Commissioner, Chairman Brian Schmidt is the Marketing Manager of IRIE FM and Vice Chairman of Zip FM, Brian has extensive experience in advertising, marketing, brand building and the creative industry.

Anthony Chang has served as Managing Director of the Lasco Group of Companies, Managing Director of T. Geddes Grant and as General Manager/Director of Consolidated Bakeries (Ja) Ltd./Falcon Corporation Limited. He is a co-founder of the JDC

Commissioner, Vice Chairman, Michael McMorris has extensive experience working with local and international investors in the areas of new venture development and strategic management. He is currently Chairman of VM group, a board member of several other commercial enterprises and served as President of the Jamaica Chamber of Commerce 2022-2033.

Jennifer Grant represents Media Association Jamaica on the JDC. She is currently a Communications Consultant and has worked in media at all levels for nearly 40 years with forays into Education, Public Relations and Sustainable Development.  She was elected the first female President of the Press Association of Jamaica in 1993.

Commissioner Noel daCosta is a co-founder and former chairman of the Jamaica Debates Commission. He is a past President of the Jamaica Chamber of Commerce. He was awarded the Commander of the Order of Distinction for his contribution to engineering and manufacturing, and an honorary Doctor of Technology (UTech), for nation building.

Commissioner, Dr. Claire Grant has more than 20 years of executive media management experience and her work has covered digital, broadcast, print and online (OTT) platforms, individually and integrated. She was awarded the Order of Distinction Officer Class by the Government of Jamaica for her three decades of service to the media industry in 2024.

Trevor Fearon worked as Coordinator of the JDC’s National debates in 2002 and was a resource to the 2007 debates. A former Executive Director of the Jamaica Chamber of Commerce and its affiliated Jamaica Conference Board, Mr. Fearon previously served as Jamaica’s Trade Commissioner to Asia. READ MORE

DR. THE HON. LLOYD BARNETT, O.J., B.A., LL.B.(Hons.), LL.M., Ph.D.(London), LL.D (Hon.)(UTech.), LL.D. (Hons.)(UWI);an attorney-at-law in Jamaica and several Commonwealth Caribbean countries. He has served as President of the Jamaican Bar Association, Chairman of the General Legal Council, Chairman of the Caribbean Council For Legal Education and is the Chairman of Citizens Action For Free and Fair Elections.

Dr. Eleanor Henry, a lecturer and project manager, has served as a resource person with the Jamaica Debates Commission since 2007. Eleanor has been instrumental in the establishment of other debates commissions regionally and, has also served as consultant/resource person for national political debating bodies in the Caribbean, Asia and in Africa.

Gary Allen, Managing Director of RJR Communications Group, has served RJR for over 10 years. He has been a career journalist and media manager with experience in local, regional and international media.

Brian St. Juste is one of the best-known figures in Jamaica’s film and television fraternity, with over 30 years of experience in the industry. He has produced and directed several television commercials and documentaries including award-winning projects for local and international clients.

Damaris Mayne is a seasoned HR professional with a background in applied arts and experience as a former lecturer. She joined JDC in 2009, during a period when the Commission was heavily engaged in partnerships with other Caribbean organisations to establish regional debates. Since then, she has played a key role as a Resource Person, contributing consistently to every debate cycle.