Leonard Francis appointed as CEO of Jamaica's National Environment and Planning Agency

Jamaica: Leonard Francis is appointed as the new Chief Executive officer of NEPA. The National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) has announced the appointment of the new CEO in effect from 2nd of April 2024.

According to NEPA, Francis, the new CEO, has expressed his interest in launching a mentorship and succession planning program within the organization to ensure its smooth functioning. He has assured his dedication and vision towards the agency in the staff addressal speech during the inaugural ceremony.

Francis succeeded the chair after Peter Knight, who served the office diligently until his retirement on 31st of March 2024.

Francis’s commitment towards the organization was evident since he held the office of the Spatial Planning Division of NEPA as the Director. He had showcased his leadership skills and strategical way of thinking during his period of service in the spatial planning division. NEPA revealed in a press release that Francis had gathered more than 2 decades of experience in environment and planning. In addition to that, he has a very elaborate educational background, gathering his degrees from premier institutes in Canada and Mona. He has also studied Economics and management and Law.

The wide horizon of his knowledge of ‘the environment’ is clear through his contributions in the field of Research concerning Green Development, Urban Development Policies and Climate Changes.

Apart from his knowledge on environment, he has received extensive training in leadership, project management and performance management, hence making him not only a knowledgeable official but also an excellent and efficient leader. This leadership qualities will most certainly manifest in his plans of starting mentorship programs within the agency.

His educational background and training history in leadership and development programs backs his commitment of Sustainable development and desire to find innovative resolutions to environmental issues.

All these credentials, skills and his knowledge about the agency assures NEPA of him being a perfect choice to be the CEO of the agency.