EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR BIOGRAPHY

Lakeshia Anderson Rolle was appointed BNT’s Executive Director on January 1st, 2023. Before this, she served as BNT’s Director of Parks for six years. In this role, Lakeshia managed the largest department within the organization, the Parks Division. Under this role, she had oversight of park operations for the 32 national parks, and protected areas under BNT’s management, and was responsible for overseeing training, communications and staffing for the Parks Department. She joined the BNT in 2011 as a Parks Planner and later relocated to her hometown of Grand Bahama to serve as the Grand Bahama Parks Manager. Lakeshia has a degree in Marine and Environmental Science from Hampton University, and more than 15-years of experience in natural resource management. Her experience spans across the areas of environmental planning, project management, grant and proposal writing, stakeholder engagement, and marine species and habitat monitoring.

Lakeshia has contributed greatly to conservation efforts in The Bahamas and has a proven track record in the environmental field. She was instrumental in the planning, and execution of the expansion of The Bahamas National Protected Area System, and has helped to raise millions of dollars in grant funding for small, medium, and large-scale projects. Lakeshia is a demonstrated leader, who has worked collaboratively with local, national, and international partner organizations to advance national, and global initiatives towards promoting sustainable use of the natural environment.

Prior to joining BNT, Lakeshia worked as an Assistance Fisheries Officer with the Department of Marine Resources in New Providence, where she led the implementation of the National Lionfish Response Plan, advanced the Network of Marine Reserves for the Government to declare the first four marine reserves, and lead The Bahamas’ component of a regional invasive species project for the Wider Caribbean Region.

Lakeshia has been married for almost three years and enjoys spending time with family over competitive games of dominoes, which is a family tradition. She has family roots in Andros and Acklins, and enjoys boating, SCUBA diving, and other outdoor recreational activities. She is an active member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. – Charter Member and Centennial President of the local chapter in Grand Bahama (Beta Alpha Mu Zeta), a junkanooer who takes pride in pasting and decorating costumes, and loves to plan, and decorate for special occasions in her spare time.