UCC Honourees
Honorary Doctorates
The University of the Commonwealth Caribbean recognises individuals whose exceptional leadership, service and achievements have made a meaningful contribution to Jamaica, the Caribbean and the wider world.
Since 2012, UCC has conferred honorary doctorates on distinguished leaders across education, business, public service, healthcare, tourism, science and entrepreneurship.
2012
Prof. Errol Morrison
Former President of University of Technology, Jamaica
Being the first recipient of an honorary Doctor of Laws degree presented by UCC, Professor Morrison was recognized for his role as an educator and for his extensive pioneering research on diabetes, advancing understanding of the disease.
Under his leadership at UTech, Jamaica, access and quality grew in tandem, improving the lives of thousands of students who now have a greater number of options for higher learning.
2013
Bruce Bowen
Former President & CEO of Scotiabank Group Jamaica
Bruce Bowen has had an accomplished banking career spanning two decades and several countries. At the time of his honouring, he had served as president and CEO of Scotiabank Group Jamaica Limited since November 1, 2008.
During his tenure, Dr. Bowen exhibited impressive leadership of the Scotiabank Jamaica Foundation, which has done tremendous social outreach, particularly in the areas of health and education.
2014
Dr. Henry Lowe
Executive Chairman, Environmental Health Foundation
Dr. Henry Lowe, a medicinal chemist, has devoted nearly 50 years to advancing science and technology, energy, environmental sustainability, wellness and health sciences nationally, regionally and internationally.
His distinguished contributions have earned major honours, including Jamaica’s Commander of the Order of Distinction in 1982. He has served on numerous public and private sector boards and is widely recognized as a scientist, public servant, author, educator, civic leader and successful entrepreneur.
2016
Richard Byles
Former President & CEO of Sagicor Group
Under Dr. Byles' leadership, the Group evolved through a series of acquisitions including Pan Caribbean Investments Limited and First Life Insurance Company Limited in 2004, the Blue Cross Jamaica health insurance portfolio in 2009, and in 2014, the banking operations of RBC Jamaica.
Dr. Byles holds a BSc. in Economics from the University of the West Indies and an MSc. in National Development from the University of Bradford, England.
2017
Gary Hendrickson
Chairman and CEO of Continental Baking Company
The Honourable Gary ‘Butch’ Hendrickson, OJ, CD, JP, is Chairman and CEO of Continental Baking Company Limited and Chairman of Coconut Bay Beach Resort & Spa in Saint Lucia. He was educated at Jamaica College, Miami Military Academy and Fordham University.
Dr. Hendrickson has held numerous leadership and board positions across Jamaica’s public and private sectors, including with the EXIM Bank, Bank of Jamaica and Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica.
2018
Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
Congresswoman Dr. Yvette Diane Clarke is a Democratic member of the U.S. House of Representatives. A Brooklyn native of Jamaican heritage, she succeeded her mother, Dr. Una S. T. Clarke, in the first mother-daughter succession in New York City Council history.
An activist, community organizer and legislator, Congresswoman Clarke is an advocate for her constituents. Representing New York’s Ninth Congressional District, she continues the legacy of the late Shirley Chisholm.
2019
Honourable Dorothy Pine-McLarty
Former Chairman, Electoral Commission of Jamaica
The late Honourable Dorothy Pine-McLarty practised law for more than 55 years before retiring from Myers, Fletcher & Gordon in 2023. A trailblazer in the legal profession, she headed the firm’s Property Department from 1992 to 1995 and served as Managing Partner of its London office from 1995 to 1998. She was admitted to practise as a solicitor in the United Kingdom in 1995.
Hon. Pine-McLarty was awarded the Order of Jamaica in October 2007 for outstanding public service and received the Gleaner Honour Award for Public Service in 2016.
2020
Marlene Street Forrest, OJ
Former Managing Director, Jamaica Stock Exchange
Dr. Marlene Street Forrest, OJ, blazed a trail of firsts and extraordinary achievements for Jamaica in the complex and intricate world of stock market exchanges.
Under her stewardship, the Jamaica Stock Exchange became demutualized, and the US-denominated Market and Junior Market were launched. In 2016, she was conferred with the Order of Distinction in the rank of Commander Class in recognition of her outstanding leadership in the growth of the JSE.
2021
Honourable Gordon “Butch” Stewart
Founder, Sandals Resorts, Jamaica Observer, ATL Group
A hotelier, businessman and entrepreneur, he was founder, owner and chairman of Sandals Resorts, Beaches Resorts, and their parent company Sandals Resorts International as well as the ATL Group and its subsidiaries, Appliance Traders and the Jamaica Observer - influential entities on the Jamaican business landscape.
“Butch” as he was affectionately called by all, was a visionary and dynamic leader whose pioneering influence led to the advancement of the hospitality industry in Jamaica and the Caribbean.
2022
Leighton McKnight
Former Territory Leader, PwC Jamaica
Chartered Accountant Leighton McKnight, CD, is the former Territory Leader of PwC Jamaica, having retired in June 2022. During his tenure, he held regional leadership roles, including responsibility for diversity, equity and inclusion and the consumer and industrial products and services sector.
An experienced assurance professional, Dr. McKnight managed key audit clients and served as the firm’s Markets Leader. He has also served on numerous public- and private-sector boards.
Hon. Godfrey Dyer
Former Chairman, Tourism Enhancement Fund
The Honourable Godfrey Dyer, OJ, CD, JP, is a hotelier and former Chairman of the Tourism Enhancement Fund. A longtime Kiwanian, he served as Governor for Eastern Canada and the Caribbean and later became the first non-American president of the Kiwanis International Foundation.
His entrepreneurial ventures included the Wexford Court Hotel and Hot 102 Radio, and he co-founded Jamaica’s Sumfest. He received the Order of Jamaica for exceptional contribution to tourism.
Dr. Sandra Reid
Deputy Dean, The University of the West Indies
Dr. Sandra Reid, Deputy Dean for clinical programmes, and Senior Lecturer in Psychiatry in the Faculty of Medical Sciences of the University of the West Indies (The UWI), St. Augustine, is a specialist in clinical service and research and has published widely on related topics.
Since 2003 she has directed the Caribbean Institute on Addictive Disorders, which has trained over 2,500 Caribbean professionals and paraprofessionals in addictive disorders.
2023
Dr. Trisha Bailey
CEO/Philanthropist/ Real Estate Mogul
Dr. Trisha M. Bailey is a Jamaican-born entrepreneur whose resilience and determination have shaped her career. The first in her family to graduate from university, she earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Connecticut, followed by an MBA and a doctorate in management and organizational leadership.
A serial entrepreneur, Dr. Bailey has built and led ventures across industries, creating employment, expanding opportunities and supporting communities through philanthropy and mentorship.
Gov. Wes Moore
Governor, State of Maryland
Wes Moore is Maryland’s 63rd Governor and the first Black person to hold the office. Elected in 2022 and inaugurated in 2023, he became the third African American elected governor in United States history.
A combat veteran, Rhodes Scholar, author and former nonprofit executive, Governor Moore leads Maryland’s executive branch and serves over six million residents, advancing priorities focused on economic growth, public service, opportunity and leaving no one behind.
2024
The Hon. Edmund Bartlett
Minister of Tourism, Jamaica
The Hon. Edmund Bartlett is a distinguished leader with extensive experience in tourism and politics. His four-decade career is marked by innovative leadership and a commitment to positive change.
First appointed Minister of Tourism in 2007, he served until 2011 and returned to the portfolio in 2016. Dr. Bartlett has also served as Minister of State for Information, Broadcasting & Culture, and Minister of Youth, Sports & Community Development. His tenure includes significant roles as Senator and Opposition Spokesman on various portfolios.
Adam Stewart
Executive Chairman, Sandals Resorts International
Dr. Adam Stewart has played a pivotal role in the tourism industry, following in the footsteps of his father, Gordon “Butch” Stewart. Previously, he served as Deputy Chairman and CEO of Sandals Resorts International.
Key achievements include co-founding the Global Tourism Resilience & Crisis Management Centre (GTRCMC), advocating for the Tourism Workers Pension Scheme (TWPS), and leading the Grange Pen housing development for tourism workers.
Dr. Patricia V. Smith
Business Owner, Entrepreneur, Author
Dr. Patricia V. Smith is a Jamaican-born entrepreneur, author and healthcare pioneer whose journey from homelessness to success reflects resilience. Inspired by a compassionate nurse during her teenage years, she committed herself to caring for vulnerable people.
As founder of Sweet P Home Care Inc., Dr. Smith has built a thriving enterprise providing essential services to underserved communities. She also promotes empowerment through advocacy, mentorship and her memoir, I Persist.
Sir Richard Branson
Founder, Virgin Atlantic Group, UK
Sir Richard Branson is the founder of the Virgin Group, a global business brand spanning aviation, travel, telecommunications, health and spaceflight. He began Virgin as a mail-order record retailer in 1970 before launching Virgin Records and later Virgin Atlantic.
Known for bold entrepreneurship and adventure, Sir Richard also champions social and environmental causes through Virgin Unite. He currently serves as Virgin’s Chief Vision Officer and chairs Virgin Unite’s global initiatives.
2025
Dr. Nigel Clarke
Deputy Managing Director, International Monetary Fund (IMF)
Dr. Nigel Clarke has served as a Deputy Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund since October 2024. He oversees work across country programmes and policy priorities, drawing on extensive experience in economic reform and public-sector leadership.
As Jamaica’s Minister of Finance and the Public Service from 2018 to 2024, Dr. Clarke advanced central bank independence, fiscal governance and public-sector modernization while helping strengthen the country’s macroeconomic stability and resilience.
Dr. the Honourable Peter Phillips
Former Member of Parliament and Former Minister of Finance and Planning, Jamaica
Dr. the Honourable Peter David Phillips, OJ, is a distinguished Jamaican statesman, academic and public servant whose national service spans more than three decades. He held several ministerial portfolios, including Health, Transport and Works, National Security, and Finance and Planning.
A former Member of Parliament, Dr. Phillips served as Leader of the Opposition from 2017 to 2020. He was also General Secretary and later President of the People’s National Party.
M. Audrey Stewart-Hinchcliffe, CD, JP
Entrepreneur, Healthcare Professional, and Educator
Dr. M. Audrey Stewart-Hinchcliffe, CD, JP, is a Jamaican entrepreneur, healthcare professional and educator. She is founder and chairman of Caribbean Health Management Consultants and the Manpower & Maintenance Services Limited Group, which includes workforce education, business services, distribution and charitable initiatives.
She also established the M’Power Women’s Group, advancing women through employment and education. Her career spans nursing, healthcare administration, regional public service and more than three decades of entrepreneurship.
2026
Dame Beverly Isadore Lindsay, DBE, OD, DL
Entrepreneur, Civic Leader, Philanthropist and Community Champion
Born in St Thomas, Jamaica, Dame Beverly migrated to Birmingham, England, as a teenager. After training in nursing and midwifery and serving in community relations, she established Diamond Travel in 1987. Under her leadership, it became one of Birmingham’s leading independent travel agencies and a trusted community anchor for Caribbean travellers.
A founding member and current Chair of the Association of Jamaican Nationals in Birmingham, Dame Beverly has advanced Jamaican heritage, public health, education and humanitarian causes. Her pioneering civic service includes becoming the first Black woman President of the Rotary Club of Birmingham and the first Afro-Caribbean woman to serve as Deputy Lieutenant and Vice Lord-Lieutenant of the West Midlands. Her honours include Jamaica’s Order of Distinction, appointment as an Officer of the Order of the British Empire and elevation to Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire.
Nathaniel Peat
Entrepreneur, Engineer, Social Innovator, Pilot and Youth Advocate
A British-Jamaican entrepreneur and engineer, Nathaniel Peat earned degrees in Mechanical Engineering and Advanced Manufacturing Systems from Brunel University London. In 2006, he founded The Safety Box to reduce youth violence and provide vulnerable young people with leadership, communication, conflict-resolution and enterprise skills, helping participants progress into education and employment.
Mr Peat later co-founded Gennex in Kenya to provide renewable-energy solutions to underserved communities and reduce energy poverty. He has represented the South of the United Kingdom on the Global Jamaica Diaspora Council and has contributed to international climate advocacy, business education, youth opportunity and policing reform. His recognitions include the Governor-General’s Achievement Award for Excellence in Jamaica, and he is also an Honorary Fellow of Brunel University, a qualified pilot, musician and sixth-degree black belt martial artist.