By Azara Lavia
Dwayne Simon, a consummate Communications expert has been appointed as a Communications specialist for the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) attached to the Antigua and Barbuda Department of Environment.
In this role, Simon will leverage his extensive experience in the field of communications having working as a consultant for several projects both nationally and regionally.
Speaking exclusively to Observer media, the communications specialist said he is elated to have been appointed to such a prestigious position and will use this role to create and effect meaningful change within the organisation.
“When I learned about the news of my appointment to the UN position, I was very excited, very grateful, very appreciative, and even more determined to continue to be the best version myself, to put out great output, to ultimately help people and try to make a positive change,” he said.
Simon said he is grateful for the opportunity and is looking forward to the task at hand as he seeks to produce consistent quality work while at the same time engaging and building key stakeholder relationships within his scope of work.
“I definitely plan to put my best foot forward in terms of taking together everything that I’ve learned — in terms of career development and all of the mentorship and training I’ve received over the years — put it all into this to do a really great job. So, I really plan to excel and to effectively make a positive contribution on behalf of Antigua and Barbuda for the United Nations.
“Also, one of the things I’m excited about is really collaborating because in this role I’ll be working with the Department of Environment, other stakeholders and agencies and even the business community in Antigua and Barbuda.”
The communications consultant says he is looking forward to collaborating and networking with other key partners since collaboration is key to the success of any organization.
“So, I’m excited about us really having a collaborative approach and working together to make the product even better because, if I come up with ideas — and the ideas would be good ideas — but if we collaborate then it’s going to be great ideas, effective ideas, ideas that hit the nail on the head. So, working together it’s absolutely priority”.
Simon, a multifaceted and ambitious son of Antiguan soil, attained a Master’s of Science in Management and Educational Leadership and a Bachelor’s of Science in Chemistry with Biochemistry and Microbiology from The University of the West Indies.
He is passionate about leadership and communication and has achieved the highest possible award in the Toastmasters International organization, Distinguished Toastmaster.
The local entrepreneur is also the co-founder and executive director of Simple Support – a local charity that supports communities by creating platforms for individuals to help each other.
He is a recent alumnus of the US government’s Young Leaders of America Initiative, a Fellowship Program that empowers emerging entrepreneurs from the Western Hemisphere to enable the full economic potential of the region’s citizens.
He is also a Draper University Alumnus which entailed an immersive Silicon Valley training component in California.
As a professional consultant, he has worked with many organisations, including the World Bank (GPSA), United Nations, Caribbean Policy for Development Centre, International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), and Zero Waste Antigua Barbuda.
