From Kingston to Washington, DC, to New Delhi

Gordon Brown’s story is one of bold ambition, quiet determination and the belief that with hard work and the right opportunities, anything is possible.

Born and raised in Kingston, Gordon first left Jamaica at 17, a recent graduate of Campion College, to pursue a bachelor of science degree in civil engineering at The University of the West Indies, St Augustine Campus. The last 16 years have taken him across the Caribbean, USA, Europe and South Asia, where he now focuses on building water security and climate resilience through his work at the World Bank Group (WBG).

His career began with an internship at the European Investment Bank, followed by a decade at Fluid Systems Engineering Limited, a Jamaican consultancy where he worked as a design engineer. There, he contributed to the design and supervision of municipal water projects, gaining hands-on experience and seeing his work directly benefit communities. Mentorship and guidance from his former boss gave him opportunities to deliver on impactful projects early in his career.

A defining moment came in 2016 when Gordon was awarded a fully funded United Kingdom Commonwealth Scholarship to pursue a master of science degree in environmental engineering at Imperial College London. His mother encouraged him to apply, even handing him a Gleaner newspaper clipping of the scholarship advertisement, which he still possesses. The scholarship afforded world class academic exposure, expanded his global network and, as he says, “provided opportunities beyond my expectations.”

After returning home, he served his five-year scholarship bond and was introduced to the World Bank Group Young Professionals Program (YPP), one of the most competitive pathways into international development. Each year thousands of young people apply globally, but only a select few are chosen. Young professionals are onboarded on five-year staff contracts with the WBG YPP advancing their development through unique features such as rotations and global field placements over the first two years. Gordon succeeded on his second attempt, joining the 2023 cohort. “I went from designing sewage treatment plants impacting thousands in Jamaica to being in conversations about how countries plan their nationwide climate and water strategies,” he recalls. “That leap was humbling but also affirming-it showed me the skills we build in Jamaica are world-class.”

REACH FOR GLOBAL OPPORTUNITIES

As the only Caribbean national in his YPP cohort, Gordon is committed to mentorship and representation. He actively encourages young Caribbean professionals to explore the WBG YPP and similar youth opportunities at other multilateral organizations such as the Caribbean Development Bank, the World Trade Organization and the United Nations. Having benefited from strong guidance, he now encourages others to reach for global opportunities. He is proud that a Caribbean aspirant he mentored was recently accepted into the WBG YPP 2025 cohort.

He also seeks to dispel misconceptions about multilateral development banks (MDBs), noting they are not commercial banks but partners in a country’s long-term socio-economic development. MDBs support governments with financing and technical expertise for reforms and infrastructure, welcoming specialists from many sectors, such as education, water and energy. “Development is about solving real problems with compassion and clarity,” he says.

Now, nearing the end of the two-year programme, Brown has worked in both the climate change and water sectors. In his first rotation at WBG headquarters in Washington, DC, he supported climate analytics and corporate climate commitments, including aligning Bank-financed operations with the Paris Agreement. “That meant reviewing project designs to ensure alignment with the target country’s nationally determined climate strategies for low greenhouse gas emissions and climate-resilient development,” he explains.

His second rotation took both him and his wife to New Delhi, India. There he has contributed to water supply, sanitation and water resource management projects and analytics across India and Bangladesh. “One of the projects I supported involved river clean-up through the halting of pollution caused by untreated sewage discharge. This improves environmental health and reduces public health risks through access to safe water sources,” he shares.

He says he is driven by impact. “When I see how interventions bring sanitation solutions and clean water to households, save lives from floods and enhance agricultural yield, I’m reminded why I’m here. Development isn’t just about paperwork-it’s about helping people and preserving the planet.”

Through every new frontier, Brown is grounded by family, faith and conviction of purpose. From Kingston to Washington, D.C., to New Delhi, he continues to carry the Jamaican flag high, proving that global impact can come from anywhere–even a small island nation.

Contributed