Born with a disability, Fiona Smith has tried throughout her life to use her 'personal experiences to build bridges with other people whilst guarding against being typecast' (Our Community Leaders website). A qualified barrister and mediator she has played a leading role in many community and government organisations including as Chair, Equal Opportunity Commission (Victoria) (2004 to 2008) and Executive Chair, Business Licensing Authority (Victoria). She is a patron of the Victorian Immigrant & Refugee Women's Coalition, a Non-Executive Director of Yooralla and Policy and Research Advisor with Trust for Nature.

Sources used to compile this entry: Smart, Judith and Swain, Shurlee (eds), 'Smith, Fiona', The Encyclopedia of Women and Leadership in Twentieth-Century Australia, Australian Women's Archives Project, 2 May 2014, http://www.womenaustralia.info/leaders/biogs/WLE0392b.htm.