I have very fond memories of my time as a student in the Geography Department, UWI, from 1977-1980. At that time the Department had an exceptional set of lecturers, and might I say an exceptional set of students from across the Caribbean as well. The lecturers included Dr Vernon Mulchansingh (Head of Department, Economic Geography, Cartography), Mr. Alan Eyre (Physical Geography, Climatology, Political Geography), Mrs. Eleanor Jones (Geomorphology), Dr. Wilma Bailey (Bio Geography, Agricultural Geography), Mrs. Ann Lyew-Ayee (Demographics, Urban Geography, Statistical Geography), Dr Brian Hudson (Planning), Dr Vincent George (Urban Geography). Of course all the lecturers were involved in the dreaded Labs which were compulsory. Indeed, a student could not advance to the next year if he/she failed the Labs. I myself loved the Labs as it gave me the opportunity to hone my cartographic skills.

It should be noted however that while I majored in Geography, I was also able to indulge in my other subject areas in which I had an interest, most notably Economics and Political Science. I therefore graduated with a B.A. (Hons) in 1980, majoring in Geography with minors in Economics and Political Science. The Jamaican Geographical Society (JGS) was also very active at the time (I in fact held several positions including President) and in some ways served to complement the formal instructional programme.

Pursuing studies in Geography was never in doubt because it was not only my best subject in High School, but I had long made the decision to pursue a professional career in Urban & Regional Planning or Town & Country Planning as it is known in Britain, and a degree in Geography was the foundation for doing so.

I hold all my former lecturers in very high regard – I had met Mrs. Eleanor Jones when still at St. Hugh’s High School, as she was the external examiner for my ‘A’ Level Geography Project, and we have maintained an excellent relationship ever since. Dr. Wilma Bailey has also been instrumental in providing academic support, particularly at the post graduate level, and Mrs. Ann Lyew-Ayee has provided me with the firm grounding in Geographic Methods that have served me will throughout my professional life. Dr Brian Hudson helped to prepare me psychologically for my chosen profession as he did caution that one needed to have a ‘thick skin’ to persist in the planning profession. Well he will be happy to hear that I am characterized as the ‘Iron Lady’ by many of my professional colleagues. He was very right. My fondest memories however are for Dr. Alan Eyre, whose temperament and love for Geography knew no bounds. It was infectious.

With the solid foundation in Geography and Social Sciences, I successfully completed my professional qualification at the Graduate School of Public and International Affairs (GSPIA), University of Pittsburgh, USA, where I was awarded the Master of Urban and Regional Planning (MURP) in 1984.

I am presently working on a publication related to Jamaica’s Cultural Heritage, which I expect to publish in 2017. Previously, I worked as General Manager of the Urban Development Corporation (UDC) in November 2008 after acting in the position from December 2007. While in that position, I was charged with responsibility for charting the strategic direction of the Corporation as well as overseeing the day to day operations in response to Government’s mandate to return the organization to its core business of providing the technical services required for undertaking urban development projects islandwide. I demitted office in December 2011.

Prior to joining the staff of the UDC, I served as the Senior Urban and Regional Planner on the Development Plan for the Portmore to Clarendon Park leg of Highway 2000, a project of the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) (2004-2007). This plan continues to be utilized as the basis for all development approvals within the plan area.

I have also been a local and regional consultant working on projects related to urban and regional planning, institutional strengthening, tourism, natural resource management, EIAs, community development, programme evaluation and training. I have also had a longstanding relationship with the College of Art Science and Technology (CAST) now the University of Technology (UTECH) as adjunct faculty, and also lectured at the University of the West Indies (UWI). I have also held several technical and management positions in the public sector, having worked at the Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica (PCJ) and the Ministries of Construction (Housing) and National Security.

I have been instrumental in the environmental movement in Jamaica, holding the distinction of being the first Jamaican Representative to the Man and The Biosphere Commission of UNESCO, Paris, France (2009-2012). I also co-founded the Jamaica Conservation and Development Trust (JCDT), and served as its first executive director. This early professional sacrifice has paid rich dividends as having been instrumental in the formulation of the PARC project, the forerunner of a system of parks and protected areas on the island, which led to the establishment of the Blue and John Crow Mountains National Park and the Montego Bay Marine Park, I was pleased to see that in July, 2015 the Blue and John Crow Mountains was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage Site List.

Internationally, I have also participated on several Committees of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) headquartered in Switzerland. At the regional level I have collaborated with the Caribbean Tourism Organisation (CTO) in fostering dialogue on the concept of eco-tourism, assisted with the co-ordination of annual eco-tourism conferences and also participated in activities of the Caribbean Conservation Association (CCA).

I have served on numerous Public Sector Boards and Committees. Some of these include, the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ), National Housing Trust (NHT), Natural Resources Conservation Authority (NRCA), Town & Country Planning Authority (TCPA), Urban Development Corporation (UDC) and its numerous Subsidiaries and Associated Companies, as well as Independence Park Limited (IPL).

Presently, I am the Chairman of the Board of Management of the Spanish Town High School located in Spanish Town, St. Catherine, Chairman of Board, Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM), and Chairman of the Board of the National Library of Jamaica. I am also on the Board of the Jamaica National Heritage Trust (JNHT).

Joy Eleanor Douglas