The UWI Global Institute for Climate-Smart and Resilient Development welcomes new Executive Directors

The UWI Regional Headquarters, Jamaica W.I. Monday, September 7, 2026—The UWI Global Institute for Climate-Smart and Resilient Development (GICSRD) is pleased to announce the appointment of its new Executive Director, Professor Preeya Mohan, and Deputy Director, Dr. Ronald Roopnarine, which took effect from August 1, 2026.

Since its launch in October 2021, The UWI Global Institute for Climate-Smart and Resilient Development (GICSRD) has leveraged a unique virtual, region-wide model to coordinate expertise, advocate for climate-smart and resilient human development, and support the Caribbean’s progress towards the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The Institute draws on expertise from across The UWI’s campuses, institutes and global networks to foster interdisciplinary collaboration and deliver region-wide impact.

New Director, Professor Preeya S. Mohan is a Professor of Environment and Development Economics, Fellow and MPhil/PhD Programme Coordinator at the Sir Arthur Lewis Institute of Social and Economic Studies (SALISES), The UWI St Augustine Campus. One of the youngest professors appointed at The UWI, she is a development economist whose research focuses on the economic impacts of climate and other external shocks on Small Island Developing States, with particular emphasis on the Caribbean.

An internationally recognised scholar, Professor Mohan has published more than 60 refereed journal articles and 13 book chapters, with research appearing in leading publications including Nature Climate Change, Energy Policy, Food Policy, WIREs Climate Change, and the Journal of Environmental Management. Her work employs advanced quantitative methods to inform climate resilience, sustainable development and economic policy.

Professor Mohan has secured major international research funding and currently serves as a Lead Author for the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Seventh Assessment Report chapter on Adaptation Finance. She is also a member of the International Finance Expert Working Group for the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty. Her contributions have been recognised through several prestigious awards, including the Saleemul Huq Memorial Scholarship for Loss and Damage Research (2024), The UWI Principal’s Research Award for Most Outstanding Researcher of a Centre/Institute/Unit (2024), and the Inter-American Development Bank’s Young Economist Award (2014).

New Deputy Director, Dr Ronald Roopnarine, Deputy Dean for Outreach and Internationalization and Senior Lecturer in Disaster Risk Resilience in the Faculty of Food and Agriculture at The University of the West Indies, St Augustine Campus, brings extensive expertise in disaster risk resilience, climate adaptation and sustainable resource management. He also serves as Network Manager of Caribbean WaterNet/Cap-Net UNDP and holds several national and international leadership appointments.

His work focuses on disaster risk resilience, sustainable land and water resource management, climate change adaptation, nature-based solutions and geospatial risk assessment, with particular emphasis on Caribbean Small Island Developing States (SIDS). Over the course of his career, Dr Roopnarine has led and supported national and regional initiatives addressing community flood early warning systems, flood and landslide risk assessment, wastewater reuse, water safety planning, land degradation and climate-resilient agriculture. His contributions have also supported monitoring and reporting efforts for Sustainable Development Goal 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) and aspects of Sustainable Development Goal 15 (Life on Land) related to land degradation.

Dr Roopnarine’s national, regional and international service includes membership on the Scientific Committee of the Integrated Research on Disaster Risk Programme, the International Scientific Committee for the IWRA Islands Water Congress, and the Board of Directors of the Asa Wright Nature Centre. He has worked extensively with governments, regional institutions and international development partners to translate research into policy, planning and practical resilience-building initiatives across the Caribbean.

GICSRD extends its deepest gratitude to former Director Dr John Charlery and former Deputy Director Dr Evangeline Inniss-Springer for their outstanding leadership, commitment and dedicated service to the Institute.

More information about GICSRD and the Management Committee Members can be found on the GICSRD’s website:  www.uwi.edu/gicsrd