Diana Smith
Detailed Profile

Diana Smith is a community and organizational development consultant who has managed and consulted in leading, planning for and managing change and transition throughout Canada and in international assignments. She is an associate faculty member the graduate leadership program, MALT, at Royal Roads University.  Her work develops competencies and capabilities that provide high leverage impact on performance and results. Diana encourages and supports creative planning and decision-making through small group and large system facilitation, training and consultation within organizations and with multi-parties. She engages people in an authentic and committed manner to focus on the whole person and the whole system. Diana has had extensive experience in developing partnerships and collaborative approaches. She fosters transformation and learning through strategic and participatory approaches to policy development and applied research.

She is experienced and engaged in program and policy development and applied research and analysis in civil society/third sector issues, social policy and planning and change in human systems.

INTERESTS AND COMMITMENTS

• learning and leadership from the inside-out
• graduate studies and professional interests related to policy, leadership & the interface between the public, private and non-profit sectors
• a strong commitment to neighbourhood community and communities of interest
• a variety of voluntary leadership positions at the local and national levels
• an ongoing exploration into the inexorable links between personal, organization and community development.

EDUCATION AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

• Transformational Change Leadership 2002Senior Consultant, Learning in Relationship 2001

• Certified Management Consultant (C.M.C.) 1999

• Qualified in William Bridges: Managing Transitions 1999

• Extensive work in theory of learning organizations since 1990

• FutureSearch, trained by Marvin Weisbord and Sandra Janoff 1997

• M.A., Public Administration, Carleton University 1991

• Certified Association Executive (C.A.E.) 1985

• Professional Diploma, Faculty of Education, University of Alberta 1971

• B.Sc. (H.Ec.), University of Alberta 1967Other courses in Negotiation, Mediation, Facilitation, Training for Trainers, Leadership: Breakthrough Results, Popular Education, Team Management and Leadership

CAREER HISTORY

Consultant in Human Systems: Planning and Change 
1994 to present

• planning and change within human systems with individuals, managers, leaders, teams, boards, multi-party steering groups, organizations and collaborative initiatives
• organizational change processes from concept to results, including, strategic planning, transition, partnership building, human resource planning and management support
• training and development, process facilitation, workshops and learning opportunities

Associate Faculty: Royal Roads University

2000 to present

• co-design and deliver an intensive five week residency program focused on leadership, learning, organizations, change and systems thinking; focused on transformation and inside-out leadership

Canadian Parks & Recreation Association, Executive Director
1991 to 1994

• Initiated and implemented a strategic change process
• Worked with multi-stakeholder groups and related systems in major national industry and sectoral initiatives

University of Ottawa, Part-time Professor and Consultant, Professional Training Service
1990 to 1997

• Management and leadership focus, specifically planning, human resource development, decision-making and needs assessment with a variety of clients

Canadian Child Care Federation, Executive Director
1986 to 1991

• First executive director; created internal systems and organizational processes
• Built organizational climate, developed partnerships and stakeholder relations

Canadian Home Economics Association, Executive Director
1980 to 1986

Teacher (New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Alberta)
1970 to 1975

Government Program Management
1967 to 1970

RECENT PROJECTS (SAMPLE)

• Worked with several government departments undergoing change to support their change and transition process
• Facilitated a number of large system change interventions with public, private, and community interests
• Developed and implemented approximately 40 customized workshops on leadership, communication, partnerships and collaboration, managing change, transition and team development for a variety of clients, with demonstrated effectiveness and positive results.
• Worked with a consulting team to deliver a four-day intensive leadership and team development strategy for a federal government department undergoing restructuring and change.
• Researched, developed and am implemented a two year learning development strategy for the regional directors of a major national union.
• Worked with several universities and colleges to develop and deliver innovative curriculum in management and leadership, including online format
• Served as the change management specialist for a consulting team restructuring a $62 M. child and family services sector in a major Canadian city.
• Facilitated strategic planning processes, developed an innovative community consultation process and guided an organizational change/transition process (coaching, management, board and staff development) for a community health centre and several voluntary sector organizations.
• Developed strategic plans, conducted stakeholder consultation, facilitated decision-making, and liaised with partners for a number of non-profit organizations.