Nutrition Officer (ag)
Glencill has been employed at the National Nutrition Centre (NNC) for over 20 years. She earned undergraduate degrees in Home Economics and Dietetics, a master’s degree in Nutrition and Dietetics, and registration with the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics as a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN).
Glencill’s journey at the NNC started as a Community Nutrition Officer. In this role, she provided individual and group nutrition services within the polyclinic setting and worked across several Barbadian communities providing nutrition services for churches, schools, workplaces, and community groups. Later, she served in the post of Assistant Nutrition Officer, assisting with administrative duties while working within the District Hospitals providing clinical nutrition services for patients, technical nutrition support for dietary departments, and in-service nutrition training for staff. At present, Glencill serves in the post of Nutrition Officer, performing duties as head of department. In this role, she leads and supports the departmental team to advance the work of Nutrition and Dietetics in Barbados.
When not on duty, Glencill seeks out opportunities to engage in home food gardening, a recreational activity she enjoys and believes is an important component for supporting good nutrition in Barbados.
Deputy Nutrition Officer (ag)
Brian Payne is currently working within the National Nutrition Centre, Ministry of Health and Wellness (MHW) in the capacity of Assistant Nutrition Officer (ANO). Throughout the years he has operated in several capacities, such as Community Nutrition Officer and Nutrition Officer.
In 2005, he earned a Master of Science (M.Sc.) in Nutrition, Physical Activity and Public Health from the University of Bristol (UK). After an extended period at the NNC, in 2012 he read for a research-intensive M.Sc. in Human Nutrition at McGill University (Canada). In 2015, he completed an eight-month interdisciplinary fellowship at the World Health Organization (Switzerland) and Nutrition International (Canada).
As ANO, he provided technical assistance to the dietary departments of government run long-term care facilities. In addition to his other duties, he is currently the MHW focal point for nutrition labeling and the Barbados School Nutrition Policy. Brian Payne is currently a fellow with the Eastern Caribbean Health Outcomes Research Network.
Community Nutrition Officer
Andrea has been with the organization since 2015, and has special interest in Diabetes Care and Management. She holds an MSc in Nutrition from Marywood University in Scranton, Pennsylvania and BSc. in Home Economics from Andrews University, both in the United States. Andrea has completed a Diploma in Theology from Codrington College, Barbados.
Before the National Nutrition Centre, valuable experience and knowledge were gained at Mercy Hospital in Scranton, PA. To ensure the highest level of care and understanding of clients Andrea has participated in many courses, such as multicultural counseling and gerontology. Andrea is also a former secondary school teacher of multiple disciplines.
She is a food enthusiast, and enjoys recreating typical every day and traditional dishes and items making them healthier. In her spare time, Andrea can be found hiking or touring places of interest.
Community Nutrition Officer
Marrianne Burnham is a Community Nutrition Officer and a Health Educator. She holds a Post Graduate Diploma in Health Services Management from the University of the West Indies and a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition from Acadia University, Canada. She has several years of experience in nutrition and chronic disease, and has worked in the pharmaceutical sales industry in Barbados and the long-term care field in Canada.
Community Nutrition Officer
Carla M. Ramsay, Community Nutrition Officer with 20 plus years of experience, began her career at The National Nutrition Centre April 2000, where she continued until 2007, before holding a similar post with The Ministry of Health of The Turks and Caicos Islands. In this capacity, she coordinated all the nutrition activities as well as patient care for all the islands and the inhabited Keys. Her other work activities included working with the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Barbados from 2010 – 2016, after which she returned to the National Nutrition Centre, Ministry of Health and Wellness.
Carla is an avid nutrition enthusiast and approaches her duties, which includes but are not limited to, planning, developing, supervising, monitoring and evaluating nutrition services in an assigned geographic area, as part of the National Nutrition Programme. One of her passions in the field of nutrition encompasses preparing nutrition education materials for dissemination to professional and non-professional audiences through various media. With special interest in the youth population, one of her responsibilities which she totally enjoys, is designing, facilitating and supervising Nutrition Summer Camps, with emphasis on utilization of locally produced foods, and innovative food and nutrition based games and projects.
Carla is a self proclaimed foodie who enjoys cooking, baking, vegetable gardening, and is an avid participant in physical activities.
Community Nutrition Officer
Leanda Hurdle is a Registered Nutritionist with over 10 years’ experience in health, wellness and nutrition. She is a Community Nutrition Officer in the Ministry of Health and Wellness.
Leanda served as Consultant Nutritionist at The Barbados Heart and Stroke Foundation for two weight loss programmes. She has gained invaluable experience in the food industry and in the areas of fitness, lifestyle change and substance misuse in Barbados and the UK.
Leanda Hurdle holds a master’s degree in Human Nutrition, with merit from the University of Glasgow, Scotland. During this degree, she completed her specialisation in Obesity & Weight Management. The foundation of the programme was the application of the multi-component approach involving diet, exercise and behaviour change to nutrition and weight management.
Following her studies, Leanda gained invaluable experience for over a year working as a Health Advisor for the UK National Health Service, supporting and providing specialist advice to individuals. In this role, she was trained in lifestyle change, substance misuse and sexual health, with behavioural change incorporated as the key tool.
In addition to the above qualifications, Leanda received the UK’s full certification as a Smoking Cessation Practitioner.
When not working, Leanda enjoys a good read, a good movie, a good dance, good company and a good laugh.