Bahamas Protected Areas Fund is pleased to announce the appointment of Marcus J. S. Cheetham, as the new Chair of the Board, with effect July 1, 2026.
Marcus is an experienced technology executive with more than 30 years of experience in technology operations and leadership. He is the Founder and President of Southworth Consultants, a Bahamian technology firm established in 2000 to help clients improve productivity and performance through practical, cost-effective technology solutions. Before founding Southworth, Marcus served as a senior network engineer and team leader with another local technology firm.
His professional expertise includes private, public and hybrid cloud infrastructure, digital transformation, enterprise technology, disaster recovery and the alignment of technology solutions with organizational goals. Marcus also served on the Hewlett Packard Enterprise Digital Transformation Council for the Caribbean, contributing regional perspectives on the technology solutions businesses need to succeed.
Marcus joined the Board of Directors of the Bahamas Protected Areas Fund (BPAF) in March 2023 as Treasurer and became Chair of the Board in July 2026. He was instrumental in the development of BPAF’s Corporate Engagement Strategy, with particular emphasis on strengthening and refining the Fund’s web presence. He also played a pivotal role in the negotiation and execution of the Bahamas Project for Marine Conservation with the Government of The Bahamas and The Nature Conservancy, a landmark initiative that established a long-term financing mechanism for marine conservation in The Bahamas.
As a member of BPAF’s Executive Committee, Marcus has provided strategic support across several key areas of the Fund’s work. He has also helped to strengthen BPAF’s governance by using his private-sector networks to attract additional private-sector expertise and participation to the Board.
Born in Nassau, The Bahamas, Marcus was educated in The Bahamas and Quebec, Canada. Beyond his professional and board service, Marcus is committed to youth development through sport. He has served as a director and coach in rugby and soccer in The Bahamas and has raised funds to give young athletes opportunities to travel and compete internationally, including in Spain and the United Kingdom.