Ambassador Cheryl Spencer presented her credentials to the Secretary-General of the International Seabed Authority (ISA), Ms. Leticia Carvalho, as the Permanent Representative of Jamaica to the ISA during a ceremony held in Kingston, Jamaica, on May 20, 2025.

A seasoned diplomat with over 30 years of experience in international relations, Ambassador Spencer has held various high-level positions within the Government of Jamaica. Before her current role as Under-Secretary, Multilateral Affairs Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Ambassador Spencer served as Ambassador/Permanent Representative of Jamaica to the United Nations and its specialized agencies at Geneva and Vienna and to the World Trade Organization. She also served as an Ambassador to the Swiss Confederation and a non-resident Ambassador to Austria, Greece, Italy, and Türkiye. Ambassador Spencer holds a bachelor’s degree in international relations.

Emphasizing the need to balance legal complexities with the urgent imperative to protect the marine environment, Ambassador Spencer stated: “Jamaica supports your perspective on the importance of ensuring that the ISA remains inclusive, neutral, transparent, equitable, and accountable.”

Welcoming Ambassador Spencer, Secretary-General Carvalho expressed her gratitude to the host country of ISA. “I am so pleased to welcome Ambassador Spencer as the Permanent Representative of Jamaica to the ISA. Jamaica’s steadfast support since 1994 has provided a home to ISA, enabling international cooperation to flourish. On behalf of the ISA, we look forward to many more years of collaboration to ensure sustainable and equitable use of marine resources,” she said.