The Antigua Public Utilities Authority (APUA) has marked another milestone in its drive to strengthen internal leadership, hosting the graduation ceremony for the fourth cohort of its Leadership and Development Programme.

The eight-week initiative is a key part of APUA’s succession planning strategy, aimed at equipping emerging leaders within the organisation with the skills, knowledge, and confidence to take on greater responsibilities.

Participants underwent intensive training in a wide range of areas, including effective leadership, performance management, planning and budgeting, labour relations, and project management. They also gained exposure to workplace health and safety, procurement, and resource management.

Beyond the core curriculum, supplementary workshops enhanced their skills in team building, customer service excellence, conflict resolution, communication, computer literacy, and report writing.

At the ceremony, Human Resources Manager Rodney Simon encouraged the graduates to view the programme as the foundation of their leadership journey.

“This is just the beginning. Leadership is a lifelong journey—one of building others, fostering collaboration, and driving positive change,” Simon told the graduates. “The skills you’ve acquired will be the tools in this journey, helping you to navigate challenges, motivate your teams, and contribute meaningfully to the growth of the Authority.”

He was joined by Training and Development Officer Jacqueline Pyle and facilitator Koren Norton, both of whom commended the participants for their commitment and growth during the programme.

The Leadership and Development Programme reflects APUA’s ongoing investment in its employees, ensuring the utility has a pool of well-prepared leaders ready to meet the demands of a rapidly evolving sector.

Officials say the initiative is not only critical to succession planning but also to driving innovation, efficiency, and excellence across the organisation—benefits that will ultimately extend to the public APUA serves.