Dr. Simone Titus, Deputy Permanent Secretary (Ag.)

Dr Simone Titus Deputy Permanent Secretary (Ag.), Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries

Prior to her appointment as Deputy Permanent Secretary (Ag.), Dr Simone Titus has worked locally, regionally and internationally in projects promoting agricultural production and trade, bringing a wealth of experience to the Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries.

In her previous portfolios as Chief Technical Officer; Director, Animal Production and Health and; Technical Officer (Animal Health) in this Ministry, her contributions ranged from diagnosing the second largest outbreak of rabies ever documented in the country, to spearheading improvements in trade and in particular, import regulations and requirements of specific commodities. Also under her remit was responsibility for the development of strategies for the management of exotic, endemic and zoonotic diseases; the conduct of trade negotiations; facilitating export of agricultural commodities; communicating with stakeholders and managing the relevant obligations of Trinidad and Tobago under the Sanitary and Phytosanitary, World Trade Organization Agreement.

Dr. Titus has over twenty (20) years of experience in this Ministry. She obtained a degree in Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM), with distinction at The University of the West Indies, a Master of Philosophy (M.Phil) from the University of Cambridge, United Kingdom in Veterinary Pathology and Molecular Biology, and a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) from Massey University, New Zealand in Veterinary Epidemiology specialising in Risk Analyses.

Dr. Titus supports the promotion of agriculture as a viable, sustainable, technology-driven industry in Trinidad and Tobago.