Jamaica’s Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister with responsibility for Efficiency, Innovation and Digital Transformation, Ambassador Audrey Marks, was among nine diplomats from around the world honored with the 2026 Golden Heart Award by Tree of Life Foundation International at a gala held Monday night at The Breakers Palm Beach Resort.
The ceremony, attended by more than 300 dignitaries, including current and former ambassadors, recognized diplomats whose service has extended beyond traditional diplomacy to deliver meaningful impact for their countries and communities.
Presenting the award, Tree of Life Foundation Founder and President Amanda Schumacher praised Marks for her leadership and generosity, crediting her with having “transformed lives and strengthened communities” throughout her career.
Accepting the honor, Marks said she was deeply appreciative of the recognition and the foundation’s mission.
“It is my honor to accept the 2026 Golden Heart Award from the Tree of Life Foundation International,” she said. “I am truly pleased to be recognized among such distinguished global ambassadors who share a commitment to service, compassion, and the advancement of humanity.”
Marks described the foundation’s work as “both inspiring and profoundly aligned with my own values,” and commended its “holistic and far-reaching approach” to empowering vulnerable communities worldwide.
She also extended an invitation to Schumacher to consider establishing the organization’s 23rd branch in Jamaica, noting that she has already identified suitable lands for the initiative—an offer underscoring her commitment to turning recognition into tangible benefits for her homeland.
A career of firsts
Marks is a two-time trailblazer in Jamaica’s diplomatic history. When she assumed duties at Jamaica’s Embassy in Washington in May 2010, she became the first woman to serve as Jamaica’s Ambassador to the United States. Her return to the post in September 2016 marked another milestone, making her the only individual ever appointed to the position under two different administrations—first under former Prime Minister Bruce Golding and later under Prime Minister Andrew Holness onth of the Jamaica Labour Party.
Born in St. Mary in 1968, Marks’ professional journey began far from the diplomatic stage. While working as a filing clerk at Air Jamaica, she pursued undergraduate studies at the University of the West Indies, Mona. She later built a successful entrepreneurial career, founding six businesses, including Paymaster Jamaica Limited, the country’s first consolidated bill payment agency, which grew to serve more than 1.4 million customers.
Diplomatic legacy
During nearly a decade representing Jamaica in Washington, Marks strengthened bilateral cooperation in areas including security, trade, and investment. She also championed scholarship programs and university exchanges, expanding opportunities for young Jamaicans to access higher education in the United States.
When she concluded her ambassadorial tenure in March 2025, Prime Minister Holness praised her “sterling leadership.” In 2024, she was awarded the Order of Jamaica, the country’s fourth-highest national honor, before assuming her current ministerial role.
Founded in 2006, Tree of Life Foundation International operates 22 branches worldwide, connecting resources to address needs ranging from education and housing to disaster relief and human rights. Its Golden Heart Award honors ambassadors whose service translates diplomatic privilege into lasting, real-world impact.
In honoring Marks, the foundation recognized a figure whose journey—from rural St. Mary to Washington’s diplomatic corridors, and now to the center of Jamaica’s digital transformation agenda—continues to inspire Jamaicans at home and abroad.
