We extend our deepest congratulations to His Honour, Mr. Glenn Wilson, a graduate of our MIR program (Class of ’79) on his appointment to the Industrial Court of Trinidad and Tobago which is committed to providing access to justice for all citizens, and resolving disputes and other matters arising between trade unions and employers.
Glenn Wilson has over thirty-eight (38) years of experience as a Human Capital practitioner. He has held a number of corporate Human Capital Management roles, including Chief Executive Officer, Government Human Resource Services Company Limited (GHRS); Vice President and Head of HR, BG Trinidad and Tobago Limited (BGTT). He also served as HR Manager at various organizations including CARICOM Secretariat, Trinidad and Tobago National Petroleum Marketing Company Limited (NP), School Nutrition Company Limited (SNCL) and Assistant Manager Compensation, Iron and Steel Company of Trinidad and Tobago (ISCOTT). He is the founding Vice President and a former President of the Human Resource Management Association of Trinidad and Tobago (HRMATT).
Before Glenn began an illustrious career spanning four decades, he was a student at the Centre for Industrial Relations and Human Resources where he recalls studying under Professor Robert Prichard, future President Emeritus of the University of Toronto.
“I wrote a final essay for him in lieu of analysing the recommended cases,” he says. “I thought it would allow me free expression of my then radical perspective on industrial relations in my country and in the Caribbean as a whole. He would have none of it. His words to me were, ‘This is propaganda. If I mark it, you will fail this course. Now, go back and analyse the cases and let's see what happens." I ended up passing the course, and the greatest paradox of that experience is that I have been analysing, advising and now judging IR cases ever since, albeit within the context of a reformed IR Act – so, thank you, Professor Prichard.”
After submitting his final MIR paper and completing his degree, Glenn’s return to Trinidad and Tobago in May 1979 was bittersweet. “I had accomplished my goal of returning with tools the country needed, and ready to make a contribution to the elevation of HR/IR,” he says, “but exactly one week later, my grandfather passed on. He, along with my dad, had been the fulcrum of my quest to succeed, and although a bit of a setback, it pushed me to press on and work even harder.”
In many ways, Glenn considers his appointment to the Bench of the Industrial Court of Trinidad and Tobago the “crowning glory” of a career that includes his role as Vice-President, HR of the second largest international investor in the Gas Sector in Trinidad and Tobago, as well as three consequential stints as a corporate CEO and many others as a Board member, “just when the HR world was asking the question, ‘when will we get a seat at the table?’” He tells us, with much optimism that, “If I was able to fil that seat, it can certainly become a very routine occurrence.”
Glenn is also very glad to have played an important role – with a small group of HR practitioners under the leadership of Gordon Draper, Trinidad and Tobago's greatest local HR visionary and educator – in the formation of the Human Resource Management Association of Trinidad and Tobago (HRMATT), the premier association for HR related professionals in the country since 1989/90.
Two years ago, the Association inaugurated the HRMATT Legacy Awards, recognising its six founders with annual awards in their names, including the Glenn Wilson Award for Excellence in Industrial Relations. A man of profound grace and gratitude, Glenn is quick to point out that this honour, one of many earned throughout his long and impressive career, is an absolute privilege.