St. Michael West Central

Ian Gooding-Edghill is a seasoned executive, labour relations professional, and public servant whose career spans human resource management, corporate leadership, and national governance.

He began his executive career in human resource management with Marriott Hotels and Resorts and, in 1994, was recruited into St. James Beach Hotels Plc, the first Barbadian company floated on the London Stock Exchange. There, he served as Group Trainer, Group Human Resources Manager, and later Human Resources Director, building a strong reputation in organisational development and people management.

From 2003 to 2007, Ian served as a member of the Barbados Senate. His engagement in national institutions extended further through his leadership within the Barbados Employers’ Confederation, where he served as First Vice President from 2001 to 2008 and President from 2008 to 2016. He also held key board and governance roles, including Deputy Chairman and later Chairman of the Transport Board, Deputy Chairman of the Barbados Accreditation Council, and Director and later Chairman of the National Insurance Board from 2013 to 2020.

In the private sector, he played a central role in major tourism and hospitality developments. In May 2015, he was among the business executives responsible for the listing of Elegant Hotels Group Plc on the Alternative Investment Market (AIM) of the London Stock Exchange, with a market capitalisation of £88.8 million. He also served on the boards of related Elegant Hotels Group companies and was part of the executive team that negotiated and concluded the sale of the Elegant Hotels Group to Marriott International in 2019, completing his contractual obligations in July 2020.

In July 2020, Ian was appointed to Cabinet, serving first as Minister of Transport, Works and Water Resources. Following the 2022 General Election, he was assigned as Minister of Health and Wellness from January to October 2022, and subsequently as Minister of Tourism and International Transport from October 26, 2022, to the present.

He was educated at St. Leonard’s Boys’ Secondary School, AHMA, and the Cornell University School of Hotel Management. His career reflects a consistent focus on leadership, institutional strength, and national development through both public and private service.