Please join us in celebrating Semester alumna, Heather Brockbank F21, for being selected as the 2025-2026 Bahamas Youth Climate Change Ambassador under the Office of the Prime Minister.

Heather joined us as a Bahamas Environmental Stewards Scholarship (BESS) scholar in Fall 2021 through our partnership with Bahamas Reef Environment Educational Foundation (BREEF). As a student, she was looking for a learning experience that she said “challenged me to connect with my environment, community, and myself in a deeper way.”

Inspired To Turn Island School Experience Into a Career 

Following her semester on campus, Heather completed internships with both Coral Vita and BREEF as part of the BESS Programme. These internships led her to a full-time role with BREEF, where she now serves as the Outreach Officer. In a full-circle moment, she now organises the BESS Programme in addition to coordinating BREEF’s outreach programmes and field studies. She supports students as they explore marine conservation, leadership, and environmental stewardship through fieldwork and community engagement. She also leads outreach initiatives that connect Bahamian youth with their marine environment through hands-on experiences.

These leadership experiences have been recognised in her appointment as the 2025–2026 Bahamas Youth Climate Change Ambassador. In this role, she leads a youth-driven campaign to share climate education and climate solutions with young people and local stakeholders.

“As a Youth Climate Ambassador for The Bahamas, my role is to advocate for climate awareness and action, particularly among young people,” Heather said. “This includes engaging communities in conversations about sustainability, amplifying Bahamian and regional perspectives in global spaces, and supporting initiatives that promote climate resilience and education. My goal is to help empower & educate more young Bahamians to see themselves as key players in shaping climate solutions for the future, both locally and internationally.”

Leadership Affecting Change In Action

Looking back, Heather credits her Island School experience for the foundation that guides her work today. 

“The Island School experience has taught me that real change starts with understanding and connecting, understanding the systems that sustain us, and connecting with others who care about protecting them. The focus on experiential learning, reflection, and leadership has shaped how I approach my work every day at BREEF. It instilled in me the confidence to lead environmental initiatives and the belief that youth voices can drive national and global change.”

From student to educator, Heather’s journey has come full circle. “I’m continually inspired by how many Island School alumni continue to make an impact in their communities,” she shares. “The sense of purpose and connection that began in Eleuthera continues to guide my path, and I’m grateful to now help the next generation of Bahamian students begin that same journey through BESS.”

We are now accepting applications for Summer Term 2026, Fall 2026, and Spring 2027. To learn more about the BESS Programme, visit our webpage or email admissions@islandschool.org.