Carnival is celebrated in various parts of the world with parades and dances that feature extravagant costumes. Anthony Brand will discuss the origins and history of the carnival tradition. He will play typical carnival music and talk about the dances associated with the celebrations, as well as the traditional and contemporary masks used in masquerades. While his primary focus will be on the carnival traditions of Trinidad and Tobago, he will also highlight the significance of carnivals celebrated around the globe. 

Mr. Anthony J. Brand, born in Canada to a Jamaican mother and Trinidadian father. He moved to Trinidad and Tobago as a child. He holds a Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Industrial Management from the University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, and earned an MBA with distinction from Vlerick Leuven Gent Management School when he moved to Belgium in 2000. 

His career includes marketing roles at Belgacom and UPS, as well as 13 years at Toyota Motor Europe in corporate planning and human resources. As an expert in Micro, Small, and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs) at the Organization of African, Caribbean, and Pacific States (OACPS), he transitioned to independent trade consulting in 2017, co-founding Coverpoint RCM B.V. in 2020. 

From 2019 to 2021, he worked as an Expert in Business Development at Business ACP, supporting the €650 million Joint OACPS-EU Private Sector Development Programme. In 2023, he became an MSME Expert at OACPS, focusing on initiatives that enhance investment climates and promote financial inclusion for women and youth. 

Image from Wikimedia Commons

With over 20 years of leadership experience, Anthony is a founding board member of the Caribbean Chamber of Commerce Europe and was named a Global Diaspora Business Advocate by Invest TT in 2021. He also promotes Caribbean culture through the InterNations Brussels Caribbean Club and sponsors the Caribbean Heatwave Band, participating annually in carnivals in Trinidad and Toronto.