AFTER almost nine years as press secretary to Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness, communications specialist Naomi Francis has “taken wings” and has transitioned into another stage of her development.

Francis is now the assistant director of international affairs at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, the world’s busiest and most efficient. Annually more than 100 million people use the airport which has a growing global footprint.

“It is an opportunity that I really couldn’t say no to. It aligns with my own goals of global growth and global development, and it keeps me having an eye on Jamaica. I still have a foot in Jamaica but [I’m] also very present in Atlanta doing what I’m doing. It aligns with the fact that, having had all my academic training in media, psychology, communication, behaviour change, and I’m now doing a PhD in governance and digital transformation, it’s just bringing everything together. So I’m in a space where it will allow me to grow even more — and it will help me to actualise in different ways.

“So it’s just another phase of life for me. I’m very grateful for the opportunity and very, very grateful to serve not just Jamaicans and the Jamaican Diaspora but a wider audience, a wider customer base, [and to help them] grow and glow and develop in so many different ways. I thank the people of Jamaica for loving me for the nine years in government and prior to that in media,” Francis told the Jamaica Observer in her first local media interview since transitioning from the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM).

Before moving to the OPM Francis started her career in media while still a student at St Hugh’s High School, hosting the popular 1990s teen television programme
Rappin’.

After high school Francis served as a reporter, producer, editor, and host for various media entities, including JBC/TVJ, The Gleaner Company, and Nationwide News Network, where she co-hosted the popular morning show
Nationwide This Morning.

Her communications skills were also sought by several private sector entities, with the most public being her stint as corporate communications manager at Flow Jamaica.

In 2016, elected for his second stint as prime minister, Holness tapped Francis to be the voice of the OPM, playing a leading role in the communications team. And she says, “The rest is history.

“We kept the peace between the Government and the media. We were able to improve Jamaica’s World Press Freedom ranking, and we were able to do some collaborative projects with the media that I am particularly proud of.

“I’m also very proud of the fact that in as much as we have two sides that wanted their own way… In many instances I was the arbitrator, the mediator that kind of brought things to a balance. And, you know, I am happy that people see me as fair-minded and fair-handed when it comes to working with Government and working with the media. So I thank my colleagues in Government for having confidence in me, and I thank my colleagues in media for having confidence in me too and for giving me the space to grow and to serve them,” said Francis.

She told the Observer that her time working with Prime Minister Holness is one that she will always treasure.

“I can only say it’s just been such an honour and a fantastic nine years,” declared Francis as she pointed out that her now almost-10-year-old son Josh grew up knowing his mother as part of the Jamaican Government apparatus.

According to Francis, she sometimes did not get the balance right between being a mother and a full-time communications specialist at OPM, but Holness helped to make her life easier.

“There were times when I would be working late and my son would be there with me, and the prime minister would take the time to talk with him.

“I remember there was one particular case when we were doing a recording and the prime minister had several meetings, and we started later than scheduled. I think we started recording maybe about 11 o’clock in the night, and my son was with me because it was a school holiday.

“As we recorded, Josh was very quiet at the back of the room. And as soon as the prime minister finished my son ran up to him and said, ‘Who is your favourite superhero?’ And would you believe that the prime minister of Jamaica, with all his CPOs [close protection officers] waiting… had an intense conversation with my son at almost midnight about if Spiderman or Batman is better than Superman.

“And that’s one of the things that I love about the prime minister and admire about him. He takes the time, especially with the younger people, to make you feel seen and heard. And that is something that I will forever treasure,” declared Francis.

In her new role Francis is already part of the planning team for projects such as the Fifa World Cup which will be held in the US, Mexico, and Canada, with Atlanta scheduled to host a number of games, including a semi-final.

“We are in the midst of planning that, and I am bringing all of the experience, all of my expertise, all of my training, all of my academic knowledge to bear on that. Working with the team here has just been phenomenal.

“Now it’s time to take wings, do something that will have me still keeping watch over Jamaica but doing great things on a global level. And certainly, we continue to ensure that our people do great things,” declared Francis.

“I want to thank everyone who has impacted my career. They have given me the wings to soar high,” Francis added.

She pointed out that in her new role she is looking at stakeholder relationships, dealing with the consulates and the diplomatic corps, as well as leveraging business and stakeholder relationships.

“It puts me right in the centre of so many things. And I think my training and experience in media — and certainly from an understanding of government-to-government and business-to-business relationships coming out of private sector work in telecommunications and, of course, the big communication element of media — I think this has just come together nicely to be able to make an impact in international affairs at the world’s busiest airport,” said Francis.

Naomi Francis on the job at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport in the United States.

FRANCIS… I want to thank everyone who has impacted my career. They have given me the wings to soar high