Engr. Natalie Sparkes is currently the Refinery Technology Manager at UC Rusal Jamacia- Windalco. A graduate of the University of the West Indies (UWI) St. Augustine Campus with a B.Sc. with Honours in Chemical and Processing Engineering, she also holds an M.B.A from the Manchester Business School majoring in Engineering Management and a Masters in Manufacturing Leadership from Rochester Institute of Technology, USA. She is a Certified Project Manager (PMP) and a registered Professional Engineer (PE).
Upon graduating from the UWI, Engr. Sparkes worked first at the Sugar Company of Jamaica, before joining Alcan Jamaica which later became West Indies Alumina Company (WINDALCO) as a Process Engineer. During her tenure there she held various Managerial Posts from Technical Manager to Strategic Development Manager before leaving in 2015.
In 2015 Engr. Sparkes joined Jamalco as their Transition Coordinator. She held numerous roles from Capital Expenditure Manager, Production and Maintenance Manager as well as the Powerhouse Restoration Manager. She successful restored the Powerhouse Steam and Power Generating capacity ensuring the plant returning to operation before returning to Windalco
Engr. Sparkes is a member of the Jamaica Institution of Engineers and a Past President. She has been a registered professional engineer since 2008. Engr. Sparkes is the Treasurer of the Board of Directors of the $6.6 Billion - JPS and Partners Credit Union.
Education is a key focus of Engr. Sparkes as she was part of the team that designed/founded the current Ministry of Education School of Excellence Mount St Joseph Catholic High School. She also serves on school boards in the different capacities such as Chairperson and Board member and sits on the Advisory Council for the Master’s in Engineering Programme at the University of Technology, Jamaica.
Engr. Sparkes is a Justice of the Peace for Jamaica, a Sunday School Teacher and a PTA executive member for Manchester High School.
She was appointed to the Professional Engineers Registration Board in 2023.