Meet Dr. Leo Gilling

Executive Chairman, CICCJ & JDTAN

Dr. Leo Gilling is a distinguished criminologist and global diaspora leader whose transformative work bridges public policy, education, and community development across Jamaica, the Caribbean, North America, and beyond. For more than three decades, he has built a legacy of service, innovation, and impact, harnessing the power of the diaspora to uplift and empower communities both at home and abroad.

Dr. Gilling is a strategic, relationship-driven executive who combines visionary planning with disciplined execution and exceptional communication skills. Those traits translate across education, philanthropy, and corporate leadership alike, enabling him to build innovative programs, forge high-impact partnerships, and guide diverse teams toward measurable results. His career reflects a rare blend of academic rigor and practical leadership, consistently turning bold ideas into sustainable, community-centered outcomes.

Originally from Oracabessa, Jamaica, and now based in Miramar, Florida, Dr. Gilling is the Founder and Executive Director of the Caribbean Institute of Criminology & Criminal Justice (CICCJ), advancing research, education, and policy reform across the Caribbean. He oversees the development of academic programs, regional partnerships, and initiatives focused on restorative justice and community safety.

He is also the Founder and Executive Chairman of the Jamaica Diaspora Taskforce Action Network (JDTAN), a groundbreaking initiative that began with a single education task force in 2013 and has since evolved into a multi-sectoral global platform. Today, JDTAN mobilizes more than 3,500 diaspora professionals across various sectors, including education, health, technology, agriculture, crime prevention, youth development, and mental health.

Leadership Highlights

Under his leadership, JDTAN has:

Produced and hosted 10 Annual Advancement in Education Summits (2013–2025), and five Health & Wellness Summits impacting thousands of Jamaican and Caribbean educators and healthcare workers in Jamaica, New York, California, Miami, and Fort Lauderdale.
Launched five national education task forces: Early Childhood, Primary & Secondary, Tertiary, Special Education, and Instructional Leadership, with dedicated leadership teams.
Expanded to a Health & Wellness Task Force, complementing the five education task forces.
Organized three Health & Wellness Summits, the most recent a virtual summit on August 14–15, 2025.
Built enduring partnerships with the Ministry of Education, Jamaica Teachers’ Association (JTA), UTECH, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade (MFAFT), and North American universities, including FAU, Marymount Manhattan College, Broward College, University of Miami, Loma Linda, and La Sierra.
Developed a 12-year collaboration with Loma Linda University through the EXSEED Project (2014–present), awarding five annual STEM scholarships for in-classroom training in technology and digital tools.

Programs and Initiatives

Dr. Gilling has pioneered multiple programs that reflect his core belief that education is the most powerful tool for nation-building, including:

Virtual Mentorship Models – Connecting Jamaican high-school students (Grades 10–12) with diaspora mentors for exam readiness and post-secondary transitions.
Emotional Literacy Program – Equipping 7th-grade teachers and students with tools to improve behavior, academic outcomes, and emotional well-being.
ACT (Adopt a Child Today) – A three-year initiative providing books and sustained academic support to primary-school students (Grades 4–6) preparing for the PEP exams.

Introduced a new model and technology platform to support student learning at a community based organization's tutorial program.

A visionary in virtual engagement, Dr. Gilling initiated diaspora-government teleconferences (2013–2018) well before the global shift to virtual communication. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he led over 300 virtual training sessions, reaching more than 200,000 participants on topics such as digital learning, mental health, and instructional leadership. JDTAN also supported the Clinton Foundation’s CGI Caribbean initiative, delivering education and health content online.

His extensive diaspora leadership journey began in California, where he served as Treasurer, Public Relations Officer, and President of the Jamaica Awareness Association of California (JAAC) from 1990 to 2018. He has since spearheaded numerous grassroots initiatives:

Founded Sam Sharpe Teachers’ College Past Students Association (2004–2009): Coordinated medical missions and education camps in Jamaica, New York, and Florida.
Regional Ethnocultural Advisory Committees (REAC), Ontario: Advisor to the Correctional Service of Canada (CSC), helping address the cultural needs of ethnocultural offenders in federal institutions and during reintegration.
Celebrate Jamaica Los Angeles (2007–2012): Culminated in Jamaica’s 50th Independence celebration.
Oracabessa Homecoming and Reunion (2009–2016): Reconnected diaspora members with their roots through community giveback.
Miramar Civic Engagement: Served on the Parks & Recreation Board (2017–2020) and Economic Development Board (2020–2022), and helped draft the Sister-City Policy between Miramar and Kingston (2018–2019).

He was the Diaspora Advisory Board Member to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade (2013–2015) and an Alternate Board Member (2008–2012). Dr. Gilling is also a respected public speaker and conference presenter, with appearances at:

6th, 7th, and 8th Biennial Jamaica Diaspora Conferences (2013, 2015, 2017)
International Organization for Migration (IOM) Conference, St. Lucia (2014)
Clinton Global Initiative Caribbean (2020)
Community College of Mandeville Conference (2021)
Early Childhood Commission PDI (2021–2025)

Keynote speeches include:

Jamaica Ex-Soldiers Association (2022)
Guys Hill High School Graduation (2023)
Dunrobin Christian Academy, Kingston (2024)
Clarendon College Alumni Association, Canada (2025)

A published author and media personality, Dr. Gilling released his memoir From Shadows to Sunshine: My Jamaican Boyhood in 2025 and recently completed the second and third books in his trilogy, From Sunshine to Storms: My Journey into American Life, and From Storms to Legacy: JDTAN - A Model for National Development, respectively.

His writing on crime, education, diaspora development, and civic engagement has appeared in Medium, South Florida Caribbean News, Our Today, Caribbean National Weekly, The Jamaica Observer, The Jamaica Gleaner, and Old Harbor News.

Known for his charismatic broadcasting style, Dr. Gilling uses radio and digital platforms to connect, inform, and inspire Jamaicans and Caribbeans worldwide.

He holds a PhD in Criminology and Criminal Justice from Keiser University, an MSc in Criminal Justice, a BSc in Accounting from National University, and a Diploma in Education from Sam Sharpe Teachers’ College. His personal journey—rooted in overcoming educational barriers in rural Jamaica—fuels his mission to create systems that give every child, regardless of background or geography, a pathway to opportunity.

Page updated

Report abuse