Board of Directors

Omar Frith

Mr. Omar C Frith is a seasoned senior executive with over 20 years of experience in organizational governance, community development, general management and strategic leadership across diverse sectors. He first served as Board Chairman of the CHASE Fund from October 2021 to September 2024, where he emphasized improvements in corporate governance as well as enhanced alignment of CHASE’s work with government policy priorities and strategic objectives. He was reappointed as Chairman in December 2024.

With extensive expertise in social innovation and mobilization, Mr. Frith is the current Executive Director of the Social Development Commission (SDC). Previously, he held an eight-year tenure as Deputy Executive Director at the SDC, leading Strategic Planning & Communication. He also served as General Manager of the Stella Maris Foundation for over ten years, showcasing his versatility in both government and NGO sectors. Mr. Frith’s corporate governance experience spans over a decade in various leadership capacities, including past roles as Chairman of Penwood High School, Board Director at eLearning Jamaica, Board Commissioner at the Early Childhood Commission, and Co-opted Member of the HR Committee at the Factories Corporation of Jamaica. Currently, he is a Board Director at the Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF), where he serves on the Finance, Projects, and Corporate Governance Committees, while also acting as JSIF’s Company Secretary.

Mr. Frith holds a Master’s degree in Management and Team Management, complemented by certifications in Project Management from the University of New Orleans and Project Management Global Institute; he also has specialized training in Management of Local Development from the International Training Centre of the ILO (University of Turin, Italy). Combining academic competence with proven practical leadership, Mr. Frith has built a stellar reputation of successfully leading a wide range of projects and initiatives, driving impactful social innovation both locally and internationally. These achievements earned him an honorary doctorate in Social and Human Development, alongside numerous other awards and recognition from organizations locally and abroad. His global perspective is further enriched by his participation in numerous leadership fellowships and/or training/exchange programmes globally.

In addition to his leadership in social development, Mr. Frith is a communication advisor with expertise in speech writing, public speaking, media relations and strategic communication. An active Justice of the Peace and trained mediator, also with training in Critical Incident Crisis Management from the Caribbean Graduate School of Theology, he is a trusted and reliable professional in managing conflicts and navigating crises. Renowned for his measured temperament, exceptional emotional intelligence, and inspiring leadership, Mr. Frith is adept at fostering trust, teamwork, and organizational growth. His diplomatic approach and ability to unify teams make him a driving force for meaningful results and positive change.

Aneka Cadienhead

Aneka Cadienhead, JP, is an accomplished professional with an academic and professional background spanning over 15 years. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Foodservice Management from the University of Technology, Jamaica (UTech), a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) from UTech, and a Master of Laws (LLM) in Public Law from the University of the West Indies (Mona), showcasing her multifaceted expertise and dedication to continuous learning.

With over 10 years of experience in the general insurance industry as a Claims Professional, Aneka has developed a keen understanding of risk management, claims processing, and strategic problem-solving. Her work in the sector is complemented by her proficiency in Data Protection and Corporate Governance, ICT and special projects where she has cultivated significant knowledge and applied expertise.

Aneka also holds certifications in Project Management and Enterprise Risk Management, solidifying her capability to lead and manage projects while effectively mitigating risks. Additionally, her global perspective is enriched by specialized training from the KDI School of Public Policy and Management in South Korea, further equipping her with insights into international public policy and governance practices.

As a Justice of the Peace (JP), Aneka is committed to community service and upholding the principles of justice and fairness. Her professional and academic accomplishments and her dedication to ethical leadership and service make her a distinguished leader and an asset to any organization she serves.

Alexander J. Causwell

Alexander J. Causwell is a writer and analyst in strategic affairs. He has consulted for governments and international entities on matters of public policy, defence, and internal security. He presently serves as a senior advisor to the Government of Jamaica and a Fellow at the Caribbean Policy Research Institute.

Alexander graduated from Lawrence University with a major in Politics, Philosophy and Economics, and has an MA in Security Studies from Georgetown University’s Walsh School of Foreign Service.

Nadeen Spence

Dr. Nadeen Spence has demonstrated keen understanding of the Caribbean women’s movement.  As a woman’s rights activist working within the context of the promotion of women’s transformational leadership in politics, the civil service and the public sector, she has participated in a number of conversations across the Caribbean focused on numerous issues linked to the more fundamental issue of a Caribbean that honours the rights of its citizens and ensures that its legislative, policy, institutional and programmatic framework takes this into consideration. In that regard she has served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Caribbean Institute for Women in Leadership (CIWIL), itself a regional fund based in Trinidad and Tobago organized with the intention of giving Caribbean women’s organization funding to build women’s capacity for transformational leadership.

Her work at The University of the West Indies has been focused on the empowerment of young women within tertiary education. In that regard she has developed a suite of programmatic interventions at The UWI that are focused on building young women’s capacity for leadership, community involvement and service.  Dr. Spence has worked to ensure that The UWI Mona is an enabling space for young women’s leadership. This is what led her to take on and successfully complete a PhD in Gender and Development Studies.

She has a keen focus on the sexual and reproductive rights of girls and young women and through her leadership of the I’m Glad I’m A Girl Foundation, has developed a methodology for engaging young university women in empowering girls 12 to 17 years on matters related to sexual and reproductive health and rights. Dr. Spence has engaged young women registered at The UWI Mona in this noble work as she prepares them for advocacy on girls and young women’s rights.

Dr. Spence continues to focus on women’s voice, women’s presence and women’s position in a number of critical spaces within Jamaica. Chief among them: constitutional reform, access to water, children’s rights and national security. She serves as the Chairwoman of the Water Resources Authority (WRA) and is a member of the Board of Directors of the 4H Clubs. She has also maintained a presence in international institutions such as Mama Cash where she currently serves as a Global Advisor and for the 2022/23 academic year she served as a Visiting Scholar to the University of Pennsylvania focusing on issues related to her research work on creating and enabling environment in higher education for women’s leadership.

Dr. Spence has a keen interest in Corporate Governance, to that end she completed a certificate in Leadership and Corporate Governance with the Jamaica Stock Exchange and the Private Sector Organization of Jamaica (PSOJ) and serves on several Boards and Committees. Dr. Spence is also very involved in partnership building and in that regard is a member of the National Partnership for a Prosperous Jamaica and she is also a part of the consensus on crime, the Crime Monitoring Oversight Committee (CMOC).

Merle A. E. Donaldson

Ms. Merle Donaldson holds an MBA in International Business and B.Sc. in Chemistry and Management from the University of the West Indies and a Postgraduate Diploma in Education and Training from the Vocational Training and Development Institute. She has also completed a Certificate in Board Directorship through the Commonwealth Association for Corporate Governance/Private Sector Organization of Jamaica Training Programme.

Ms. Donaldson has over twenty years of experience in both the public and private sectors – including the Bureau of Standards Jamaica, Ernst and Young Caribbean and the Ministry of Education – in the areas of research, business development, project management, quality systems and conformity assessments.

She is also serves on the Boards of the Planning Institute of Jamaica and the Agro Invest Corporation.

Novlette Howell

Ms. Novlette Howell is a results-driven Human Resource and Administrative professional with a proven track record in leading project teams. Working in various Ministries, Ms. Howell remains committed to creating and delivering change for maximum impact.

Currently a Kingston Justice of the Peace, Ms. Howell serves as President of the Pembroke Hall Citizens Association, Chairman of the Pembroke Hall Primary School and a member of the following boards; Water Resources Authority, Jamaica Information Service, Kingston Freezone, and the Women’s Centre of Jamaica Foundation.

A trained children’s advocate, Miss Howell takes pride in mentoring young people in her community. She leads various initiatives — in particular within her immediate communities to drive positive transformation.

 

Rachael McDonald

Rachael McDonald

Georgia Hamilton