I grew up in St. Andrew, Jamaica, in an economically disadvantaged neighbourhood. I was fortunate to attend some of the best schools my country has to offer, while surrounded by peers who did not have the same opportunities. That contrast has shaped why I pursue engineering and the impact I want it to have on the world.

In 2005, I attended the London International Youth Science Forum as one of several students representing Jamaica from my high school. I’m honest about the fact that this was less about academic accolades and more about being in the right place, at the right school, at the right time. Even so, it was a turning point: my first real exposure to life in Europe and, more importantly, the chance to interact with young people from around the world who shared a genuine love of science and technology. Speaking with professors and scientists in their fields showed me the opportunities that could open up through university and a sustained focus on what I cared about.

At 19, I left home and moved to the United Kingdom to study for my bachelor’s degree at the University of Portsmouth in southern England. For many Jamaicans, the United States feels like the natural choice—closer in distance and cultural likeness. One of the main reasons I chose the UK, and a theme that recurs throughout my life, was Universal Health Care. That commitment to fairness and access has continued to influence the kinds of projects I take on and the sectors I work in.

Portsmouth also gave me my first taste of a truly international community and sparked the love of languages I’ve developed over the years (even if I’m not as good at speaking them as I’d like). Like many Caribbean people of my generation, I am the first in my family to attend university—a fact that becomes especially visible when I return home and see how many talented young Jamaicans still find that path out of reach.

After several years working in the UK following my bachelor’s degree—gaining both life and professional experience—I moved to Switzerland. There, I saw firsthand how a well‑designed medical system can function. While expensive, it was executed in a way that ensured everyone had access to care of the highest calibre. That experience deepened my interest in healthcare policy and reinforced my commitment to universal, high‑quality care.

After a couple more years in industry, I decided it was time to return to school and specialise. I completed my Master’s degree in Sweden, where I learned the art of integrated‑circuit design and microelectronics. The possibilities this opened up laid the groundwork for the next stage of my journey: applying chip‑level design to the kinds of robust, accessible medical and safety‑critical systems I care about.

For me, engineering is about more than circuits, code, and systems. Above all, it is about finding solutions to the problems that make life unnecessarily difficult for many people—problems that turn “social mobility” into a phrase used by the few, rather than a tangible reality for the many. That belief drives my work in medical devices, embedded systems, and now integrated‑circuit design: to build technology that is robust, accessible, and aligned with the kind of world I want to help create.