Honourable Ambassador Dr. June Soomer, SLC, JMA, has diverse experiences through her work in the diplomatic, financial and education sectors obtained through over thirty (30) years of academic and professional experience functioning at the managerial, operational and technical levels. She has a sound understanding of contemporary development issues and continues to advocate for equality and equity in sustainable development.

She currently serves as the Chair of the Global Campus Council of the University of the West Indies, as the Chair designate of the United Nations Permanent Forum of People of African Descent, and a member of the Saint Lucia Reparations Committee. She received her PhD from the University of the West Indies. She served as Saint Lucian Plenipotentiary Ambassador to CARICOM and the OECS with responsibility for Diaspora Affairs, was an OECS Commissioner, and was the Secretary General of the Association of Caribbean States (ACS).

She is the first woman:

• to receive a PhD in History from the University of the West Indies (UWI) Cave Hill Campus;

• to serve as Saint Lucian Ambassador to CARICOM and the OECS, with responsibility for Diaspora Affairs;

• to serve as the Secretary General of the Association of Caribbean States (2016-2020);

• to perform the role as Chair of the Open Campus, now Global Campus, Council of the University of the West Indies.

Dr. Soomer has received numerous awards, in the areas of Central Banking, Education, Diplomacy, Regionalism, Development and Leadership including:

• The Saint Lucia Cross (SLC) in the Order of Saint Lucia for Education, Diplomacy, Regionalism and Development Specialty 2021.

• The Jose de Marcoleta Award, Grand Cross for Diplomacy from Nicaragua – 2021.

• The Pelican Award from the University of the West Indies (UWI) for diplomacy, public service and the promotion of regionalism on the 70th Anniversary of the UWI – 2018.

• The UWI, Cave Hill Award for Leadership 2018.

She has developed policies and plans on diaspora issues, regional integration, sustainable development, strategic plans for small communities in Saint Lucia and organizational development. She also writes and lectures on reparatory justice, especially for women of African descent; sustainable development; and Caribbean History. Her publications are on Regional Integration; Cricket; Issues on Enslaved Women and Women of African Descent, Emancipation, Reparation and on the work of Nobel Laureate Arthur Lewis.