The Honorable Minister Chad Blackman is a seasoned Barbadian diplomat, lawyer, and policymaker with an extensive background in international trade, multilateral diplomacy, and global governance. He currently serves as the Minister of Educational Transformation, and is a former Minister in the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Investment, following his appointment to the Senate of Barbados in January 2024. In May 2025, he was elected as Member of Parliament for St. James North in a by-election, further reinforcing his prominent role in national politics.
The Hon. Minister Chad Blackman brings a wealth of international experience to his ministerial responsibilities. From 2022 to 2023, he served as Senior Advisor to the Director-General of the International Labour Organization (ILO), where he oversaw strategic portfolios across Latin America and the Caribbean, Africa, the Arab States, and key areas including legal affairs, corporate services, and external relations.
Before his role at the ILO, he held the post of Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Barbados to the United Nations and other international organisations in Geneva, Vienna, and Rome from 2018 to 2022. Concurrently, he was accredited as Ambassador to Switzerland, Austria, Hungary, and Serbia. During this time, he served in several high-profile leadership roles, including Chair of both the Trade and Development Committee and the Trade and Environment Committee at the World Trade Organisation (WTO). He was also President of the Group of 77 and China (Geneva Chapter) and Coordinator of the Small Island Developing States (SIDS) at UNCTAD.
The Hon. Minister Chad Blackman began his diplomatic and legal career as a consultant attorney specializing in international trade law, tax policy, and regulatory compliance. He later became a partner at Global Partners International and has advised governments, international organisations, and private sector clients on trade and investment issues. He is an Associate Member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (London) and has been a global board member of the UN International Gender Champions initiative.
The Hon. Minister Chad Blackman holds a Master of Laws (LLM) in International Trade Law and a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) from the University of Essex.