We are thrilled to announce that Dr. Richard W. Georges, President of H. Lavity Stoutt Community College and the British Virgin Islands’ first-ever Poet Laureate, will be a featured speaker at BVI Ideas Fest 2025.

A dynamic force in Caribbean arts, education, and cultural thought, Dr. Georges represents a rare blend of academic leadership and literary brilliance. As the first alumnus to lead HLSCC, his presidency has marked a new chapter of innovation, artistic integration, and community-centered vision at the institution. His journey from student to president is a powerful testament to the transformative power of education in the BVI.

Dr. Georges is an award-winning poet whose collection Epiphaneia won the 2020 OCM Bocas Prize for Caribbean Literature, the region’s most prestigious literary honor. As founding editor of MOKO: Caribbean Arts & Letters, he has helped elevate the voices of writers and artists across the region, fostering a platform for bold and authentic Caribbean expression.

At the BVI Ideas Fest, Dr. Georges will share insights on the role of imagination, storytelling, and cultural identity in shaping a more resilient and creative society. With his unique perspective at the intersection of literature, leadership, and learning, his session promises to ignite meaningful conversations and inspire new ideas for the territory’s future.

Join us as we welcome The Poet President to the stage—an educator, creator, and visionary whose work continues to shape the cultural and intellectual landscape of the Virgin Islands and beyond.