Road Town, British Virgin Islands | 29 October 2026 – H. Lavity Stoutt Community College (HLSCC) has announced the appointment of Jennifer Potter, Executive Director of The Gorda Group Ltd., to spearhead an ambitious reconceptualisation and repositioning of the Robert Mathavious Institute (RMI), with a renewed emphasis on industry responsiveness, commercial sustainability and international relevance.
Her assignment comes at a significant juncture in the Institute’s development, as the RMI seeks to build upon its existing foundation and better serve the evolving professional development needs of the Virgin Islands’ financial services industry.
Jennifer brings to the role more than 25 years of experience spanning executive leadership roles and governance functions across the public and private sectors
Ms. Potter previously held senior executive responsibilities within the BVI Financial Services Commission, including as Deputy Managing Director, overseeing critical operational portfolios and major transformation initiatives. Her expertise extends to commercial governance, strategic advisory and board leadership across private enterprises and statutory institutions.
Her breadth of experience will be instrumental in building upon the achievements of outgoing Director, Ms. Chidi Liburd, whose contributions to the Institute’s operational development and programme delivery have established an important foundation for its next chapter.
Commenting on the engagement, HLSCC President Dr. Richard Georges said:
“Jennifer’s onboarding reflects a deliberate investment in the specialist expertise necessary to guide the future-proofing of the RMI. Her extensive experience in institutional transformation and deep understanding of the BVI’s financial services industry position her extraordinarily well to lead this undertaking.”
For Ms. Potter, the engagement carries personal significance, given her longstanding relationship with the late Dr. Robert Mathavious.
“This is a unique opportunity to continue carrying forward Mr. Mac’s indelible legacy. His vision was never limited to the success of the industry at a particular moment, but carried an intrinsic commitment to building the institutional capacity and professional expertise necessary for the Virgin Islands to continue distinguishing itself on the global stage.”
“I am excited to bring together strategic thinking, industry engagement and practical implementation to help the RMI realise more of its potential. A key achievement of this exercise will be the effective translation of the Institute’s capabilities into meaningful opportunities for professional advancement, particularly for young Virgin Islanders, while strengthening the talent pipeline available to the industry.”
Jennifer will work closely with the College's President, Senior Management Team and Board of Governors to advance a more commercial strategic direction that complements HLSCC's broader mandate and advances the Territory's long-term human capital development. Her efforts will encompass an institutional assessment, extensive stakeholder consultation and the development of a revised strategic plan and implementation roadmap to guide the RMI’s next phase of growth.
The initiative will focus on strengthening industry engagement, diversifying professional programmes and revenue opportunities, and expanding partnerships with international professional bodies and educational institutions. These efforts will support the College’s broader ambition to establish the RMI as a leading regional centre for professional education and development, creating meaningful opportunities for emerging and established professionals.
In doing so, the Institute will further realize Dr. Mathavious’ lofty vision: a globally competitive Virgin Islands led by its own.
About the Robert Mathavious Institute
The Robert Mathavious Institute (RMI) is a professional education and development institute of H. Lavity Stoutt Community College, named in honour of the late Dr. Robert Mathavious and his contributions to the Virgin Islands' financial services industry. Through specialised training and professional development, the Institute advances industry expertise and local human capital, supporting the College's broader commitment to lifelong learning and the Territory's economic competitiveness.
Media Contact: Bria Smith | Communications and Public Relations Manager | H. Lavity Stoutt Community College | basmith@hlscc.edu.vg
