Professor ROSALEA HAMILTON: is a  well-known advocate for vulnerable groups, especially members of the micro, small and medium sized enterprise (MSMEs) sector. She is also an international trade expert who has been at the forefront of public education on trade, governance and other socio-economic issues for several years. She has taught extensively at the graduate and undergraduate levels in Jamaica and the USA, served as Chief Advisor to then Prime Minister of Jamaica,  Portia Simpson-Miller, and has engaged in consultancies with various government agencies and other international organizations.

Prof. Hamilton is the immediate past President and Founder of The MSME Alliance, Founding Director of the Institute of Law & Economics (ILE) and a member of the Board of Directors for both LASCO Manufacturing Limited and National Integrity Action (NIA). She was awarded Professorship in 2008 for the UTech, Ja./Scotiabank Chair in Entrepreneurship and Development, in recognition of outstanding work in the promotion, development and advocacy of entrepreneurship, especially among micro, small and medium-sized enterprises.

As Chief Executive Officer of the LASCO Chin Foundation, Prof. Hamilton leads the charge for early intervention to help Jamaica’s at-risk youths develop the relationships, goals and capacities needed to break the cycle of poverty and crime, to become productive members of society — especially as successful entrepreneurs.