Theresa Rodriguez-Moodie, PhD.

Dr. Theresa Rodriguez-Moodie always had a passion for the environment growing up. She developed this love even further after completing her BSc in Geography. She went on to complete her PhD in Geography at the University of the West Indies, Mona in the area of coastal geomorphology and paleoclimatology.

Dr. Rodriguez-Moodie has worked as an Environmental Scientist and Climate Change Vulnerability Specialist both locally and regionally, for private sector, government and multilateral agencies such as the World Bank Group and the IDB. She has extensive knowledge of IFC and IDB environmental and social safeguards and policies. In her over 10 years of experience she has developed specific skills in conducting environmental assessments, hazard analysis and mitigation, climate vulnerability and risk assessments.

In July 2021, she became the CEO for the Jamaica Environment Trust where she has been leading its environmental advocacy and working on projects geared towards the protection of Jamaica’s natural resources and public health. Her advocacy efforts focus heavily on the need for greater environmental monitoring and enforcement, access to environmental information, the need for transparency and public engagement in Jamaica. In her work she also addresses challenges posed by extractivism and deep-sea mining, proposing actions for the government to honour the Jamaican Constitution which guarantees all Jamaicans a right to a healthy environment.