Presenter – Gillian Hewitt Smith

Gillian speaks in “Diversity, Citizenship & Canada” on October 25th at 9:40am

Gillian Hewitt Smith is the Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Institute for Canadian Citizenship. The ICC is a national, non-profit organization that engages Canadians in citizenship through innovative programs, campaigns and partnerships designed to ensure new citizens are welcomed and included as equals, to create meaningful connections among all Canadian citizens, to foster a culture of active, engaged citizens and to celebrate what it means to be Canadian.

Prior to joining the ICC, Gillian spent more than fifteen years working in corporate communications and corporate affairs, most recently with the Royal Bank of Canada as Senior Advisor, Corporate Affairs and Head of Communications for RBC’s Group Head, Strategy, Treasury and Corporate Services. Her other mandates have included media and stakeholder relations, crisis and issues management and corporate social responsibility for companies including RBC Capital Markets, Aeroplan, Parmalat Canada, Ontario’s Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care and Pfizer Canada.

Gillian believes in active, engaged citizenship. To that end, she gives her time as a volunteer to numerous organizations, including:

– ArtAnywhere (Member, Advisory Board)
– Art Gallery of Ontario Massive Party (Co-Chair, 2009 and 2010; Committee member, 2011), AGO Next program (Co-Chair, 2010 and 2011) and AGO Development Steering Committee (member)
– Business for the Arts (Director of the Board) and artsScene (Founding National Co-Chair)
– Belinda Stronach Foundation (Member, Committee for the Advancement of Girls and Women)
– Charity Communications Network (Member, Board of Advisors)
– Greater Toronto CivicAction Alliance Steering Committee (member)
– Greater Toronto CivicAction Alliance, Emerging Leaders Network (Membership and Partnership Committee Vice Chair)
– The Stephen Lewis Foundation (Member, Senior Corporate Advisory Committee)
– The Stop Community Food Centre (President of the Board of Directors)
– Toronto Public Library Foundation (Director of the Board)

Gillian has served on the Boards of Performing Arts Information Service / Toronto Alliance for the Performing Arts, St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts, and Tapestry New Opera Works. She has also contributed to work with Women’s College Hospital Foundation; Canada’s World; HEC Montreal: National Forum in Management, Business and Finance (Executive Committee); the Canadian Museum of Civilization (Member, Costume Ball Organizing Committee); Luminato; the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair; Toronto Arts Council (2009 Toronto Mayor’s Arts Awards Committee and 2010 Globe and Mail / Business for the Arts Award Nomination Committee); and was a 2009 Fellow of DiverseCity, The Greater Toronto Leadership Project. In addition, Gillian writes for the Toronto Star’s Your City My City municipal election (2010) campaign blog and for Notabletv.com on philanthropy issues.

Gillian is a member of the Atlantic Council of Canada, the Banff Forum and the Canadian International Council.

A graduate of Queen’s University, Gillian holds a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Sociology (major), History and French (dual minors).

Gillian lives in Toronto with her husband, Paul G. Smith, and is stepmother to Arnaud.

Twitter: @iccicc