Diane Edwards, former head of Jamaica’s trade and investment agency, JAMPRO, has been appointed to lead the professional services unit of the Mona School of Business and Management (MSBM). Edwards is expected to build on the unit’s core strengths in executive education and training, management consulting, business process improvement, project management, and business research, and expand its services in HR, technology, trade, and industry development.
According to MSBM, Edwards will also deepen partnerships with various organizations, including the Project Management Institute, the International Institute of Business Analysis, the CILT Caribbean, the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals, and the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (UK), and expand to include other overseas entities.
Edwards is a former Trade Commissioner for Jamaica Promotions Corporation (JAMPRO) in New York, Brussels, and London, and has a wealth of knowledge and experience in international marketing and business development.
In her previous role, she managed the successful product launches of Jamaican food brands into mainstream markets and negotiated substantial European Union funding for the innovative ‘Target Europe’ Trade Development Programme.
Before joining JAMPRO in 2013, Edwards completed a highly successful tenure as General Manager and Director of J. Wray & Nephew UK Ltd. Under her leadership, the organization became profitable and grew its turnover by 77% over 10 years. During her time at JAMPRO, she led its transformational development to catalyze wealth creation through increased customer focus and more effective marketing communications programs and promoted a culture of innovation to facilitate and support the development of new industries in Jamaica.
Edwards holds an MBA from New York’s Pace University, a Master in International Relations from Institut d’Etudes Politiques de Paris, and a BA (Hons) in French, Spanish, and German from the University of the West Indies (UWI). She is also a member of the UK Institute of Directors, a Trustee for the British Foundation for the University of the West Indies, and an active member of the St. Andrew High School (Jamaica) Old Girls’ Association.
With her extensive experience and knowledge, Edwards is expected to lead the growth and transformation of MSBM’s professional services unit and further enhance its reputation both locally and globally.