Luisa McLaughlin of the Cayman Islands Customs & Border Control (CBC) has been selected as the Ministry of Border Control and Labour Chief Officer’s Choice for February.
Ms McLaughlin, CBC Data Analyst/ Statistician, was nominated for Pursuing Excellence in Talent Development by the Department’s Deputy Director – Management Support Service Marlon Bodden. The area for which she was nominated is one of the goals of the Civil Service 5-Year Strategic Plan and one of the categories for recognition under the Deputy Governor’s Award Programme.
Mr Bodden commended Ms McLaughlin’s commitment to excellence and talent development:
“Luisa reminds me of a quote I once heard: ‘Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard.’ I have frequently praised Luisa for her exceptional abilities. She continually hones her skills, seizes training and development opportunities, and generously shares her knowledge with others.”
The Ministry’s Chief Officer Wesley Howell noted that Ms McLaughlin’s analytical thinking helps CBC find creative alternatives. “True leadership is not about finding all the answers, but about helping to find creative alternatives. Luisa helps to inspire and empower others to think outside the box, to challenge the status quo, and to innovate solutions that create positive change.”
As a skilled data analyst and statistician, Ms McLaughlin is crucial in providing accurate and reliable data to senior management, colleagues, the Ministry, and various stakeholders. Her work assists in identifying trends, highlighting gaps, and facilitating the reallocation of resources, all in line with CBC’s vision of strengthening the security and stability of the Cayman Islands through an intelligence-led risk management approach.
CBC Director Charles Clifford commended Ms McLaughlin for her unwavering commitment to excellence. “Her exceptional analytical abilities provide the Department with pivotal information to see trends that contribute to the Cayman Islands and the community.”
When asked how her work makes lives better, Ms McLaughlin highlighted her strategic position within the Statistics Unit of CBC’s Management Support Services Portfolio. “My role involves monitoring the operations and activities of CBC, providing statistical data to inform decision-makers, and supporting various strategies based on data analysis.”
Regarding her exceptional performance, Ms McLaughlin emphasised the importance of continuous training and education to stay current with the fast-paced world. She keeps herself updated on research methods, analytical software, and regional and global trends that can benefit the Cayman Islands.
Ms McLaughlin joined the Customs and Border Control Service in December 2019, following 12 years of work as a Research Analyst at the National Drug Council. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics and Business Administration. She has also earned certifications from IBM and, more recently, from the International Association of Law Enforcement Intelligence Analysts (IALEIA) and the Law Enforcement Intelligence Units (LEIU) as a Certified Intelligence Analyst and Data Analyst.
Expressing her gratitude for being selected as Chief Officer’s Choice, Ms McLaughlin acknowledged her team and managers, “Winning this award would not have been possible without the support of my seniors and colleagues, for whom I have the most profound respect and have derived the strength to challenge myself and perform better at each stage.”
