Fernanda Henry

Fernanda Henry BSc (Hons), MSc (Forensic DNA) currently serves as the Director of Forensic Science Services at the Saint Lucia Forensic Science Laboratory in the beautiful island of Saint Lucia. She assumed that position in 2017, after spending a year in Bermuda as a DNA Technical Leader.

Prior to that she worked as a Forensic Scientist II at the laboratory specializing in Trace examinations, serology and eventually DNA analysis, for over nine years. She was responsible for instituting the entire DNA Section in the new lab together with Dr Valerie Fuller of Tulsa, OK.  DNA had not been included in the original outfit for the new lab, so Valerie and Fernanda created it from design to operation, where she was trained as the first DNA analyst on island and now serves as the DNA Technical Lead. She is also a certified FBI Quality Assurance Standards DNA auditor. 

Fernanda has extensive crime scene examinations expertise and experience, assisting at crime scenes whenever she is requested. She also engages n numerous training workshops with Police and other stakeholders in Crime Scene examinations, Evidence handling and preservation and continues to work extensively to improve sexual assault examinations on the island. 

Ms Henry spearheaded the initiative to install two Evidence Units within the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force, ensuring they were equipped with fully trained Evidence Custodians to IAPE standards of operations. She also wrote the general and operational manuals according to IAPE standards and introduced a computer-based Evidence management system designed by colleagues Danielle Gordon and Joy Quinlan. More recently, she led the training of the island’s COVID 19 testing team.

Ms. Henry is an Associate member of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences (AAFS). She also recently joined the Worldwide Association of Women Forensic Experts. In 2019, Fernanda co-chaired the 4th Annual Caribbean Medicolegal and Forensic Symposium under the theme, “Protecting the Children of the Caribbean from Maltreatment and Abuse” held at the Harbour Club hotel in Saint Lucia hosting over 120 regional and international participants. She has delivered oral presentations at the University of Ottawa Annual Conference in Forensic and Pediatric Pathology, Atlanta in June 2019 and the 5th Annual Caribbean Medicolegal and Forensic Symposium in November 2020.

Ms. Henry conducts training in Expert Witness testimony to ensure new forensic analysts are adequately prepared for the courtroom. In October 2021 she made an oral presentation at the National Association of Medical Examiners (NAME) Conference in West Palm Beach, Florida. In July 2022, Fernanda’s vision for the laboratory of achieving ISO 17025:2017 accreditation was realized, making it the only forensic laboratory with ISO 17025 accreditation in the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States. Then, supported by the United States Department of State's International Bureau of Narcotics and Law Enforcement Agency (INL) through the Strategic Capacity Group, the Saint Lucia Forensic Science Laboratory was recognized as a Center of Excellence for Forensic Science in the Caribbean region in October 2023.  She co-chaired  the 7th Annual Caribbean Medicolegal and Forensic Symposium held at Hilton Barbados under the theme, "CSI: Caribbean Solutions and Innovations to Medicolegal and Forensic Issues" in November 2023 together with esteemed colleague, Dr. Alfredo E. Walker, Forensic Pathologist at the University of Ottawa.

Fernanda strives to create a more cohesive and collaborative investigative service through forensics, from the crime scene to the courtroom. In November of 2022, she was recognized by the inaugural Caribbean Medicolegal Society as a Caribbean Leader in Forensic Science for her visionary leadership and continuous endeavours to advance quality forensic science in the Region.