatory and governmental approvals. She has been involved in setting up and structuring/ re-structuring investment funds, including SMART funds, ICONs and funds structured as segregated accounts companies. Samantha has provided counsel on the Securities Industry Act, the Securities Industry Regulations, associated Guidelines and reporting obligations as well as on the Investment Funds Act and Regulations, SMART Fund Rules and reporting obligations under each one. She also has considerable experience with private wealth management structures, inclusive of IBC’s, trust, purpose trusts and private trust companies. Mrs. Pratt is a member of The Bahamas Bar and also a member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP).

Kim Thompson - Non-Executive EGI Director

Kim Thompson was President and Director of Offshore Managers Limited and presently holds a Masters of Arts Degree with a concentration in Counseling; a Masters of Arts degree in Human Resources Management; Foundation Certificate from the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP); Diploma in Trust Administration and Accounts.