Ianthe Smith is an Environmental Engineering Consultant and Managing Director of Environmental and Engineering Managers Ltd. She has a Bachelors of Science degree (1986) in Civil Engineering from the University of the West Indies, St. Augustine. In 1994 she graduated from the University of Toronto, Canada, with a Master of Engineering degree in Environmental Engineering, being the recipient of a 1/CIDA²scholarship.

Mrs. Smith’s education also includes Project Management Training from the University of New Orleans (Jamaican Chapter) and Indoor Air Quality Assessment training from the Indoor Air Quality Association (IAQA). She is a trained and experienced Environmental Management Systems (EMS) Lead Auditor and also has Quality Management Systems and HACCP³ training.

Ianthe Smith is a registered Professional Engineer, a member of the Jamaica Institute of Engineers (JIE) and a founding Vice President of the Jamaica Institution of Environmental Professionals (JIEP).

Mrs. Smith has represented Jamaica at a number of international fora while working at the Natural Resources Conservation Authority⁴ (NRCA) as Senior Director Pollution Control and Waste Management including:

• National focal point for the phase out of ozone depleting substance in Jamaica, one of the most successful environmental programmes implemented in Jamaica.
• National focal point for the phase out of lead in gasoline. This lead role was eventually handed over to the Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica and the phase out programme was successfully implemented.

Throughout her career, she has held leadership positions of note:

• Vice President of the Bureau of the Montreal Protocol in 1997 – the most successful international environmental convention to date
• Coordinator of the Group of Latin America and the Caribbean (GRULAC) in 1997, a regional group of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol
• Founding Vice President of the Jamaica Institution of Environmental Professionals

She has also served as a founding board member of the National Solid Waste Management Authority during the period January to September 2002 and as Chairperson of the National Ozone Commission (NOC), an advisory body (with public and private sector representatives) for the national programme to phase out ozone depleting substances (1995 – 2003).

In her community she served as the President of the Citizens Association of Armour Glades from November 2007 to 2009.

Ianthe’s professional career from the early years to present epitomises a well rounded civil and environmental engineering career. She has been a Resident Engineer, Design Engineer, a Project Manager and Environmental Auditor. She has been involved in the development of National Environmental Policies, Guidelines, Standards and Legislation. She has developed and implemented Environmental Management Systems and Waste Management Plans for companies. She has prepared environmental publications and conducted environmental training.

Her interpersonal and negotiating skills are well developed as she has demonstrated the capability to interact with and relate to grass roots community members as well as Ministers of Government and country representatives in the international arena.

Mrs. Smith has also mentored young professionals by giving them an opportunity to gain valuable work experience to help them kick start their careers including supporting the international student exchange programme JOYST.

Quality and efficiency are hallmarks of Mrs. Smith’s professional service.

¹CSCE – Canadian Society of Civil Engineering
²CIDA – Canadian International Development Agency
³HACCP – Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points
⁴Natural Resources Conservation Authority (NRCA) is now embodied within the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA)