Ian King commenced his position as Deputy Resident Representative and Head of Office at the Belize UNDP Country Office on 5th August 2019.  Mr. King has worked for three decades in the areas of sustainable development, climate change adaptation, disaster risk management and policy advice at national, regional and international institutions. Mr. King served as the substantive Designated Official for UN Staff Safety and Security, Belize from March 2020 until May 2022.  He also serves as the Chair of the UN Operations Management Team for Belize from September 2019.

Over the last 18 years, Mr. King served UNDP national and regional offices in project and program management, Country Office oversight and support as well as post disaster recovery. Prior to his current appointment, Mr. King served in Dominica between September 2017 and June 2019 as a first responder, recovery advisor and Head of the Dominica Project Office to established support the recovery initiatives in that country; provide policy advice to the Government; and be the focal point for international partners with the Government. Prior to this he spent 3 years at the Regional Hub for Latin America and the Caribbean in Panama as a Country Advisor and 10 years in the Barbados and the OECS Multi Country Office as the Disaster Risk Management programme lead.

Mr. King has a BA in Human Environmental Studies from Kings College, University of London; a Postgraduate Diploma in Development Studies from Cambridge University; and an MA in Geographical Information Systems and International Development from Clark University in Massachusetts. He is a Barbadian national who is married and a father of two sons.

Mr. Victor Alegria is the current Director of the Sustainable Development Unit (SDU) at the Ministry of Sustainable Development, Climate Change and Disaster Risk Management. Under his leadership the Unit is Belize’s focal point for the Sustainable Development Goals of Agenda 2030, championing for sustainable development efforts and initiatives nationally, regionally and internationally. Mr. Alegria and his team coordinate the mainstreaming of Sustainable Development initiatives within the various sectors of the public and private sectors and non-governmental institutions to ensure that projects/programmes are in coherence with national policies and programmes and the SDGs.

Mr. Alegria is a graduate from the University of South Florida with professional experience and expertise in Sustainable Development, Protected Areas Management, Community Development, Resource Mobilization, Environmental Assessments, Project Development and Management and Environmental Law and Policy.

Prior to his current post, Mr. Alegria has contributed to the national development of Belize in the capacities of General Manager for the Belize Natural Energy Charitable Trust (BNECT), Academic Advisor and Assistant Professor at Galen University, Grants Program Director at the Protected Areas Conservation Trust, and Fisheries Officer/Protected Areas Manager and as consultant undertaking Environmental Impact Assessments/Chemicals Management for several projects. Mr. Alegria has contributed to the

publication of several works on pollutants (land based, pesticides and mercury) in coastal waters of Southern Belize. A Corozaleño at heart, Mr. Alegria lives in Benque Viejo del Carmen town with his wife and 5 daughters.

Michele Irving is currently the Executive Director for the National Women's Commission. Originally from Dangriga, Stann Creek District  she has been a community worker and advocate for over 25 years. In 2019 she received the MBE award in recognition of her community work with POWA (Productive Organization for Women in Action) - a community-based women’s group founded in 2003 to fight for the rights of women and girls to exist peacefully, free from gender based violence and gender discrimination. Under Michele’s leadership the group has grown into a vibrant peer to peer education women’s group reaching far into communities and working to transform the lives of women and their families.

Under Michele’s leadership POWA has developed projects and programs based on principles of respect, human rights and equity to combat the spread of HIV/AIDS and all forms of violence against women. These objectives are achieved through education, advocacy and services that POWA provides directly and through linkages with other organizations. POWA is one of the women’s groups that pioneered advocacy and support for LGBT rights, especially Les/BI women, girls and women sexual and reproductive health and rights.

Amira Correa-Pelayo holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management and a Master’s Degree in Project Management. Amira is a YLAI 2021 alumni and is a certified Green Project Manager. Amira is a wife and mother of 2 and the owner of Sangria Mia. Amira reinvented herself into becoming a mompreneur with her business Sangria Mia. She firmly believes in women empowerment and she is using her business as a module for women in business, mompreneuring and operating a FOR-PROFIT sustainable business.

Kendra Griffith is the founder and owner of Hello Body, a company that offers natural and organic skincare for every(BODY). She holds a Bachelor's degree in Science and History and a Master's degree in International Studies – the latter obtained in the Republic of China (Taiwan). She has experience as a project coordinator, events coordinator, researcher, and liaison officer.

While in Taiwan, Kendra has highlighted and promoted Latin American and Caribbean culture by working with NGO’s, educational institutions, and government bodies. Meanwhile, Kendra’s family-oriented business continued to prosper while constantly searching for the best ingredients and creating a safe, non-toxic world of skincare and aromatherapy products. Hello Body skincare line is the first of its kind as it carries every element in a skincare routine, placing emphasis on being fair trade and made in Belize. Products like the Multipurpose Eczema and Psoriasis Salve, 2-in-1 Insect Repellent & Soothing Spray have become staples in Belizean households.

Kendra and Hello Body have represented Belize at many exhibitions in Asia, Europe, and the US. She is a 2022 alumni of the Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative (YLAI) fellowship program in the USA. This program united the most outstanding entrepreneurs and business leaders from across the Western Hemisphere. Although her Brainchild Hello Body continues to be her most significant personal achievement she is also proud to have been the Project Coordinator of The Goldson House for Democracy and Patriotism.