Janet Simon of Antigua and Barbuda has taken on a new role in CARICOM youth development.

The CARICOM Secretariat announced Janet’s appointment as Dean of the CARICOM Youth Ambassador Corps. She began the role on September 1, 2026.

Janet will focus on several areas during her term. These include nutrition education, disease prevention, mental health, peace, life skills, and employment.

In addition, Janet wants to help Caribbean youth gain useful skills. She also wants young people to get the support they need to become active citizens.

Janet said her work with young people has shown her the need for better mental health support. She also pointed to nutrition as another key need.

At the same time, Janet believes young people can help improve access to services. She wants to empower young people to support their peers and take the lead.

Michele Small-Bartley welcomed Janet’s appointment. Small-Bartley serves as Programme Manager for Youth Development at the CARICOM Secretariat.

She praised Janet’s passion for youth development. She also noted Janet’s creative approach and strong commitment to service.

Furthermore, Small-Bartley highlighted Janet’s interest in mental health advocacy. She said Janet’s leadership comes at an important time for the CARICOM Youth Ambassador Programme.

The programme continues to strengthen the voice and participation of young people across the Region.

Janet is a trained educator and Commonwealth Youth Peace Ambassador. She brings experience in youth advocacy, education, and peacebuilding.

Her work also covers several Sustainable Development Goals. These include health, education, sanitation, climate action, and peace.

In Antigua and Barbuda, Janet is known for her national School Tour. The tour provides life skills education to thousands of students.

She also leads the “Peace through Art” series. In addition, Janet runs capacity-building workshops for youth organisations.

Janet is also an active member of Healthy Caribbean Youth. Through this work, she supports comprehensive school nutrition and mental health policies.

Beyond her local work, Janet has taken her advocacy to international platforms. She has made interventions at the World Bank and the United Nations.

At these platforms, Janet has highlighted the priorities of Caribbean youth.

As Dean, Janet will use her experience in education, advocacy, and peacebuilding. She will focus on helping Caribbean youth build skills, access support, and take an active role in their communities.