Executive Management Team
Leonard A. Francis is the Chief Executive Officer of the National Environment and Planning Agency in Jamaica. Mr Francis is a trained environment and planning professional with over 30 years of experience.
He has done and supervised research in a number of areas including noise, parking, the development approval process, green and open spaces, masterplans, densification of the Kingston Metropolitan Area, Green Development Principles, Development Standards, Urban Development Policy, Restrictive Covenants, Sustainable Development, and issues related to Climate Change amongst others.
He is an adjunct lecturer at the University of Technology in the Urban and Regional Planning Programme. Also, he has been a Member and Chairman of the Urban and Regional Planning Advisory Committee at the University of Technology, and has been a regular presenter at several Local and Regional Workshops and Conferences.
Mr. Francis possesses a Masters’ Degree in Planning from the University of Ryerson, Toronto, Canada, an MBA in Public Sector Management from the University of the West Indies, Mona. In addition, he possesses First Degrees in Environment and Planning, Economics and Management and an LLB.
Mr. Leonard Francis has participated and received training in several areas, such as, Conflict Resolution, Public Sector Senior Leadership Development Programme, Green and Innovative Development, Preparation of Cabinet Submissions, Project Management, Performance Management, Integrated Environmental, Protocol and Business Etiquette, Stress and Time Management, Enhancing Recruitment and Selection Skills for Greater Productivity and Cutting the Bureaucratic Red Tape amongst others.
Mr. Francis is an executive member of the Caribbean Planning Association and represents the organisation as Co-chair of the Comprehensive Disaster Management (CDM) Physical and Environmental Planning Sector Sub-Committee of the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency.
He is a member and has held a number of executive posts in the Jamaican Institute of Planners.
He is a member of several Boards, Authorities and/or Committees which includes the Negril Green Island Area Local Planning Authority, the Planning and Development Committee of the Urban Development Corporation, the Educom Co-operative Credit Union, the International Centre for Environmental and Nuclear Sciences, the Jamaica Railway Corporation, Jamaica Civil Service Housing Company Limited, the Gregory Isaacs Foundation and the Evans Early Childhood Institution.
Mr Ainsworth Carroll MBA; BSc Hons. first joined the Agency in January 2016 where he served in the post of Director, Corporate Management Division for two years before being reassigned to his current post.
Mr Carroll has over fifteen years of experience at a senior level in various sectors including, International Trade, Food & Beverage and Telecommunications. He has a strong finance background and is a strategic thinker who is solution oriented. Over the period April 2018 to October 2019 he successfully lead a team initiative that realized a turn-around of a major project within the Agency, earning both local and international accolades.
Mr Anthony McKenzie MBA; is the Director responsible for Environmental Management and Conservation at the National Environment and Planning Agency. He has in excess of twenty five years experience in environmental management in Jamaica.
Mr McKenzie has a Masters Degree in Wastewater Treatment and Process Technology and a Masters in Business Administration (MBA) with specialization in Strategic Planning.
His current interest is in the area of coastal resources management, specifically the impacts of climate change. Mr McKenzie is the national focal point for sustainable consumption and production (SCP) as part of UNEP’s 10YFP for SCP and the national representative on UNESCO-IOCARIBE Regional Seas programme. He is a past member of the Jamaica Defence Force.
Mr. Gregory Bennett has in excess of twenty years’ experience in Urban and Regional Planning in Jamaica.
Mr Bennett holds a Master of Science Degree in Computer-Based Management Information Systems with special emphasis on Business Administration and Information Systems Management. Mr Bennett also has advanced certifications in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Project Management
Mr Bennett is a firm believer in the integration of spatial systems and the use of technology to boost productivity and improve efficiency in operations. He also believes in the application of robust and SMART environmental and spatial planning principles, models and concepts in development management. Staff spiritual and general welfare are also of significant interest.
Karlene Hamilton Reid, J.P., B.Sc., M.Sc. has over twenty-two year’s progressive experience in Human Resource Management and Development. She is a professional counsellor who also holds the designation of Senior Certified Professional from the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM-SCP).
Her resourceful and solution-oriented focus has resulted in the successful implementation of numerous employee centred initiatives that have bolstered employee well-being and engagement within the Agency. She has also skilfully led numerous manpower initiatives to acquire specialised skill sets to augment the human resources capability of the Agency and effectively support the capacity to achieve the strategic goals and objectives.