Our Team

DIRECTORS

Kim Simplis Barrow
Mrs. Kim Simplis Barrow was appointed as Belize’s Special Envoy for Women and
Children in 2008. In that same year, she became the first Belizean to be designated
as a Global Ambassador by Special Olympics International. Mrs. Simplis Barrow has,
however, been working on behalf of children long before those titles and is the Founder
and Director of one of Belize’s most acclaimed NGOs, Lifeline Foundation. Mrs. Simplis
Barrow works tirelessly and passionately as a community activist, advocating for the
rights of children. Her passion is exemplified by her strong commitment and dedication
to these special platforms and to the Lifeline Foundation, which raises thousands of
dollars annually to aid disenfranchised children. As Special Envoy for Women and
Children, she is currently spearheading two major projects: construction of a Paediatric
Intensive Care Unit at the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital and establishment of the
Inspiration Centre which will offer healthcare and therapy for children with disabilities
as well as after-school programmes for children. In this role she has also been very
instrumental in raising public awareness on the subject of the commercial sexual
exploitation of children and successfully advocated for the passage of two pieces of
legislation to strengthen protection for victims of sexual violence and human trafficking.
She has also co-written a child friendly booklet on sexual abuse prevention that targets
6 to 10 year olds

Mrs. Simplis Barrow holds two Master’s Degrees from Florida International
University one in International Business and another in Hospitality Management.
She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Hospitality with a minor in Spanish from the Instituto
Technologico de Morelia in Mexico City. Mrs. Barrow is married to Belize’s current
Prime Minister, Hon. Dean Barrow, and has one daughter.

Karen Bevans
Karen Bevans is the Chief Operations Officer at Belize Telemedia Limited (formerly Belize Telecommunications Limited) and has been in the Telecommunications business for almost 25 years. She holds a Masters Degree in Business Administration and a Bachelor’s Degree in Management and Psychology. She is involved in several business, charitable and sporting organizations both locally and abroad.

Denise Courtenay
Denise Courtenay S.C. is an Attorney at Law who has been admitted to practice in Jamaica and Belize. In 2006, she was elevated to the status of Senior Counsel, which is a mark of recognition awarded by the Chief Justice of Belize, to attorneys who have distinguished themselves in the practice of law. She is currently a Partner with the firm of Courtenay Coye LLP, and Director of Apex Trust Corporation Limited, a licensed Trust Corporation in Belize. She is a member of the Bar Association of Belize and the International Bar Association.

Denise has served as a member of the General Legal Council, Chairman of Belize Elementary School, Board Member of the National Institute of Culture and History and the Belize Port Authority, and as a Consultant for UNICEF and the Commission on the Status of Women in Belize.

She has been a Director of The Lifeline Foundation since 2006, and hopes to use this platform to provide opportunities for health care and especially education, to children in Belize in order for them to realize their full potential.

Kelly McDermott Kanabar
Kelly McDermott Kanabar is well known in San Pedro Town, Ambergris Caye as Proprietor of the Phoenix Resort, one of the brightest of the new high end resorts in San Pedro Town. She is also a well known restaurateur, who has made her mark on three well known restaurants, the Blue Water Grill, Caliente Restaurant and Red Ginger Restaurant, all located in San Pedro Town. Kelly is also the Co-proprietor of Wine de Vine located in Belize City.

Lauren Reardon Smith
Lauren Reardon Smith has been involved in the duty free industry in Belize since 1988 owning and operating several retail shops at the international airport and cruise terminal along with border stores. She participates in other Humanitarian organizations such as the Rotary Club of Belize and is one of the funding members of Crime Stoppers Belize.

Jacqueline Roe
Jacqueline Roe grew up in Nigeria , India , England and Belize . She graduated from St. Bartholomew’s School of Nursing [ London , England] as an R.N. in 1985 .
Jacqueline then moved to Belize and worked for 5 years with the Ministry of Health promoting Maternal and Child Health Care .
Jacqueline is now a director and manager of Hofius Ace Hardware .

Rosalind Roe
Rosalind Roe’s newest venture is as the proprietor of Happy Tails, a pet supply and grooming store in Belize City. Prior to this she was a co-proprietor of El Papagayo Gift Shop which was for many years a Belizean institution specializing in unique jewellery, clothing, collectibles and accessories from the Caribbean, Central America and the United States.

Felice Williams
Felice Williams serves as accountant for Lifeline, she has 25 years working experience in the Insurance and telecommunication fields. She has served as secretary on Parent Teachers Association and continues to assist at schools where her children attend. She is the owner of Miramar Apartments in Placencia.

Heena Bhojwani
Heena Bhojwani was born in Mumbai, India and migrated to Belize in 1993 after she married Dinesh. She is mother to two wonderful children, Tasneem and Vivek. Heena has been instrumental in the growth of the family business, The Mona Lisa Group, a locally owned company that has interests in retail, real estate and philanthropy. She serves as a director of the company and as the firm’s administrative manager. In 2015, she created The Living Room, an intimate cafe and wine bar reflecting her worldly tastes. Heena has been instrumental in promoting the family’s philanthropic endeavors, including its feeding program and, more recently, its education fund.

Heena would like to bring her desire to serve those who are less fortunate to the Lifeline Foundation. Heena sees the work of the foundation as instrumental in the progress of our nation, Belize.

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TRUSTEES
Ms. Kim Simplis
Ms. Maype Smith
Bishop Phillip Wright

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PARTNERS
Liberty Children’s Home
Rotary Club of Belize
Kiwanis Club of Belize
Alliance Against AIDS
Hand in Hand Ministries

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FRIENDS and SUPPORTERS
Belize Telemedia Limited
Benny’s Home Center
Roe Group of Company
Bowen & Bowen Group of Company
Belize Bank