Author: Ainsley Brown

Ainsley C. Brown is an internationally recognized expert on special economic zones (SEZs), economic governance, and global value chain integration. Ainsley served as Interim Chief Operating Officer of the Jamaica Special Economic Zone Authority (JSEZA), where he led efforts to position SEZs as engines of sustainable industrial transformation. He conceptualized and developed the Sustain-a-Livity framework, integrating social, economic, environmental, and governance (SEEG) principles into Jamaica’s SEZ regime—an initiative that earned international recognition as one of the Top 50 SDG Model Zone Initiatives by the Global Alliance of Special Economic Zones. A lawyer by training and a systems thinker by practice, Ainsley is known for his ability to connect the dots between law, commerce, policy, and trade to design forward-looking solutions for inclusive development. His thought leadership includes the widely referenced article “Building an Economic Engagement Network Between Africa and the Caribbean” (Afronomics Law, 2021), which outlines a roadmap for South-South cooperation through SEZ-led investment and trade. As a lecturer in logistics, supply chain management, and international business across the University of the West Indies and other regional institutions, Ainsley continues to mentor emerging professionals and policymakers. He is also the founder and host of “Let’s Talk SEZs”, a YouTube series that demystifies SEZ policy and practice for a global audience.