The Violence Prevention Alliance is on a mission to create a violence-free and safe Jamaica. Four of its members have taken on an additional role - for a period. They are The Gleaner's guest editors for the Monday, March 3 publication. Meet them.

Name: Deanna E.C. Ashley, CD MBBS, DPH, DM (Paed)

Occupation: Public health specialist and research fellow

Dr Deanna Ashley is the executive director of the Violence Prevention Alliance, Jamaica chapter. She holds a Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery (MBBS) and a Doctor of Medicine, specialising in paediatrics. She also has a diploma in the area of public health.

Ashley is the former director of health promotion and protection at the Ministry of Health. She has also served as medical officer of health; senior medical officer for maternal and child health, and principal medical officer for secondary and tertiary care in the Ministry of Health, all between 1977 and 1998. During this period, Ashley also served as adviser on many international technical working groups and organisations.

She has served as secretary to both the Medical Association of Jamaica and the Jamaica Hockey Association. Currently, Ashley is Honorary Research Fellow in the School for Graduate Studies and Research at the University of the West Indies.

Name: Elizabeth Mary Ward (BSc, MBBS, MSc, Dip Gum, Dip H Econ)

Occupation: Consultant/research fellow

Dr Eilizabeth Ward is the chairman of the board of the Violence Prevention Alliance. A consultant/ research fellow with the Institute of Criminal Justice and Security, University of the West Indies, Ward is the former director of disease prevention and control at the Ministry of Health and is on secondment to the university.

She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in food science and nutrition from McGill University (Canada); MBBS from the University of the West Indies and a Master's of Science in Epidemiology from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.

Her work has focused on research, data analysis, use of Geographic Information Systems, injury surveillance and violence prevention programmes.

Ward has also worked as a short-term consultant for Pan-American Health Organisation, World Health Organisation, Caribbean Community, Inter-America Development Bank, the World Bank and United States Agency for International Development.

Name: Diane Ellis (BSc Marketing)

Occupation: Communications adviser

Diane Ellis is a marketing and public relations consultant with well over 20 years of experience in the field. She is a Fordham University (USA) graduate, holding a BSc degree in marketing.

Ellis currently serves as communications adviser with the Violence Prevention Alliance. She is also the sponsorship director and administrator for Reggae Marathon Limited; co-chair of Unique Jamaica Tourism Cluster's Marketing Committee, and has worked in the national tourism sector at the Jamaica Tourist Board. Ellis has also worked in the music industry with the renowned Tuff Gong Studio in the area of artiste and studio management.

Name: Alston Barrington Chevannes (AB, AM, MSc, PhD)

Occupation: Professor of Social Anthropology

Professor Barry Chevannes is the chairman for the Violence Prevention Alliance's Steering Committee. He is a philosophy and classics graduate from Boston College in the United States and holds a Master's Degree in Sociology from the University of the West Indies (UWI). He also has a Doctorate in Anthropology from Columbia University, in the United States.

Chevannes is former Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences and head of the Department of Sociology, Social Work and Psychology at UWI, where he currently lectures. He has had an illustrious teaching career, gracing classrooms and lecture theatres at St Mary's College, Campion College, and City University of New York in the United States. Chevannes is an international research consultant throughout the West Indies, North America and Europe. He has researched various aspects of Caribbean culture and identity, inclusive of male gender issues, the family and sexual relationships, crime and violence, social integration, Garveyism and socio-political movements.