With over 30 years of distinguished national, regional, and international experience, this seasoned professional has built a career at the intersection of urban and environmental planning, disaster risk reduction, and emergency management. His work is grounded in advancing a culture of safety, resilience, and preparedness as key drivers of sustainable development and economic growth.

Currently serving as Deputy Director General at Jamaica’s Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM), Richard Thompson plays a central leadership role in shaping national disaster risk management and risk reduction policies and in coordinating national emergency response systems. In this capacity, and previously as Director General (Acting), he provided strategic oversight of the Agency, directed national emergency operations, and ensured the effective functioning of the National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC). His leadership has been critical to strengthening disaster communication systems, early warning mechanisms, and post-disaster recovery operations.

Prior to joining ODPEM, he spent over a decade with the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) and the Town Planning Department, where he held key leadership roles, including Manager of the Map Registry and Data Management Branch and Manager of the National Spatial Planning Branch, where he helped formulate the framework for the national spatial plan. During this time, he contributed significantly to the development and implementation of national strategies for sustainable land use, coordinated GIS initiatives, and prioritised the implementation of Geographic Information Science and its associated systems through NEPA, including the digital mapping of all development and subdivision applications and the spatial mapping of cellular communication towers across Jamaica’s landscape. He also enforced environmental and planning regulations and guided development planning at both the policy and operational levels.

Richard Thompson’s academic background reflects a strong interdisciplinary foundation. He holds a master’s degree in Geographic Information Science and Earth Observation, specialising in Urban Planning and Management, from the University of Twente’s Faculty of Geographic Information Science and Earth Observation in the Netherlands, and a Bachelor of Science in Physical Planning and Environmental Resource Management from the University of Technology, Jamaica. His areas of expertise span urban and Rural Development Planning and Design, Environmental Planning, Transportation Infrastructure Planning, Disaster Management, Geographic Information Science, Satellite Imagery Interpretation, and Critical Incident Management.

Also, a graduate of Ardenne High School, Richard Thompson brings a lifelong commitment to national development, combining technical expertise with strategic leadership to enhance resilience and support Jamaica’s sustainable future.