Committed. Humble. Visionary. These are just a few of the words that describe Dr Carol James in her life long, professional dedication to the conservation of wildlife and the sustainable development of Trinidad and Tobago and the wider Caribbean. Her career began after successfully pursuing a BSc in Chemistry and Zoology, and later a Ph.D. in Zoology, at the University of the West Indies, St. Augustine. She worked as a zoologist for the Forestry Division of the Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Marine Resources and then, in 1984, she rose to the position of Wildlife Biologist and Head of the Wildlife Section of the Forestry Division. This provided Dr James with the perfect opportunity to commence her quiet, but forceful, contributions to wildlife conservation and sustainable development. In this role, she was the catalyst for transforming the environmental catastrophe of annual marine turtle slaughtering on the beaches of Trinidad and Tobago into sustainable, community-based ecotourism and scientific activities. Her work has resulted in the near elimination of slaughters; unprecedented increases in numbers of marine turtles on nesting beaches nationally; and, increased opportunities for economic activities and human development in rural communities in Trinidad and Tobago and around the Caribbean region. This is no surprise, given her love of the marine environment and its fauna and flora.

This was but the beginning of Dr James’ amazing career. She just continued upward and onward. In 1992, she was appointed by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) as the World’s first Senior Sustainable Development Advisor following decisions taken at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) in Rio in 1992 (popularly known as the Rio Conference) to appoint 41 such advisors globally.  She embarked on a range of professional activities in support of sustainable development in collaboration with several national, regional and global institutions, including the London-based International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED), the Caribbean Natural Resources Institute (CANARI), the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), the Caribbean Community Secretariat (CARICOM), the World Bank, the Global Environment Facility (GEF), and the Governments of CARICOM states, Gambia, Samoa, Vanuatu and Fiji. She was also on the management committees of parties to various global conventions on Environment and Development, in particular, the Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and the Convention on Wetlands (RAMSAR). 

In true environmentalist style, Dr James has also given considerable service to NGOs, such as the Guardian Wildlife Fund, which she currently chairs, and the ASA Wright Nature Centre, of which she was President for many years. She is also involved in several community-based projects, and has served on several boards, including the Boards of the Environmental Management Authority, the Institute of Marine Affairs and the Caribbean Natural Resources Institute. Acknowledging the importance of education, Dr James continues to deliver public lectures and writes numerous articles in an effort to raise public consciousness and education on environmental development by underscoring their linkages to human development. Her devotion to the pursuit of wildlife conservation and sustainable development knows no bounds.

In recognition of this steadfast commitment to sustainable development and conservation of wildlife nationally, regionally and globally, the President and the Board of Governors of The University of Trinidad and Tobago are pleased to confer Dr Carol James as an Honorary Distinguished Fellow.