KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Governor-General, on the advice of the Public Service Commission, has given approval for the appointment of Colette Roberts-Risden, as Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, effective January 1, 2015.

Roberts-Risden will replace Permanent Secretary, Alvin McIntosh, who will be proceeding on retirement.

She first joined the public service as a Research Fellow at the Management Institute for National Development on April 1, 1997. She was later appointed to the Ministry of Labour and Social Security on January 3, 2000, as director of public assistance and was instrumental in the design and implementation of the Programme of Advancement through Health and Education (PATH).

Roberts-Risden was subsequently promoted to director, social security in the Ministry of Labour and Social Security on May 1, 2007, and to her present post as Chief Technical Director in the Office of the prime minister on April 1, 2013.