Founding Board Members

Dr. Natalie Dick - Specialist Developmental-Behavioural Paediatrician

Dr. Natalie Dick, is one of the founding Directors of CKFTO, and the current Chairperson of the National Centre for Persons with Disabilities. She attended Naparima Girls High School and later obtained her undergraduate medical training at the University of the West Indies (St Augustine and Cave Hill); then went to the USA to complete formal postgraduate training in both General Paediatrics and Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics and still continues to maintain "diplomate status" with the American Board of Paediatrics. She is currently, the only Board-Certified Specialist Developmental-Behavioural Paediatrician in the country.

She balances the commitments of her professional service in the Department of Paediatrics at the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex, her private practice in Developmental-Behavioural Paediatrics; with her voluntary community service within CKFTO, and as, as well as in several faith-based community medical outreaches.

Sofia Figueroa-Leon - Vice Chairperson

Born in Venezuela, Sofia has a BA in Business Administration and has studied languages in England and Venezuela. She is the former Public Relations Manager for an International airline, Co-Owner of an Advertising Agency as well as a Certified Translator and Interpreter.

She also holds former Vice President title of the Hispanic Women of Trinidad and Tobago (HWTT), Hope of a Miracle (HOAM), an NGO that provides children with life saving surgeries.

Being the mother of a child with severe cerebral palsy, she is well aware of the lack of services for children with disabilities in the Caribbean, and through her philanthropic work has taken up the challenge to help those families.

Board Members

Elizabeth Aleong - Chairperson

A graduate of the University of Toronto, former Marketing Director of Peake Industries Limited. Elizabeth spent most of her career in the international business arena in the manufacturing sector. Currently involved in project and property management. She is the mother of a special needs child and is committed to the advancement of programs for special needs kids and their families.

Derek Luk Pat - Treasurer

Derek Luk Pat, is a parent of a child with Autism. He is an advocate for Disability Awareness programs throughout the Caribbean, with his current posting in St. Lucia, he hopes to fuse a CKFTO Caribbean vision Derek has 20 years management experience across several industries throughout the Caribbean, specializing in SME Startups and Turnarounds.

He attended Presentation College, San Fernando and UWI, St. Augustine and attained an MBA via Heriot Watt University Distance Learning Program. He is a proud marathoner, triathlete and an avid supporter of Caribbean integration.

Mark Alves

A mechanical engineer by profession, he manages a number of private companies in the industrial and energy sector. As a sibling of a sister with disabilities he offers a unique perspective as to how disabilities affect all members in our community. His philanthropy, dedication and caring for all children in need is limitless. Mark has a deep interest in helping children and their families reach their total potential.

Ida Eversley

Ida Mariana Eversley,'s Bachelors of Social Work Degree started her career as a Social worker attached to the Ministry of Social Development. Working as a Social Worker in the orphanages and other pediatric state facilities fueled her passion to help those who need it the most. Ida, an attorney-at-law with the State for the last 15 years, holds LLM (Legislative Drafting), LLB (Hons)(Cave Hill), LEC (St. Augustine), BSW(Magna Cum Laude) (Washington, D.C.), AA(Culinary Management) (Chaguaramas). She has worked as the Acting Registrar of the Industrial Court, and the Secretary to both the Commission of Enquiry into the Elections and Boundaries Commission and the Section 137 Tribunal.

Kim Amar

Studied Nursing at the University of Toronto and currently holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. She is a Professor in the Critical Care Program at Centennial College in Toronto and teaches Post Anaesthetic Care Nursing to Registered Nurses looking to obtain employment in the Recovery Room of hospitals. Formerly, she worked in Health Administration with a Toronto based paediatric therapy clinic (blueballoon) and was instrumental in initiating international therapy sessions around the world with the organizations' therapists.

Currently she is enhancing her Health Administration background with focus on courses in Community Development. Her goal is to enter the Nurse Practitioner program and to work with women and children. Kim believes that children are all so special and that the possibilities are endless with respect to what they can achieve. A positive attitude and a "let's see what they can do" approach has governed the way she works with all patients and people in her life.

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