The Jamaican diaspora has long been a driving force in Jamaica’s development, contributing billions in remittances, investing in communities and rallying to support the island during times of need. From North America to Europe and Asia, Asha Richards, Lisa Rutty, Dr. Sandra Colly-Durand and Dr. Nicoleen Johnson continue that tradition of service, each making a unique contribution to Jamaica’s growth.
Throughout their careers, they have built and strengthened connections across the global diaspora, creating opportunities through education, mentorship, entrepreneurship, advocacy and international partnerships that continue to strengthen Jamaica and Jamaicans around the world.
Although their careers span different countries and disciplines, they are united by a shared belief that success is most meaningful when it creates opportunities for others. Through the connections they have built across the global diaspora, they continue to strengthen Jamaica in ways that extend far beyond their individual achievements. It is this spirit of service that earned them the 2026 Governor-General’s Achievement Awards Diaspora during the 11th Biennial Jamaica Diaspora Conference.
The Mentor: Dr. Sandra Colly-Durand (France)
Dr. Sandra Colly-Durand went to France to pursue a PhD but ultimately built a life there, marrying, raising a family and becoming a leader within the Jamaican diaspora. Nearly three decades later, she uses education as a bridge between Jamaicans overseas and young people at home, connecting students with professionals who can support their academic and personal development.
As founder of the Jamaica Diaspora Mentorship Academy, she has brought together 80 mentors from around the world to guide 90 Jamaican students, opening doors to opportunities many might not otherwise have accessed.
“We now have 80 mentors from all over the world mentoring 90 Jamaican students… they’re making an amazing difference in the lives of these mentees,” she said.
The programme has already produced remarkable success stories, including one student who struggled with discipline and personal challenges before becoming her school’s valedictorian. The student later established a mentorship initiative at her school and received help applying to The University of the West Indies, with her mentor offering to cover her expenses if she is accepted.
For Colly-Durand, mentorship is more than career guidance. It creates a cycle in which diaspora professionals help young Jamaicans realise their potential and, in turn, inspire them to support others.
She described learning of her selection for the Governor-General’s Achievement Award Diaspora as both “surprising and humbling”, saying the recognition affirmed years of service to Jamaicans at home and abroad.
The Bridge Builder: Dr. Nicoleen Johnson (China)
Dr. Nicoleen Johnson travelled to China on a scholarship to pursue a master’s degree, expecting to return home once her studies were complete. Instead, she fell in love with Shanghai, immersed herself in the language and culture, and accepted an invitation to continue into a PhD programme. The decision changed the course of her life.
Today, nearly three decades later, Johnson has become one of Jamaica’s foremost ambassadors in China. The first Jamaican to earn both a master’s degree and a PhD from Fudan University, she has spent her career building bridges between Jamaica and China through education, trade, cultural exchange and business.
She has also helped create a support network for the growing community of Jamaican students in China, ensuring newcomers have access to information, mentorship and a sense of belonging.
For Johnson, every interaction is an opportunity to represent Jamaica.
“When people meet me, they fall in love with my country because I think I exude Jamaica… Whenever I meet someone that’s not from Jamaica, they will know something about my country immediately after meeting me,” she said.
When she learned she had been selected for the Governor-General’s Achievement Award Diaspora, Johnson was in Shanghai and made a special trip to Jamaica to receive the honour in person. She was nominated by Jamaica’s Ambassador to China in recognition of her longstanding leadership within the diaspora.
The Community Builder: Lisa Rutty (Canada)
Lisa Rutty left Jamaica more than two decades ago to build a new life in Canada, but she has never left her homeland behind. Today, the licensed realtor, who works in both Ontario and Jamaica, has become a respected leader in the Jamaican-Canadian community, using her professional success to strengthen connections between the two countries.
Through her work with the Jamaican Canadian Association and the Global Jamaica Diaspora Council, Rutty has championed disaster relief efforts for Jamaica while also expanding educational opportunities for Jamaican-Canadians. One of her latest initiatives is a partnership with George Brown College that helps students navigate pathways to post-secondary education.
“What we do is really aim to find out what the stumbling blocks are with our Jamaican-Canadian community… and plan sessions around that information to make sure we can get them to post-secondary education,” she explained.
For Rutty, the Governor-General’s Achievement Award Diaspora carried special significance because it came from the country where her journey began.
“Having something from my country of birth… was an absolute honour to say that I was recognised by the Government of Jamaica as well,” she said.
Whether responding to natural disasters or helping young people pursue higher education, Rutty believes strong communities are built by investing in people and creating opportunities that last.
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The Connector: Asha Richards (USA)
Although she was born in the United States, Asha Richards has always seen Jamaica as an integral part of her identity. Raised by parents from St. Ann and Westmoreland, she grew up deeply connected to her Jamaican heritage, a connection that has shaped both her personal journey and her professional life.
Now one of the youngest recipients of the Governor-General’s Achievement Award Diaspora, Richards has built a career spanning advocacy, youth leadership and international development. A former Chair of the Global Jamaica Diaspora Youth Council and an International Organization for Migration Youth Changemaker, she has represented Jamaican perspectives in global forums from Switzerland to Azerbaijan while creating opportunities for young members of the diaspora to engage with their homeland.
Receiving the award prompted her to reflect on years of work that often happened quietly behind the scenes.
“When I found out I had been selected for the award, I was honestly overjoyed… This process made me sit down and truly take stock of all that I have accomplished over the years,” she said.
Richards says her Jamaican identity is something she carries into every room she enters.
“My Jamaican identity is not something I only bring out for particular events or occasions. It is reflected in how I advocate, how I present myself, and how I use my platforms.”
Looking ahead, she hopes to continue doing what she believes the diaspora needs most: bringing people together.
“The role I hope to play in the Jamaican diaspora, especially in the youth space, is to be a connector,” she said, explaining that she wants to strengthen relationships between young Jamaicans overseas and those on the island.
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Building Bridges Across Borders
Dr. Sandra Colly-Durand, Dr. Nicoleen Johnson, Lisa Rutty and Asha Richards embody the conference theme, “The Power of Us,” demonstrating that the diaspora’s greatest strength lies not simply in individual achievement, but in its ability to build bridges, share knowledge and create opportunities for others.
The conference itself reflects that same mission, bringing Jamaicans from around the world together to reconnect, collaborate and forge partnerships that advance national development. It is fitting, then, that four women whose careers have been defined by building bridges of their own were among those honoured. Through mentorship, education, advocacy and community leadership, they have strengthened the bonds between Jamaica and its global diaspora, ensuring that wherever Jamaicans succeed, Jamaica benefits too.