KINGSTON, Jamaica— The Barbados-based Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) says effective today, May 1 former deputy executive director Elizabeth Riley will act as the new executive director for the regional organisation.

Riley’s promotion comes after Jamaican Ronald Jackson stepped down from the position earlier this week, after seven years.

According to the CDEMA, Riley joined the CDEMA Coordinating Unit in 2001 and has occupied the role of deputy executive director since April 2012. She also acted in the deputy position between 2009 and 2012.

The CDEMA said Riley has over 20 years of experience in the area of disaster management at the regional and international levels in various capacities.

During her tenure as deputy, she was responsible for the agency’s technical programming and provided strategic guidance in the areas of preparedness and response, mitigation, recovery, education and training and information management.

According to the CDEMA, Riley holds a MA (Econ) in Environment and Development from University of Manchester, United Kingdom, BSc (Hons) in Geography from the University of the West Indies, Mona, Jamaica and a Masters Certificate in Results Based Monitoring and Evaluation and Information Systems from the University of Laval, Quebec.