Full Name
Susan Otuokon
Job Title
Strategic Development Officer/ Former Executive Director
Organization/School
The University of the West Indies
Speaker Bio
Dr. Susan Otuokon is an environmental consultant with over 30 years’ work experience in protected areas and conservation planning and management. Currently she is the Strategic Development Officer in the Office of the Faculty of Science & Technology, The University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona Campus. Dr. Otuokon was the Executive Director of the Jamaica Conservation and Development Trust, a civil society organization, delegated management (by the relevant government agencies) of the Blue and John Crow Mountains National Park and World Heritage Site from 2002 to 2010 and 2012 to 2023.
Dr. Otuokon was awarded her Ph.D. in 2010 by The University of the West Indies for her thesis: “Ecotourism and its Role as a Tool for Protected Area Management in the Caribbean: Case Studies from Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago”. She has a M.Sc. in Aquatic Resources Management from the University of London and a B.Sc. (Hons) from the University of the West Indies. She has lectured part-time in the M.Sc. program – Integrated Urban and Rural Environmental Management at The UWI since 2002 and conducted training for numerous students, community members and conservation professionals.
Dr. Otuokon has been involved in national planning and policy development for protected area management and tourism. She has served on a variety of boards ranging from the Natural Resources Conservation Authority, the Jamaica Institute of Environmental Professionals and the St. Hugh’s Past Students’ Association and Foundation. Dr. Otuokon played a lead role in the 2015 inscription of the Blue and John Crow Mountains on the UNESCO World Heritage List and was awarded the Bronze Musgrave Medal for distinguished eminence in Science, by the Institute of Jamaica in 2019.
Dr. Susan Otuokon has a daughter and two grand-daughters: four and two years old. She enjoys reading novels, gardening and nature-based activities.
Dr. Otuokon was awarded her Ph.D. in 2010 by The University of the West Indies for her thesis: “Ecotourism and its Role as a Tool for Protected Area Management in the Caribbean: Case Studies from Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago”. She has a M.Sc. in Aquatic Resources Management from the University of London and a B.Sc. (Hons) from the University of the West Indies. She has lectured part-time in the M.Sc. program – Integrated Urban and Rural Environmental Management at The UWI since 2002 and conducted training for numerous students, community members and conservation professionals.
Dr. Otuokon has been involved in national planning and policy development for protected area management and tourism. She has served on a variety of boards ranging from the Natural Resources Conservation Authority, the Jamaica Institute of Environmental Professionals and the St. Hugh’s Past Students’ Association and Foundation. Dr. Otuokon played a lead role in the 2015 inscription of the Blue and John Crow Mountains on the UNESCO World Heritage List and was awarded the Bronze Musgrave Medal for distinguished eminence in Science, by the Institute of Jamaica in 2019.
Dr. Susan Otuokon has a daughter and two grand-daughters: four and two years old. She enjoys reading novels, gardening and nature-based activities.
Speaking At
