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Dianne’s career trajectory showcases her proficiency in engineering, strategic leadership, and advocacy for sustainable practices. At JPS, as Head of Procurement and later Head of Regulatory Projects, she championed transformative initiatives, including modernizing procurement through automation and enhancing stakeholder engagement in regulatory processes. Currently, as Lead Consultant at STEM Spark Solutions, Dianne drives impactful projects in energy auditing, proposal development, and STEM education advocacy. Her consultancy extends to publishing and promoting STEM literacy through initiatives like Read Across Jamaica Day, empowering future generations to embrace science and engineering.
As the Lead Consultant at STEM Spark Solutions, Dianne coordinates proposal submissions across various sectors including energy, research, strategy development, and STEM education. She conducts comprehensive energy audits, delivering detailed findings and actionable recommendations to clients. In addition to her technical consulting role, Dianne has ventured into publishing, authoring and selling two children’s books, achieving cumulative sales of 710 books since November 2023. She has successfully developed proposals for Read Across Jamaica Day, collaborating with major corporate entities such as National Baking Company, Digicel, and National Commercial Bank, resulting in the donation of 266 books and 21 STEM activities to schools.
In this role, Dianne managed the meticulous planning and execution of projects focused on the JPS five-year rate filing and tariff application process. Leading a project management team of two and a tariff design team of four, she ensured the timely completion of all rate case components, including revenue requirements, tariff design, and performance factors. She collaborated closely with the Regulatory Team and external consultants to develop tariff design models, simulating electricity rate strategies to offer the Jamaican public a range of options. Her role also involved evaluating consultancy proposals for the 2024-2029 rate application process and analysing studies on demand forecasts, electricity theft, and distributed energy, presenting findings to senior management. Effective stakeholder management was critical to ensure smooth rate filing with the Office of Utilities Regulation (OUR), external consultants, and JPS senior executives.
As Head of Procurement, Dianne led a nine-person team to modernize the procurement process through the introduction of automation and electronic purchasing, significantly reducing the workload by 70%. She strategically leveraged benchmarking and market surveys to implement cost-reduction measures, securing long-term contracts with key equipment providers. She enhanced vendor relations, addressed overdue payments, and optimized spending through Tail Spend Analysis. Dianne’s initiatives included implementing a Power BI Dashboard for increased transparency and efficient contract management, as well as developing a procurement strategy for personal protective equipment (PPE) to meet corporate safety objectives. She published three “Procure with Purpose” newsletters on LinkedIn and is currently writing an article on the transformative role of procurement in sustainable practices.
In her role as Project Evaluator, Dianne conducts thorough reviews of projects under the Boosting Innovation, Growth and Entrepreneurship Ecosystems (BIGEE) Project, funded by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). This role showcases her expertise in identifying innovative potential and evaluating ventures within a US$25 million program. Her deep experience allows her to champion forward-thinking initiatives that align with BIGEE’s objectives, contributing to the development and growth of MSMEs in Jamaica.
During her tenure as a lecturer, Dianne taught undergraduate engineering students core subjects such as Thermodynamics and Fluid Mechanics. She supervised award-winning Renewable Energy projects and introduced a Master’s-level course on Biomass and Biofuels. Her academic contributions include publishing six research papers in international journals on topics such as energy sustainability and women in engineering, as well as writing a column on energy security for the American Society of Mechanical Engineers.
Dianne developed and delivered bioenergy modules, engaging trainees in practical sessions on biomass and biogas production. She meticulously reviewed and developed courses for City and Guilds certification requirements, ensuring comprehensive and industry-relevant training programs.
At Aalto University, Dianne engaged in focused bioenergy research, specifically targeting the potential of microalgae for biofuel applications. This role highlighted her commitment to sustainable energy solutions and her ability to conduct high-level research in a leading academic environment.
As a Process Engineer, Dianne optimized key refinery units such as kerosene, diesel, and naphtha hydrofiners, achieving significant production efficiency gains. She engineered 23 robust containment systems for refinery tanks, enhancing safety against potential overflows and high-pressure events.
Dianne’s passion for sustainability permeates her career and research endeavours. Her scholarly contributions are underscored by a series of impactful publications, addressing critical issues such as renewable energy adoption, biomass utilization, and gender equity in engineering education. Notably, her research on female enrolment and outcomes in Chemical Engineering at the University of Technology, Jamaica, revealed insights into gender dynamics in STEM education and employment, advocating for inclusive strategies to support female engineers.