Mrs. Dione Jennings is a distinguished public servant with over three decades of dedicated service to the Government and people of Jamaica. A visionary and results-oriented leader, she has played a pivotal role in national development through her stewardship in social protection, labour administration, governance, community development, and local government reform.
A former Permanent Secretary (Acting) in the Ministry of Local Government and Community Development, Mrs. Jennings also served as Director General and Senior Director of Local Government Administration and Community Services, where she spearheaded legal and institutional reforms that consolidated several key pieces of local government legislation. She also piloted the National Disaster Risk Management Act. Earlier, as National Youth Development Officer in the then Ministry of Education, Youth and Culture, she revitalized and coordinated the Commonwealth Youth Programme, enhancing youth participation and leadership.
As Chief Technical Director, Social Security in the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, Mrs. Jennings has provided strategic leadership and policy direction for major national programmes, driving improvements in institutional frameworks and promoting social inclusion. Her leadership ensured that governance systems effectively respond to citizens’ needs. Her extensive public sector portfolio includes oversight of Occupational Safety and Health, Work Permits, in addition to work on matters relating to Informality to Formality, as well as engagement in Diaspora Affairs. She also serves as the Ministry’s Focal Point for Disability Matters, championing inclusion and empowerment for persons with disabilities.
Her earlier assignment to the National Insurance Fund and the Jamaica Council for Persons with Disabilities (JCPD) focused on governance, policy, and programme development. She also serves as the Ministry’s Focal Point for Disability Matters, championing inclusion and empowerment for persons with disabilities. Under her leadership, the Regulations for the Disabilities Act were enacted and the Disabilities Rights Tribunal established. She also guided the drafting of three Codes of Practice under the Disabilities Act, groundbreaking frameworks that have strengthened Jamaica’s disability rights landscape.
Internationally, Mrs. Jennings has represented Jamaica with distinction at major global fora, including the United Nations, International Labour Organization (ILO), World Bank, and Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). She has contributed to landmark international dialogues such as the Beijing Declaration, the Copenhagen Declaration on Social Development, the UN Commission for Social Development, and the Conference of States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), where she participated in the defence of Jamaica’s National Report.
Mrs. Jennings has also served on several Government Boards, including the Early Childhood Commission, National Council for Senior Citizens, Golden Age Home, Jamaica Council for Persons with Disabilities, Abilities Foundation, and the National Insurance Fund.
She holds academic qualifications in Sociology, Social Policy and Administration, Linguistics and Spanish, and Project Management at both undergraduate and graduate levels from the University of the West Indies and other institutions, along with professional certifications in Financial Management, Human Resource Management, and Strategic Planning.
Throughout her distinguished career, Mrs. Jennings has exemplified unwavering commitment to governance excellence, social equity, and people-centred development. Her leadership continues to advance Jamaica’s vision of inclusive growth and sustainable national progress.