Dr Gillian Smith, a national of Jamaica, holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Zoology; a Master’s Degree in Aquaculture and a PhD. In Marine Sciences from the University of West Indies.

She started her career in 1993, as Research Officer in the Fisheries Division of the Ministry of Agriculture in Jamaica and was appointed Deputy Director of this Division in 1994, with responsibilities for fisheries research and extension development. From 1996 to 2008, she served in the Scientific Research Council of Jamaica, as Senior Scientific Officer and Project Leader until 2005, and as Process Development Officer from 2005 to 2008.

In May 2008, Dr Smith joined FAO as an Assistant FAO Representative (Programme) for Jamaica, The Bahamas and Belize. From 2017, she served as Officer-in-Charge of the FAO Representation in Jamaica, The Bahamas and Belize. She then became the FAO Representative in Guyana since December 2018 and currently is also the a.i Representative for Trinidad and Suriname.