Leonard A. Francis

CEO, GOVERNMENT TOWN PLANNER, JP

Leonard A. Francis is the Chief Executive Officer for the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) in Jamaica since April 2, 2024. He is a trained environment and planning professional with more than 30 years of experience.

Mr. Francis has done and supervised research in a number of areas including, noise, parking, the development approval process, green and open spaces, masterplans, densification of the Kingston Metropolitan Area, Green Development Principles, Development Standards, Urban Development Policy, Restrictive Covenants, Sustainable Development, and issues related to Climate Change amongst other matters.

He is an adjunct lecturer at the University of Technology in the Urban and Regional Planning Programme. In addition, he has been a Member and Chairman of the Urban and Regional Planning Advisory Committee at the University of Technology and has been a regular presenter at several Local and Regional Workshops and Conferences.

Mr. Francis possesses a Master’s Degree in Planning from the University of Ryerson, Toronto, Canada as well as an MBA in Public Sector Management from the University of the West Indies, Mona. He also holds a First Degrees in Environment and Planning, Economics and Management and an LLB.

Mr. Leonard Francis  has  participated and received training in several areas, such as, Conflict Resolution, Public Sector Senior Leadership Development Programme, Green and Innovative Development, Preparation of Cabinet Submissions, Project Management, Performance Management, Integrated Environmental, Protocol and Business Etiquette, Stress and Time Management, Enhancing Recruitment and Selection Skills for Greater Productivity and Cutting the Bureaucratic Red Tape amongst others.                                                       

Mr. Francis is an executive member of the Caribbean Planning Association and represents the organisation as Co-chair of the Comprehensive Disaster Management (CDM) Physical and Environmental Planning Sector Sub-Committee of the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency.  He is a member and has held a number of executive posts in the Jamaican Institute of Planners

He is a member of several Boards, Authorities and/or Committees which includes the Negril Green Island Area Local Planning Authority, the Planning and Development Committee of the Urban Development Corporation, the Educom Co-operative Credit Union, the International Centre for Environmental and Nuclear Sciences, the Jamaica Railway Corporation, Jamaica Civil Service Housing Company Limited, the Gregory Isaacs Foundation and the Evans Early Childhood Institution.