Deputy Permanent Secretary Profile

Josanne A. Hansraj

Deputy Permanent Secretary (Ag.)

Ms. Josanne A. Hansraj assumed duties as Deputy Permanent Secretary (Ag.) at the Ministry of Defence with effect from September 6, 2026. She brings 20 years of progressive experience in the Public Service of Trinidad and Tobago, with expertise in public administration, economic and fiscal policy, public financial management, regulatory administration and institutional reform.

Prior to joining the Ministry of Defence, Ms. Hansraj served as Supervisor of Insolvency (Ag.) within the Ministry of Finance, functioning as Chief Executive Officer of the National Insolvency Regulatory Authority. In this capacity, she provided strategic and executive oversight of the Office’s regulatory, operational, financial, human resource and administrative functions and led initiatives to strengthen Trinidad and Tobago’s Insolvency Framework.

During her career at the Ministry of Finance, Ms. Hansraj held senior leadership and technical positions including Director, Social and Economic Transformation; Director, Economic Research and Policy Coordination (Ag.); Director, Research; Senior Debt Analyst; and Senior Economist (Ag.). Her experience spans economic and fiscal policy, State Enterprise oversight, public debt management, revenue administration, programme and project management, digital transformation and stakeholder engagement. She has also served on several public-sector boards and committees.

Ms. Hansraj holds a Bachelor of Science in Economics from The University of the West Indies (UWI), an Advanced Diploma in Accounting and Business from the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), and a Diploma in Governance and Public Innovation for Leaders of Latin America and the Caribbean from UWI and CAF – Development Bank of Latin America. She has also undertaken specialist training in strategic decision-making, leadership and innovation, corporate governance, strategy and risk, public debt management and debt sustainability analysis.

As Deputy Permanent Secretary (Ag.), Ms. Hansraj supports the Permanent Secretary in the strategic leadership and management of the Ministry, including policy and strategic planning, people and financial management, programme and project oversight, and organizational performance.