Dr. Ayodele Dalgety-Dean, Board Member
Dr. Ayodele Dalgety-Dean
Founder & Managing Director, Blossom Incorporated
2025 Laureate, Anthony N. Sabga Caribbean Award for Excellence – Public and Civic Contributions
Dr. Ayodele Dalgety-Dean is the Founder and Managing Director of Blossom Incorporated, a nationally recognised NGO dedicated to eliminating sexual and gender-based violence in Guyana, with a particular focus on children, adolescents, and vulnerable migrant populations. Under her leadership, Blossom has expanded access to child protection services across all regions of Guyana, pioneering initiatives in trauma-informed therapy, forensic interviewing, court support, and migrant psychosocial assistance.
In recognition of her transformative civic leadership, Ayo was awarded the prestigious Anthony N. Sabga Caribbean Award for Excellence in Public and Civic Contributions in 2025 – one of the highest regional honours for service and innovation.
Ayo’s vision for Blossom is grounded in a holistic, rights-based, and survivor-centred model. She is passionate about making high-quality mental health and psychosocial support accessible to every child in need and is widely respected for her advocacy work that has led to landmark reforms in child-friendly justice and GBV response mechanisms in Guyana.
Beyond Blossom, Ayo is a founding Director and current Chairwoman of Sispro Inc., Guyana’s first indigenous women-led energy`. Her work bridges the social and corporate sectors, reflecting a commitment to inclusive development and community empowerment.
Originally trained as a Finance Analyst in the UK retail sector, Ayo transitioned to social work as a Family Therapist, managing child and youth programs for at-risk populations. She later completed her PhD at Nottingham Trent University with a groundbreaking dissertation titled “Echoes in the Rainforest: Unravelling the Tapestry of Suicide in Guyana.” Her research interrogates colonial legacies and cultural silences around suicide, contributing critical insights to Guyana’s national mental health discourse.
Ayo is a Marie Sklodowska-Curie Alumna and continues to engage in interdisciplinary research, policy reform, and regional collaboration. She is also a dedicated wife and mother of three, with two lively dogs and a shy cat at home. Her life’s work reflects the values of equity, dignity, and radical hope for all children.
