Chairman

Ian Murray

After graduating from Brandeis University in 1989 with a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Political Science, Mr. Murray spent the first eight (8) years of his working life in finance and banking, where he gained considerable experience in structuring financial deals and general management. Therefore, as the Chairman of the Agro-Invest Board he brings a wealth of experience to the position.   Mr. Murray’s experience spans acting in the capacity of General Manager for Caribbean Trust Merchant Bank, where he was responsible for several financial portfolios. Whilst at George & Brandy Merchant Bank, he held several positions, namely, Financial Analyst, Marketing & Business Development Manager as well as Deputy General Manager. In 1997, he decided to start his own company, where he is Managing Director. This was the birth of SANITARY REMOVAL LIMITED, a company dedicated to providing high quality sanitation services at an affordable cost.  Over the years, Mr. Murray added three (3) other companies that operate in the field of micro-finance, distribution, and farming. These are, 365 Finance Ltd. with branches in St. James, St. Catherine, Kingston, and Manchester. Tout Pret Distributors Ltd. based in Kingston as well as Mount Charles Farms which is a 150-acre farm focused on coconuts and honey based in St. Elizabeth.   Ian Murray served in the Senate of Jamaica for the years 2007-2008and 2010-2011. He also has served on several Boards to include Fiscal Services Limited, Universal Access Fund Limited, the National Health Fund as well as the National Land Agency amongst others. He has also acted as Commissioner at the Casino Gaming Commission. Mr. Murray is the founding member of the Lion’s Club of Downtown, Kingston and is the father of the three children.

Deputy Chairperson

Trisha Williams-Singh

Trisha is the Chairman of the Early Childhood Commission (ECC) which has certified 282 Early Childhood Institutions since the beginning of her tenure at the Commission. Under her leadership, innovation has been at the forefront of the ECC’s operations, leading to the launch of the region’s only parenting app: 1st 1000 Days.

 

In 2013, Trisha returned to chair the school board of her alma mater, New Forest Primary, Junior High and Infant’s school board, a post she has since relinquished. Throughout her stint, she successfully created the New Forest High School which opened its doors in 2015, and she remains chairman of the institution’s school board. Additionally, she is a Director of One Jamaica Foundation.

 

Mrs. Williams-Singh started a successful career at Air Jamaica as a Customer Service Agent after which she transitioned to Flight Attendant and later a Customer Service Manager at Norman Manley International Airport. Following Air Jamaica, she joined Digicel as Corporate Relations Manager in Digicel Business and was promoted in 2009 to Senior Manager, Corporate Relations. While there, she also served as a Director of the Digicel Foundation.

 

Trisha Williams-Singh is now Founding Director at TWS Consulting where she leads the consultancy in brand awareness, public relations, strategy building and events management.

 

Trisha gives back through time spent with the less fortunate and identifies avenues to positively impact her country. In 2014, she launched the Water Tanks in Schools Programme, where over 100 schools received water tanks. Recently, she started the recycling of plastic bottles initiative in some communities in Manchester.

 

She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration and a Diploma in Management Studies and is married to Nari Williams-Singh. Her hobbies are travelling, gardening and listening music.

Patrick Mitchell

Patrick Mitchell is a 35-year veteran of the Manufacturing and Production industries. He specializes in Supervisory Management and his years of devoted work have allowed him to hone this knowledge, which is now on display in his capacity as a Production Supervisor. Mr. Mitchell is passionate about the development of the Agro Parks and Production Zone to enable us to satisfy our local and export marketing.
Outside of work, Mr. Mitchell is very active in community affairs and is a part of the Community Development Committee (CDC) in his neighbourhood. He believes that community engagement can impact lives, which is reflected in his devotion.
His passion for athletics adds another dimension to Mr. Mitchell’s personality. Beyond the routine pressures of his professional life, he finds comfort and pleasure in sports. This enthusiasm is not simply a personal interest; it also demonstrates how much he values tenacity, discipline, and teamwork—aspects of character consistent with his leadership philosophy.

Marlene Porter

Marlene Porter is a seasoned and experienced business and market development strategist. She joined the management team of Jamaica Promotions Corporation (JAMPRO) in January 2008 and has managed various portfolios including Business Facilitation, Export Development and Services, and is currently the Sales and Promotions Manager of Agribusiness. In these roles, she has worked with local and international investors in establishing or expanding their businesses in Jamaica, as well as supported Jamaica n firms in accessing local and international markets.

Mrs. Porter has enjoyed extensive and successful collaborations with public and private sector partners. Mrs. Porter previously served as a senior executive within the private sector and held a senior position in the Economic Research and Programming Division at the Bank of Jamaica, following a short stint in the commercial banking sector.

She holds a Masters’ degree in Business Administration (MBA), a Master of Science (MSc) degree in Economics and a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics from UWI. She is also a trained Mathematics teacher. Mrs. Porter has served on several public and private sector Boards.

Errol Green

Errol Green is a Fellow Chartered Accountant and Registered Public Accountant with over 20 years’ experience in accounting. He holds the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) qualification, UK, a MBA with a specialism in Strategic Planning from Heriot-Watt University, Scotland and a certificate in general agriculture from the Elim Agricultural School. His areas of specialisation include auditing and assurance services, business advisory services, taxation consultancy, and professional accounting services. Presently, he provides the services listed above. He has worked as a Financial Analyst/Project Accountant with the Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF) on internationally funded projects, such as; the World Bank (IBRD), Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), and the European Union (EU). He represented the Jamaica Social Investment fund (JSIF) at the World Bank, in Washing DC. Whilst at JSIF, he prepared financial management reports, for the international Donors, and was assigned to the first IBRD/Rural Agricultural Development Initiative (REDI) project, as Accountant. He has worked at the Jamaica Bauxite Mining Limited, where he successfully implemented sound system of accounting and governance. He has served on the Procurement committees at JSIF and the Jamaica Bauxite Mining Limited. Mr. Green served on advisory committee for MSMEs, at the Jamaica Business Development Corporation (JBDC) and currently serving on the Audit and Public Sector Committees of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Jamaica (ICAJ), as well as the Audit Committee of the Jamaica 4-H Clubs. Mr. Green as an Agriculturalist and have cultivated, Sea Island cotton, ginger, coffee, Irish potatoes and apiculture

Petronia Colley

Petronia Colley is an experienced, strategically focused, and driven leader with over 15 years of success working in culturally diverse and challenging environments. She has influenced business growth through transferable management with expertise in, Marketing, Communications, Project Management, Operations Management, Strategic Planning, strong entrepreneurial prowess with a passion for marketing and communications management, and knowledge transfer.

 

Ms. Colley holds a MSc. in Agricultural Entrepreneurship, Bachelor of Science Degree in Management Studies specializing in Marketing from the University of the West Indies and an Associate Degree in Business Administration from the Institute of Management and Science.

 

Ms. Colley has been a Director since November 16, 2020. In January 2021, Ms. Colley was appointed as Chairperson of the Finance, Public Private Partnership and Projects Sub-Committee and was appointed as a member of the Lease Review Committee. Ms. Colley is a member of the Jamaica Football Federation Marketing Committee and the Youth in Agriculture Policy Sub-Committee on Entrepreneurship. Ms. Colley is a Director of Precision Agriculture Limited.

Denver Mcdonald

Mr. Denver Mcdonald is a corporate business professional with over 15 years working in the Fast Moving Consumer Goods Industry in senior commercial roles.  Denver has worked with British American Tobacco limited in 22 Caribbean Markets and Latin American and also operated as Head of Sales at both Appliance Traders Limited  and Celebration Brands where he distinguished himself as a results driven leader during his working stints there.  Currently, Mr McDonald is a Regional Sales Manager at Grace Foods and Services Limited and a fitness enthusiast.  Denver holds a BSc in Management and Accounting and is currently a Final Year Law Student at the University of London.

Gavin Bellamy

Dr. Gavin Bellamy attended Excelsior High School between 1974 and 1980, then attended EXED Community College. On completion he travelled to Tampa, Florida (St. Leo College) and obtained a BA in Pre-Veterinary Medicine. Gavin returned to Jamaica in 1996 where he worked as Customer Service Manager at the Jamaica Livestock Association Ltd. In 1998 he received a scholarship to study veterinary medicine in the Soviet Union. This started with a one-year programme where he learnt the language and became fluent by the end of his tenure.

On completion he travelled to the Ukraine and attended Kharkov Zoo Veterinary institute where he graduated with a DVM (hon) and a MSc in reproductive physiology. He also was accredited as a teacher and translator of the Russian language. On completion he returned to Jamaica and was registered to practice veterinary medicine. His career as a vet began at the Hope Veterinary Hospital where he practiced for two years.

In January Dr. Bellamy assumed his current role as General Manager at Serge Island Farms Ltd, a subsidiary of the Seprod Group of Companies. Gavin is a Justice of the Peace, served as a Lay Magistrate and serve as Director for several Boards. Gavin is married to Catherine since 1999 with two children aged 16 and 13.

Alric Miller

Mr. Alric Miller is an experienced and strategic-oriented Public Manager with a proven track record of performance. He is currently the Parish Manager of the Social Development Commission, St Elizabeth with over 18 years of cumulative experience working across sectors with diverse stakeholders; employing joint-up and evidence-based approaches to attain national development and organizational outcomes.

A pragmatist and an avid sports enthusiast, Mr. Miller was educated at Munro College, St. Elizabeth. He holds a Master of Science in International Public and Development Management and a Bachelor of Arts (Hons.) in History and Political Science. These credentials were earned at the UWI, Mona Campus. He is also certified in Business Development Planning and Supervisory Management from the Mona School of Business and Management, UWI, and the Customer Service Academy of Jamaica, respectively.

His career in Jamaica’s public service began immediately after graduating from the UWI in 2003, where he joined the academic staff of Mannings School, Savanna-la-mar, Westmoreland where he taught CAPE History Unit 1 & Unit 2 and CSEC Social Studies for an academic year. He later joined the Social Development Commission in 2006 having gained exposure to and developed a keen interest in Development Studies. There, he has served in several positions. These include; Community Development Officer, Capacity Development Coordinator, and presently, Parish Manager – St. Elizabeth, a position he assumed in 2013.

In addition to his substantive job, Mr. Miller has the distinction of being appointed to serve in critical local positions. These include:  being Chairman of the St. Elizabeth Parish Grants Committee of the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, Chairman of the Newcombe Valley Primary School, St Elizabeth, and a commissioned Justice of the Peace for St. Elizabeth.

Mr. Miller has a passion for governance-related issues and development, especially the empowerment of the most vulnerable, including; the poor, children, and elderly. As a proponent of social transformation, he is a firm believer in education and training as vehicles through which “Jamaicans can achieve their fullest potential”.

Vicki Hanson

Vicki J. Hanson is currently the Managing Director of VEB Hanson’s Cleaning Supplies and Services. Vicki currently serves as the Chairperson of the Board of Directors for the International Drug Policy Consortium (IDPC) (UK).  She also serves on several Government of Jamaica public body Boards, such as Agro-Invest Corporation, SCJ Holdings Limited and Nutrition Products Limited (NPL).  Vicki is an Executive Member of Ganja Growers & Producers Association of Jamaica (GGPAJ).

Vicki J. Hanson has served as a middle manager for over fifteen years in Jamaica’s Tax Administration (TAJ), where she was integral in the development of the organization’s Strategic Planning, Performance Review and Evaluation framework. She has also served at the Senior Management level, as a former Director of Special Projects and Corporate Planning at the Cannabis Licensing Authority (CLA), as well as Senior Director (Acting) in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation (MEGJC).

Vicki J. Hanson has extensive experience in Public Policy, Public Sector Management, Strategic Planning, Performance Management and Evaluation, as well as Drug Policy at the national, regional and international level. She has also conducted significant research in these areas. Vicki’s research work involves exploring the public policy issues to be resolved in a regulated cannabis (ganja) industry in the Caribbean, especially through the experiences of Jamaica, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and St. Lucia.  Vicki has undertaken significant work to ensure that any Cannabis policy framework that is developed in the region takes into account the social and cultural rights of traditional and indigenous communities such as small subsistence farming areas, and the Rastafarian and Maroon communities.

Dwayne Reid

Dwayne Reid completed his secondary education at Prospect Heights High School, where his achievements extended beyond academics to include active participation in sports, particularly football, serving as the team captain for several years. Following high school, he pursued higher education at Monroe College in Upstate Rochester, NY, majoring in Psychology. After two years, he transitioned to TAB Express International Flight School in Deland, Florida, initiating his aviation training. Upon completing the programme in 2003, he embarked on his aviation career.

 

During the initial years, he relocated across various states in the United States to advance his aviation pursuits, beginning with cargo flights before progressing to commercial passenger flights. Working with esteemed companies such as IBC Airways, a significant milestone in his career involved piloting a private jet owned by a prominent real estate tycoon, navigating it around the world. Subsequently, he established a base in Malta, Europe, where he operated flights throughout the continent before venturing into the catering business.

 

As part of this entrepreneurial venture, Memories Bar & Grill in Paceville, Koffee Cafeteria in Bugibba, and rental apartments in St Julian’s, Malta, were established. Expanding the business to Jamaica, he made strategic investments in various properties across the island, including public transportation services encompassing taxis, coaster buses, and trucks for goods transportation. Additionally, he established a bar & restaurant and a carwash in Churchpen, Old Harbour.

 

Among Mr. Reid’s diverse interests are local and international politics, sports, fashion, and family travel. His overarching ambition is to own and operate his aviation company, managing a fleet of cargo and passenger airplanes flying from Jamaica to other Caribbean islands, the USA, and the UK. Fueled by high motivation, aviation stands as his ultimate passion.

Levar Smith

Levar Smith has earned a reputation as an outstanding figure in the financial industry; currently holding the position of President and CEO of Marathon Insurance Brokers Limited.

 

With an extensive career in business spanning over 15 years, Levar has exhibited unparalleled expertise, business acumen, and strategic leadership within the realm of insurance and financial services. Throughout his career, Levar has been a catalyst for innovation, driving the development of cutting-edge solutions. His profound understanding of market dynamics, coupled with a forward-thinking approach in utilizing technology to enhance the customer experience and creating value-driven solutions, has positioned him as a trailblazer.  

 

Levar’s board appointments include being Deputy Chairman of the Board of Directors of Federal Capital Investment and Finance Ltd, Chairman of the Finance Committee of the Board of Directors of Agro-Investment Corporation, Member of the Jamaica 4H Clubs. 

Apart from his professional endeavors, Levar is an advocate for community development and has been actively involved in various philanthropic initiatives. His dedication to ‘giving back’ to society echoes his belief in using his success to create a positive impact on the Jamaican society beyond the realm of finance.

Levar is an Associate of the Chartered Institute of Insurance [UK] as well as a Chartered Insurance Practitioner.