Douglas-Phillip Appointed Governor's Chief of Staff
Longtime public servant Jillian Douglas-Phillip has been appointed as the new Chief of Staff in the Office of the Governor, effective December 22, 2025. She brings extensive experience from the Ministry of Education, Youth Affairs and Sports to the senior administrative post. In her new role, Douglas-Phillip will oversee operations across Government House and support the Governor's constitutional duties.
Jillian Douglas-Phillip has been appointed as the new Chief of Staff in the Office of the Governor, stepping into a key leadership role within the Virgin Islands Public Service effective December 22, 2025. Douglas-Phillip is responsible for leading operations across the Office of the Governor, Government House, and the Old Government House Museum.
Her duties also include coordinating strategic planning, overseeing internal performance management, and offering independent analysis and expert guidance on legislative and policy matters affecting the Territory. Additionally, the Chief of Staff plays a central role in supporting His Excellency the Governor in carrying out his official responsibilities under section 60 of the Virgin Islands Constitution Order, 2007, which encompasses vital areas of governance, security, and public administration.
Douglas-Phillip enters the Office of the Governor with an established track record in public administration. She has served as the Director of Planning within the Ministry of Education, Youth Affairs and Sports since 2017. Prior to that position, she held several senior administrative and leadership roles in the ministry, including acting stints as both Deputy Chief Education Officer and Chief Education Officer.
Her academic credentials include a Master of Public Administration from the University of Liverpool, a Master of Arts in Secondary Education from the University of Phoenix, and a Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics from the University of the Virgin Islands. She has also attained a Level 7 Executive Diploma in Management from the Chartered Management Institute.
Expressing gratitude for the appointment, Mrs. Douglas-Phillip underscored her dedication to the continued development of the Territory's institutions and public sector systems. She noted that she is grateful for the opportunity to serve as Chief of Staff in a critical role that supports the Governor in the execution of his duties, while working to ensure the Office of the Governor functions at its highest capacity.
She added that she looks forward to collaborating with colleagues across the Public Service to advance the Virgin Islands.
Primary source: Guavaberry