Minister Audrey Marks Receives 2026 Golden Heart Award

Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister with Responsibility for Efficiency, Innovation and Digital Transformation, Hon. Ambassador Audrey Marks, was among nine ambassadors worldwide honoured with the 2026 Golden Heart Award by the Tree of Life Foundation International at a prestigious ceremony held on January 11 at The Breakers Palm Beach Resort in Florida.

The gala, attended by over 300 dignitaries including current and former ambassadors, paid tribute to diplomats who have demonstrated exceptional service to their nations.

In presenting the award, Tree of Life Foundation Founder and President, Amanda Schumacher, commended Ambassador Marks for her leadership, service, and generosity, noting that she has “transformed lives and strengthened communities” throughout her distinguished career.

Accepting the honour, Ambassador Marks expressed profound gratitude for the recognition.

‘It is my honour to accept the 2026 Golden Heart Award from the Tree of Life Foundation International. I am truly pleased to be recognised among such distinguished global Ambassadors who share a steadfast commitment to service, compassion, and the advancement of humanity,’ she said.

The Minister praised the Foundation’s work, describing it as “both inspiring and profoundly aligned with my own values”, and expressed particular admiration for its “holistic and far‑reaching approach, which brings together so many sectors to empower those most in need.”

Commending the Foundation for its international outreach, Ambassador Marks extended an invitation to Ms. Schumacher to consider Jamaica as the location for the organisation’s 23rd branch, noting that suitable lands have already been identified for the initiative — a gesture underscoring her commitment to translating recognition into tangible benefit for her homeland.
Ambassador Marks made history not once, but twice during her distinguished diplomatic career.

In May 2010, upon assuming duties at Jamaica’s Embassy in Washington, D.C., she became the first woman to serve as the country’s Ambassador to the United States.

When she returned to the post in September 2016, she achieved another milestone, becoming the only individual ever appointed to the position under two different administrations — first under former Prime Minister, Hon. Bruce Golding, and subsequently under current Prime Minister, Dr. the Most Hon. Andrew Holness.

Long before diplomatic credentials adorned her office walls, Ambassador Marks was building a different kind of legacy.

Born in St. Mary in 1968, she began her professional journey as a filing clerk at Air Jamaica while pursuing her undergraduate degree at the University of the West Indies, Mona.

What followed was an entrepreneurial odyssey that saw her establish six businesses, most notably Paymaster Jamaica Limited — the nation’s first consolidated bill payment agency, which revolutionised financial services and grew to serve more than 1.4 million customers.

Over nearly a decade representing Jamaica in Washington, Ambassador Marks deepened bilateral cooperation in the critical areas of security, trade, and investment. She also championed scholarship initiatives and university exchange programs, opening pathways for young Jamaicans to pursue higher education in American institutions.

Upon concluding her ambassadorial tenure in March 2025, Prime Minister Holness commended Ambassador Marks for her “sterling leadership”.

In 2024, she was invested with the Order of Jamaica (OJ), the nation’s fourth‑highest honour, before transitioning to her current Ministerial assignment with responsibility for Efficiency, Innovation, and Digital Transformation.

Established in 2006, the Tree of Life Foundation International operates through 22 branches worldwide, connecting resources to address global needs ranging from education and housing to disaster relief and human rights.

Its signature honour, the Golden Heart Award, celebrates ambassadors whose service transcends ceremony, recognising those who transform diplomatic privilege into tangible impact for communities across the globe.