T. Jennifer Edwards Ph.D.

Experience

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  The Bahamas Hotel and Tourism Association

  Apr 2006 - Jul 2010

  Project Director/Lead Technical Consultant

  • Led the overall operation of the four-year project, including supervising a multicultural team of 44 specialists and operational staff. Managed a $2 million USD budget and oversaw financial and human resource management functions, procurement, work plan creation and project reporting. • Monitored and evaluated STEMM’s progress and prepared comprehensive reports and presentations for the IDB/MIF and BHA Board of Directors, Minister of Tourism and Aviation and other stakeholders. Awarded by IDB/MIF as the most innovative project in the hemispherical region. • Liaised and worked closely with all levels of government, public and private sector agencies, NGOs, community groups and business entrepreneurs to ensure the success of the project.• Organized capacity building activities such as trainings and workshops on Cluster Strategies, Network Marketing, Product Development and Packaging, Environmental Management Systems, and Environmental Walk-through Assessments for 45 participants.• Let the development of Customer Service Training Workshops & Programs for network members to encourage customer-centric service delivery and operations. through creating partnerships with local airline companies, restaurants and hotels.• Led the successful establishment of two new tourism associations, the Marina Operators of The Bahamas (MOB) and The Bahamas National Resource Centre for Small Hotels & Tourism Enterprises. Drafted these associations’ Articles of Incorporation, Articles of Association and the Memorandum of Association.• Acted as Secretary to the Board of the National SME network that emerged from STEMM to as it guided and led the network based on the needs of the sector.• Collaborated with the Chamber of Commerce and private sector partners in drafting an SME Legislation, ensuring the government’s continued support at the end of the four-year project and funding from IDB. Show less

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  Caribbean Regional Organisation for Standards & Quality & The Caribbean Tourism Organisation

  Apr 2007 - Dec 2011

  Hospitality Assured Assessor

  • Assesses and verifies the readiness level of Caribbean-based hotel and tourism enterprises in the areas of business operation, management, marketing, customer research, operational and financial planning, customer satisfaction, service recovery and delivery, and training and development using a standard developed by the UK Institute of Hospitality.• Leads and manages the entire assessment process from planning and scheduling, researching enterprise background, conducting employee interviews, administering the actual assessment, and evaluating assessment forms, to writing reports and giving feedback. • Prepares detailed reports and recommendation on the assessment results for submission to the enterprise, CROSQ, and CTO. Provides timely feedback to enterprise owners on their strengths and areas for improvement. Show less

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  Independent Consultant

  Aug 2009 - now

  Strategy & Development Specialist: Tourism
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  Revans University/IMCA

  May 2010 - Aug 2013

  Bahamas Program Coordinator

  • Responsible for all aspects of the management and administration of the Master of Management Program in Hospitality & Tourism. This included hiring and supervising an administrative assistant, developing and managing program budget, (managing a total budget of $100,000 USD for eight program associates), scheduling sessions with facilitators and examiners, managing logistics, preparing a quarterly progress report for submission to the Dean of Corporate Studies and the Global Registrar and managing local issues related to the application and registration processes of Associates including the maintenance of Associates records.• Developed and implemented a Strategic Plan and provided strategic direction for the operation and expansion of the program in The Bahamas.• Supervised and served as an advisor to program associates on their Masters Research Theses. Edited the research paper presented by associates at UWI Trinidad 2012 International Research Conference.• Coordinated and developed working relationships with various stakeholders involved in the program such as the Dean of Corporate Studies, Director of Caribbean Studies, Global Registrar, Ministry of Education, and University officials in Australia, New Zealand, England and Jamaica on matters concerning the registration of associates and the program’s operation in the country. • Forged local partnerships with the government including the Ministry of Education; the College of The Bahamas and The Bahamas Chamber of Commerce resulting in the support of the program by government and the program’s inclusion in the Chamber’s agenda of member services.• Undertook promotional activities in association with the The Bahamas Hotel & Tourism Association.• Responsible for Alumni Relations, activities and database management. In September 2012, received an award from Alumni in recognition of work undertaken. Show less

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  EU/Centre for the Development of Enterprise (EU/CDE)

  Jan 2012 - Jul 2012

  Facilitator: Business Plan Development

  CDE’s Programme of Support: CAR/0808/R03/FO, Component 5, Promotion of Agro-Tourism Related to Cocoa Project in the Caribbean Project CAR/0808/04• Assisted four program beneficiaries from Belize, Dominica, and Tobago in researching and producing detailed business, marketing and promotional plans on agro-tourism. • Partnered with a lead facilitator from the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), in training 35 project beneficiaries on “Implementing, Monitoring & Evaluating Your Business Plan” workshop held in Tobago last January 2012. Performed one-on-one coaching sessions for 10 beneficiaries, exceeding the two required by the contract. • Prepared progress reports and updates on accomplishments and issues concerning the project for submission to the Project Coordinator based in Trinidad. Show less

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  Chamber Institute, Bahamas Chamber of Commerce & Employer's Confederation

  Nov 2012 - Nov 2012

  Project Management Consultant: Capacity Development

  • Built the capacities of 28 Bahamas Ministry of Tourism senior government officials to identify, develop strategies, and implement new programs by successfully designing and delivering over a four-week period, a training program on project management entitled “Introduction to Project Management: An Overview of Required Skills, Tools & Techniques”. • Developed five training modules and three group exercises on project management.

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  CARICOM/Caribbean Export Development Agency

  May 2014 - Oct 2014

  Policy Development Specialist

  Developed a CARICOM Regional MSME Policy for the growth and development of MSME Sector in CARICOM CSME. Policy targeted for submission to the CARICOM Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED) in May 2016. Assignment included:• Holding consultations with private and public sector stakeholders in CSME Member States• Development of the Vision, Mission, Goals and Objectives relative to the regional policy.• Identification of the Strategic Interventions needed in CARICOM CSME MSME Development;• Provision of relevant advice to CARICOM and to the various CSME governments and private sector business organisations on MSME development. Show less

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  InterAmerican Development Bank/Compete Caribbean/Government of The Bahamas

  Jun 2014 - Dec 2014

  Product & External Services Consultant

  Developed the Institutional Framework and Strategic Plan for The Bahamas Small and Medium Enterprise Development Agency (SMEDA) which included:1. Design of the organizational structure to be called SMEDA;2. Working with the private, public, academic and NGO sectors, developed SMEDA’s 1st 4-Year Strategic Plan and the Annual Work Plan Plan for Year One;3. Provided advice to The Bahamas Government in general and the Ministry of Finance in particular in relation to the development of SMEDA. and4. Lead the development of the Vision, Mission, Goals and Objectives of SMEDA working with private and public sector stakeholders including the Chamber of Commerce and the Small Business Association. Provide Terms of Reference Guidelines for the Human Resource and positions to be hired for this new organization structure. Show less

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  PROMAN CONSORTIUM

  Oct 2014 - Oct 2015

  Strategic Planning/HRD Expert & Team Leader

  Development of an Institutional Framework and Strategic Plan for a new OECS regional blended-learning tertiary-level entity that will harmonise and enhance the knowledge and human resource of the tourism sector of OECS Member States - BVI, Anguilla, St. Kitts & Nevis, Antigua & Barbuda, Montserrat, Dominica, St. Lucia, St. Vincent & the Grenadines and Grenada. Require the adoption of a participatory approach and consultation with a wide range of stakeholders in the public, private and NGO sector and in the wider community of these countries. Show less

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  The World Bank//OECS

  Apr 2016 - Dec 2017

  Tourism Market Intelligence Expert & Project Coordinator

  Provide implementation oversight and technical expertise for a World Bank funded project to develop an OECS regional digital solution for Tourism Market Intelligence in nine (9) Caribbean Member States of the Eastern Caribbean Economic Union. Stakeholders engaged included officials of the Ministry of Tourism in each Member State, Hotel and Tourism Association Representatives, Immigration Departments and National Statistical Offices. Organised training workshops and presented accordingly. The solution improved intelligence for the cruise and yacht sector and air arrivals. It also enabled member states of the OECS the potential to gather intelligence from the use of attractions and social media. Show less

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  World Bank/OECS

  Apr 2016 - Oct 2017

  Project Coordinator/Technical Expert

  Responsible for coordinating the development of a harmonised framework for collecting and reporting tourism market intelligence data in the OECS. This framework allow participating Member States to collect, organise, report and use the statistical data necessary for tourism market intelligence to ultimately enhance the quality of decision-making in the vital Tourism Sector in the OECS.

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  EU/Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States

  Jul 2017 - Mar 2018

  Project Technical Expert

  Contracted specialist responsible for implementation of the soft elements in the development of the Eastern Caribbean Institute of Tourism. This included providing technical advice and development of areas such as its Governance and Organisational Structure; Scholarship Fund Development and Donor Contributions and establishment of the Eastern Caribbean Accreditation Council for Tourism and Hospitality. Worked closely with regional stakeholders in the public, private and NGO sectors. Funded by the European Commission. Show less

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  Caribbean Tourism Organization

  Dec 2017 - Jun 2019

  Sustainble Tourism Policy Development Specialist

  Contracted consultant responsible for the development of the 2020 Caribbean Sustainable Tourism Policy Framework to ensure alignment to the UNSDGs, global trends and protocol requirements, regional concerns and national priorities. Areas included (1) Destination Management Capacity incl. Institutional, Legislative, HR, Innovation & Technology; (2) Destination Marketing, PR & Product Development incl. Social Media, Digital PR & ICT and Cultural Heritage Products; (3) Destination Access & Transportation incl. Air, Marine and Ground Transport & Sustainable Levels of Destination Access/Infrastructure; (4) Linkages/Value Change Management incl. community-based tourism; (5) Resource Use & Management; (6) Climate Change Action; and (7) Health, Safety, Security & Risk Resiliency. Other functions carried out include facilitation of (1) stakeholder consultations; (2) regional survey on tourism needs and priorities; (3) sensitisation workshops to build awareness on critical issues and their relevance to tourism (4) training in the establishment of a National Inter-Agency/Public Private Sector Sustainable Tourism Council/Committee or equivalent, (5) Engagement of all CTO Member Countries including private, public and NGO; and collaboration with regional stakeholders at senior levels of government and private sector. Funded by the Caribbean Development Bank. Show less

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  Governent of Saint Lucia

  Aug 2018 - Oct 2018

  Technical Consultant to the Saint Lucia Tourism Advisory Committee

  Provided technical and advisory input to the Government of Saint Lucia and the Tourism Advisory Committee (TAC) in the development and implementation of a work programme for the advancement of tourism development in Saint Lucia. Reviewed and made use of, where appropriate, all relevant tourism documents developed for Saint Lucia’s tourism in the past ten years. Reviewed all relevant legislation, policies, strategic plans and make recommendations accordingly. Carried out planning consultations with TAC members- 25 private, public, NGO agencies, to understand the critical issues and to develop a 3-year tourism development work programme for implementation inclusive of budget (using the Problem Tree Analysis and the Cascading Balance Scorecard as applicable). Show less

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  Government of Saint Lucia/Ministry of Tourism and Broadcasting

  Oct 2018 - Dec 2018

  Consultant: Strategy & Institutional Development Specialist

  Development of a suitable institutional framework and strategic action plan to support destination enhancement and management in Saint Lucia. Focus placed on special tourism product development, research, marketing intelligence and enhancement/branding and training; local tourism business development (aspects of village tourism) in Saint Lucia. Also developed the Transitional Strategic Action Plan to move the recommended institute, i.e. Saint Lucia Destination Development Council, from concept to operations including the organisation structure, communications strategy and transition plan. Collaborated with a broad range of private, public and NGO agencies that operate in or impact upon tourism development, management and marketing in Saint Lucia Show less