Dr. Ruth Potopsingh is a sustainable development expert with over 40 years of experience in the energy sector, having worked both in the petroleum industry and in renewable energy (wind, solar, biomass, small hydro) energy efficiency and conservation. She is a pioneer in this field, particularly as a woman, since at the time she started the field was dominated by men. Dr. Potopsingh started her university life studying geography, graduating in 1975 from The University of the West Indies (The UWI) Mona with a B.A. in Geography and a Diploma in Education. However, her work as a Physical Planner in the Town Planning Department of the Ministry of Finance and Planning starting in 1976 led her to obtain an M.Sc. in Urban Development Planning from the Bartlett School of Architecture, University College London. She also studied at the University of Surrey’s Centre for Environmental Strategy. She eventually moved to the Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica (PCJ) in 1993 where she worked in various technical management capacities culminating in her serving as the PCJ Group Managing Director for almost five years. During this time she was responsible for numerous projects that enhanced Jamaica’s energy efficiency, retrofitting several schools, hospitals and police stations with energy efficiency equipment. She was responsible for the implementation of the Petro Caribe Agreement with the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela which provided needed preferential crude oil prices to Jamaica. Dr. Potopsingh was one of the pioneers of Jamaica’s renewable energy transition beginning with commercial wind operations at Wigton, Manchester in 2004 and the removal of lead from gasoline in 2000 and later the introduction of 10% ethanol in gasoline. She was the founding member the Jamaica Solar Energy Association. She continued her studies over this period, earning an Executive Masters in Business Administration (1996) and a Ph.D. in Sustainable Development (2006), both from The UWI, Mona. Having been a part-time lecturer and external examiner at the University of Technology (UTech) in the 1990s, Dr. Potopsingh returned in 2010 as the Associate Vice President with responsibility for Sustainable Energy in the School of Graduate Studies, Research and Entrepreneurship. At. UTech, Dr. Potopsingh pioneered several solar energy projects and the development of an M.Sc. in Sustainable Development and Climate Change. Dr. Ruth Potopsingh now works part-time as a Senior Technical Consultant at Environmental Solutions Ltd. She was recognised by CARICOM for her pioneering work with the Women in Sustainable Energy Award 2023 (Policy and Regulations). In 2025, she was one of four Jamaican women to proudly receive the Woman in Energy Award from the Government of Canada.