Deborah Jones, RN, CDE, OBE, is a Bermudian who is married with three children and one grandson, who lives in New Zealand. She is a registered nurse and diabetes nurse educator (University of Toronto) and holds a Diabetes Research and Ethics degree (Kings College London, UK).
Deborah was the past manager of the Diabetes Centre, KEMH, Research Coordinator for international clinical trials and also past Chair IDF North American Region. Other past roles include: IDF Faculty Diabetes Education for Health Professionals, India Caribbean and Eastern Europe; Vice President of the International Diabetes Federation; Secretary and Director of the Federation of European Nurses in Diabetes; Chair of IDF Global Young Leaders in Diabetes; Co Chair of IDF Task Force Diabetes and Disasters. Deborah is also a Co-Founder and the current Chair of the Bermuda Diabetes Association.
Deborah is a Founding Member and past Director of Bermuda Pilot Gig Club and a Certified Trainer, and she is also a member of the boards for the St Georges Foundation and the St David’s Island Historical Society, respectively.
Deborah has a passion for climbing mountains with a trusted group of like-minded climbers. She spends as much time in France as possible, though she struggles with speaking French, and she is also the author of the children’s books Fish Tales, along with her best friend, who is the illustrator. Deborah is passionate about cooking and equally passionate about eating – good food, that is! Her vision is that the world wakes up to wanting to be healthy, therefore resulting in a positive impact on chronic disease and global health care costs.
- What is your favourite Bermudian tradition?
Swimming on the 24th of May.
- Where is the best place for a fish sandwich?
Art Mels, of course!
- Where is the best place for sushi?
Harbourfront Restaurant.
- What’s the most Instagram-worthy place in Bermuda?
Watching the sunset from my brother’s house, Sandymount, in Baileys Bay.
- What is the best advice you’ve ever gotten?
My grandmother told me never to give up, no matter how hard it gets.
- What do you like most about yourself?
I’m committed to doing what’s right.
- What do you like least about yourself?
I’m not able to suffer fools gladly.
- What keeps you up at night?
Worrying about family, especially as they are scattered all over the globe.
- What’s the biggest obstacle you’ve overcome?
Setting up an international organization for young people with type 1 diabetes, despite those who said this would be impossible.
- What’s your favourite thing to do on Sunday?
Go for a long run, followed by a row in one of the gigs in St. Georges with my husband as one of the crew.
- How long have you been in Bermuda?
I was born in Bermuda.
- What’s your favourite beach?
John Smith’s Bay
- What was your first job ever?
Paid job: working in a camp for underprivileged children. Unpaid: helping on our farm.
- Who was your favourite teacher as a child?
Miss Mattley – she taught me the love of English.
- Who was/is the most influential person in your life?
Professor Hertzel Gerstein, who taught me how to be a good researcher, how to conduct research trials and the meaning of excellence.
- What’s in your wallet right now?
Too much junk.
- Do you ever get island fever?
I don’t think so. I travel a lot, but I think when you are born in Bermuda you think of it as the centre of the world.
- What’s your favourite thing in your office?
A picture of my grandson.
- What’s your favourite thing at home?
Maggie, my dog, and Mara, my cat, who are inseparable
- Loquat or Bermuda banana?
Bermuda banana.
- St George’s or Somerset?
St Georges.
- Cricket or football?
You have to be kidding – neither.
- What are you reading right now?
Operation Mincemeat, a true story of British spies in World War II.
- What is your guilty pleasure?
Buying handbags.
- What is your biggest phobia?
Being stalked by a mouse.
