Sherry Ann Smith-Simmons
Ms. Sherry Ann Smith-Simmons
Ms. Sherry Ann Smith-Simmons is an accomplished career Public Officer, having risen through the ranks from the entry position of Temporary Clerk 1 in April 1986 to the position of Ag. Director, Public Management, Public Service Academy, Ministry of Public Administration in 2024 amassing almost 39 years in the Public Service. Ms. Smith-Simmons' career began at the then Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources; she was subsequently appointed as a Clerk 1 at the Service Commissions Department.
Having obtained her Bachelor of Science Degree in Public Sector Management (Special) and Certificate in Public Administration from the University of the West Indies, Ms. Smith-Simmons has shown the need for continuous education. Her mantra is, "The role the Public Service plays, impacts the individual lives of the citizenry through their efficiency. Therefore, each public officer must contribute to that achievement through his or her individual approach to service delivery." Promotions throughout her career saw her serving at the Auditor General's Department, the Ministries of Social Development, Foreign and CARICOM Affairs, and Sport and Youth Affairs prior to joining the MPA family.
Ms. Smith Simmons has served on the Committee for the Implementation of the National Life Skills Education Programme. Currently she serves on the Implementation / Facilitation Committee for Design and implementation of Pension System for the Daily Rated Public Servants, the Scholarship Selection Committee, Public Service Examination Board and the Secretariat for the Human Resource Leaders Forum.
Ms. Smith-Simmons believes in leading by example and advocates Christian principles. Her favourite quotes are 'Be the light that this world needs", "Positively impact your immediate environment" and "Appreciate each person at their stage of this life's journey."
She is a mother of four and enjoys baking, crafting, Korean dramas, a good game of cricket or all-fours.
Rhoda Patiram
Ms. Rhoda Patiram
Ms. Patiram brings to the Ministry of Public Administration and Artificial Intelligence more than twenty (20) years of Public Sector experience, commencing with social and economic research and then broadening to strategic and corporate planning, policy development and implementation, project management, Results-Based Management (RBM) and monitoring and evaluation. She is adept at monitoring and reporting on organisational performance, programmes and projects and has extensive experience in the development and monitoring of work/action/implementation plans.
Ms. Patiram holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Management Studies and Economics (Double Major) from the University of the West Indies, St. Augustine Campus and a Master of Business Administration with a Specialism in Strategic Planning from the Heriot-Watt University, Scotland, United Kingdom.
Understanding the importance of stakeholder engagement and collaboration, Ms. Patiram played an integral role in several consultative processes and the attendant development of Green and White Papers, culminating in the Education Policy Paper 2017-2022 along with several strategic initiatives over the course of her career, to date.
Committed to public service delivery, Ms. Patiram is guided by the principles and tenets of good governance in the Public Sector and advocates for a Whole-of-Government Approach in public administration.