Audrey Patrice Marks established Paymaster (Jamaica) Limited in 1997, creating the Caribbean’s first multi-transaction agency for remittances and bill payments. Beyond her corporate founding, she holds the distinction of being the first female Ambassador of Jamaica to the United States, serving two distinct tenures that spanned from 2010 to 2012 and from 2016 until 2025.
Entrepreneurial Development
Before her transition into diplomacy, Marks operated six distinct businesses. Her portfolio included a transportation firm, a 100-acre banana exporting operation, and a real estate development company. She also managed a venture capital firm with investments across the entertainment, manufacturing, and travel sectors. These ventures preceded her conceptualization of the online bill payment system Paymaster.
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Marks remains the only individual to hold the position of Ambassador of Jamaica to the United States across two separate terms. During this time, she functioned concurrently as the permanent representative to the Organization of American States. Her tenure focused on the intersection of trade and international relations, drawing on her extensive background in private sector investment and commercial governance.
Professional Governance and Appointments
She has held board positions in both the public and private sectors. Her experience includes chairing the Central Wastewater Treatment Company Limited and the Tourism Product Development Company. Additionally, she served as Deputy Chair of the Urban Development Corporation and sat on the boards of RBTT Securities Jamaica Limited and the National Health Fund. Marks was the first female President of the American Chamber of Commerce of Jamaica.
Education and Recognition
Her academic background includes attendance at St Theresa's Preparatory, Marymount High School, and Immaculate Conception High School. She earned a Bachelor's degree from the University of the West Indies and a Master of Business Administration from Nova University. Various institutions have recognized her professional record, including Northern Caribbean University, which conferred upon her an honorary Doctor of Laws degree.
Fast facts
- Born: 1968
- Birthplace: Saint Mary Parish, Jamaica
- Primary Occupations: Entrepreneur, Diplomat
- Ambassadorial Terms: 2010-2012, 2016-2025
- Paymaster Founded: 1997
- Alma Mater: University of the West Indies, Nova University
Questions readers ask
What was the significance of Paymaster (Jamaica) Limited?
It was the first multi-transaction agency in the Caribbean, designed for online bill payments and remittances.
What is Marks' record regarding the Jamaican Ambassadorship?
She is the first female to hold the position and the first person to serve two separate terms as Ambassador to the United States.
Achievements
- Educated at Marymount High School and H. Wayne Huizenga School of Business and Entrepreneurship
