Considered one of the pioneers in the promotion of quality and standardization within the sub-region, Dr. Alison S. Gajadhar, founded and operated a solar water heating company, Ecosun Inc. and a beverage manufacturing plant, SunSmart Beverages Inc., which was later sold to a leading sub-regional company. Alison now owns and operates KMA Consulting Ltd. – a boutique consulting firm, which offers consulting services in the areas of organizational governance and management systems, quality infrastructure (conformity assessment and standardization), adaptation planning, research and policy development, and good technical regulatory practice.
With over two decades of experience working with public and private sector leaders, executive teams, and boards to implement improvement initiatives within organizations in the areas of governance, standardization, quality, technical regulations, conformity assessment, business development and manufacturing, Alison is passionate about effective organizational performance through engaged people and flexible structures and systems. She is a firm believer that while sustainable business success necessitates an adequate supportive external facilitatory business environment, it can only be realized through good organizational governance, and a systems approach to management.
Dr. Gajadhar holds a Ph.D. in Chemistry, a Graduate Diploma in Law, and advanced certification in Quality Management and Productivity, and Project Management. She has served as the Executive Director of the Saint Lucia Bureau of Standards, Permanent Secretary in various ministries with portfolios such as commerce, industry, consumer affairs, external trade, foreign affairs, telecommunications, infrastructure, and urban development. Dr. Gajadhar has also served as a lead negotiator for Caricom on Technical Barriers to Trade and as an independent Senator in the Parliament of Saint Lucia. She is the current Chair of Saint Lucia’s National Accreditation Council, Vice-Chair of the Saint Lucia’s National Export Council, Governor on the Board of the Sir Arthur Lewis Community College, Saint Lucia’s National Representative on ISO TC 309 (Governance) and ISO TC 262 (Risk Management), and Chair of Saint Lucia’s National Mirror Technical Committee ISO TC 309.