Meet Dr Ava Maxam - a specialist in developing environmental decision-support systems across the Caribbean - empowering governments to be more resilient to natural hazards and climate change impacts. These systems are important for helping to protect, assess and manage our natural and built resources. 

Equipped with a wealth of expertise and experience from her post as Deputy Director at the Mona Geoinformatics Institute (MGI) - an information technology company specialising in spatial solutions - Dr Maxam has spearheaded the development of several Geographic Information Systems (GIS) solutions throughout the Caribbean Region - including over 25 customised software applications and 61 major projects, whilst also managing the company’s technological Divisions in Natural Hazards & Environment, Human & Social, Technical Services and Software Development. At MGI, she implemented MGIBlue - Jamaica’s only online coastal dynamics portal - offering data, news, information and research on issues related to the island’s shoreline resources.

As an avid advocate for the use of data in transforming the decision-making process, she applies coastal dynamics, environmental modelling and geographic information systems to create tools, policies and protocols necessary for bringing the Caribbean into more modern and efficient ways of managing crucial resources. 

A holder of a PhD in Oceanography, as well as an Honours Degree in Marine Biology from the University of the West Indies, Dr. Maxam lectures in GIS and environmental fields to graduates, undergraduates and professionals alike. Her academic research has led to publications on the effect of ocean circulation on Jamaica’s coral reefs and coastlines - highlighting their importance in ecological nurseries, creating unique circulation systems, and influencing water quality. 

Her passion has led to her also serving as chair and sitting on several boards and committees related to the environment, public affairs, education and business development, including – but not limited to: Natural Resources Conservation Authority (NRCA), the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) Advisory Board; Chair of NRCA Beaches and Coastal Resources Committee; the Energy, Environment and Climate Change Committee Member – Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica (PSOJ); and as a Jamaica Trade and Invest (JTI) JAMPRO Blue Ocean Strategy Think Tank Member. She is also involved in several non-governmental organisations, including the Violence Prevention Alliance (VPA), the Peace Management Initiative (PMI) and the Farquharson Institute for Public Affairs (FIPA). 

Given her tremendous work in academic and professional fields over the years, Dr Maxam’s list of awards include:

• the FIPA (Farquharson Institute for Public Affairs) Science and Technology Award of the Century for Empowering Governments across the Caribbean in leveraging           Science, technology and data for climate change adaptation (2020);

• the National RJR-Gleaner Honour Award for Science and Technology (2018);

• Land Information Council of Jamaica (LICJ) National Best Practices in GIS Award for the Integrated Crime and Violence Information System in use by the Government of Jamaica for crime data management and analysis (2012);

• National Best Practices in GIS Award for the National Electoral Information Management System for monitoring Jamaica’s elections (2007).