GOVERNOR General Sir Patrick Allen, who is a statutory visitor of the University of Technology, Jamaica, is expected to address the gathering to install a new chancellor on February 13.

UTech, Jamaica will host the installation ceremony for its third chancellor, Lloyd Carney, at the Alfred Sangster Auditorium, Papine campus. Fayval Williams, the minister of education and youth, will also participate and present the chancellor with the University Act — the governing instrument of the university which incorporates its charter and statutes.

The chancellor is head of the university and, among his duties, is charged with presiding over at least one meeting of the council annually as well as the conferring of degrees, diplomas, certificates, and other academic distinctions and awards.

A Jamaican by birth, Carney has had an illustrious career in the IP (Internet protocol) networking industry, spanning more than 30 years. He is the founder and chairman of USA-based Carney Technology Acquisition Corp II (CTAC II), a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) which successfully raised US$400 million to focus on technology acquisitions. CTAC I raised US$200 million which resulted in the acquisition of Grid Dynamics, a Nasdaq-listed company which was in the top one per cent of performing SPAC stocks. Grid Dynamics recently established an engineering centre in Jamaica.

Carney holds a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering Technology and a Master of Science in Applied Business Management from Lesley College in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He has also been awarded honorary doctorate degrees from Wentworth Institute of Technology and the University of Technology, Jamaica. He serves on several boards, including VISA audit committee chair; Vertex audit and compliance committee; and GRID Dynamics.

Carney has also been involved in various philanthropic efforts in Jamaica, South Africa and Haiti, focusing on health care and children’s needs.