Underwood makes good in Barbados, winning election to head Human Resource Management Association, there

Antiguan-born Joan Underwood has received another accolade in her career having been elected to head the Human Resource Management Association of Barbados Inc.

Underwood, a former non-resident ambassador to a number of Latin American countries, says that it has been humbling and gratifying to have received the nod of approval from her peers in the HR profession to serve as president of the Association.

She says her elevation is testimony “to the importance, the value and the rewards associated with just doing the hard work, being professional (and) ensuring that you are on the top of your game…”

Underwood says she is looking forward to the challenges that come with holding the position as she strives to further develop the organization.

The HR professional says that since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic the profession has been placed in the headlines with regards to the role that HR professionals have to play in supporting people within organizations.

Underwood says that HR consultants have been able to help organizations- both within the public and private sectors- to navigate these unpredictable, complex, ambiguous and uncertain times associated with the pandemic and other external shocks.

She is hoping that the organization will be able to build networks as it seeks to advance the cause of people within varying organizations.

Underwood is a senior management consultant and policy advisor with extensive experience in both the public and private sectors.