Dr Renée Rattray, the Jamaican education leader behind transformative initiatives including the Centres of Excellence programme and Science Genius Jamaica, has launched Island Futures, a Caribbean-born nonprofit dedicated to strengthening regional resilience through education, cultural identity and climate readiness.

The organisation was inspired by Prime Minister Mia Mottley of Barbados, whose powerful advocacy for Caribbean self-determination on the global stage has reshaped conversations about climate justice, debt reform and regional sovereignty. Shaped by a collective of visionary Caribbean leaders, Island Futures represents a decisive shift toward regional agency and solutions designed by the Caribbean for the Caribbean.

Dr. Rattray brings nearly three decades of proven experience in education transformation to her role as President of Island Futures. During her tenure as Director of Education Programmes at Jamaica National, she spearheaded the groundbreaking Centres of Excellence initiative, a J$100 million five-year programme that transformed leadership and performance in six rural high schools across Jamaica. She also co-founded Science Genius Jamaica, the innovative programme that fused dancehall music with science education to boost student engagement and performance in STEM subjects, and led a series of influential School Leadership Summits that mobilised teachers and school leaders nationwide and helped catalyse a new era of education leadership in Jamaica.

For the last 3 years Dr. Rattray has been working in Barbados on education transformation initiatives, including supporting the establishment of the Oceanna Innovation Hub and the development of a climate-focused school model, designed around project-based learning, community partnership, and student voice, integrating environmental literacy with academic excellence.

“For too long, the Caribbean has been defined by others’ perceptions of our challenges,” said Dr. Rattray. “Island Futures was created to change that narrative. We are building a Caribbean-led institution that mobilises our regional leadership, diaspora expertise and global partnerships to support solutions that are culturally grounded, community-led and built for scale.”

Drawing on Dr Rattray’s track record of using culturally responsive pedagogy for education transformation, Island Futures’ work is anchored on education along with cultural identity, where Caribbean culture is a driver of unity and creativity and Climate Readiness – where adaptive strategies safeguard the region’s development gains.

Island Futures will launch one of its earliest programmes in Barbados before scaling to three to five Caribbean islands through phased regional expansion. Using a blended funding model of grants, capacity-building and catalytic investments, Island Futures will focus on building regional evidence, strengthening education systems, advancing climate resilience and mobilising unified action among key stakeholders – governments, private sector, development partners and the diaspora.

Board of Directors with Caribbean Roots

Dr. Rattray leads a team of like minded Caribbean experts and professionals who serve as board members for the effort, including: Tamaisha Eytle, Guyanese-social innovator and development strategist, advancing sustainability, youth and future-focused leadership; Dr. Chris Emdin, Jamaican-rooted global educator innovator and scholar, known for transforming science education through culture-centered pedagogy; Dr. Shauna D. A. Knox, Jamaican-rooted racial equity strategist and social justice leader, working at the intersection of policy, advocacy and liberation; Gregg Bishop, Grenada-born social justice and public service leader, bringing Caribbean grounding to global philanthropy and governance, Dr. Nicole K. Grimes, Trinidad-born entrepreneur and education leader, championing regional business networks across the diaspora and Deborah Stoute, Barbadian strategic communications leader, shaped by regional and international public affairs practice 

“The Caribbean has immense potential,” Dr Rattray said. “We have brilliant minds, rich cultural traditions and communities that have demonstrated incredible resilience. Island Futures exists to ensure that our region can adapt, innovate and build imaginative futures in a changing world, on our own terms.”