A year after Barbados’ late Prime Minister David Thompson was hailed at the American Foundation For The University of the West Indies (UWI) gala, the university is honouring several key people of Caribbean and American backgrounds. Among them is Barbadian Kaye Foster-Cheek, senior vice-president, global resources, for Onyx Pharmaceutical.
Last year’s gala, a major fund-raising effort that provides financial support to the UWI’s three campuses in Barbados, Jamaica, and Trinidad and Tobago, also saw Belize’s Prime Minister Dean Barrow and Grenada’s leader, Prime Minister Tillman Thomas, being honoured along with Thompson.
Foster-Cheek, who will be presented with the Caribbean Luminary Award on January 26, directs the entire human resource function at Onyx, covering the United States and the firm’s global presence. Actually, she is responsible for everything from staffing, recruiting, compensation and benefits to performance management, organisational learning and development.
 “I see Kay Foster-Cheek, my classmate, not only as a peer but a role model,” said Janet Rolle, BET’s executive vice-president and chief marketing officer.
“She exemplifies all of the best qualities of the Caribbean – dedication to education, professionalism and integrity and, more importantly, commitment to serving others,” added Rolle, who is chair of the Foundation’s Legacy Awards Gala.
Before joining Onyx Pharmaceuticals, a world leader in cancer care, Foster-Cheek was a top corporate executive of Johnson & Johnson, serving as vice-president of human resources and a member of the multinational firm’s executive committee that manages the company.
The Caribbean Luminary Award will be the latest in a string of major honours Foster-Cheek has received in recent times, including the 2008 Woman Of The Year Award by Boy Scouts of America and the 2004 Woman Of The Year given by the Corporate Women’s Network. She was also awarded the Black Achievers In Industry.
Foster-Cheek isn’t alone on the Foundation’s list of honorees. Jeanine Liburd, executive president of Corporate Communications and Public Affairs for BET Networks – who directs public relations, public affairs and special events for the television company – will be presented with the UWI Vice Chancellor’s Achievement Award, along with Brenda Blackmon and Michael Escoffery.
Liburd, a Brooklyn resident, is the daughter of Antiguan and Barbadian parents. At different times she worked in corporate communications at Viacom, MTV and Robinson Lerer & Montgomery, a strategic communications firm. She also worked in the Clinton White House in the 1990s.
Suzanne de Passe, a prominent award-winning television and movie producer and director, will receive the Bob Marley Award.
