Janel Smith is currently Program Manager of Social Policy in the Strategies and Partnerships Branch at The Regional Municipality of York (York Region). In this role, she provides strategic social policy services and supports, particularly related to cross-sectoral and emerging policy areas and partnerships. Since joining York Region, Janel has also led work to develop the Community Safety and Well-being Plan for York Region and the administration of the Human Services Planning Board.
Janel was previously a Senior Policy and Program Advisor in the Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health in the Ontario Public Service, where among her accomplishments she established a new provincial policy and program to launch Supervised Injection Services/Consumption and Treatment Services in Ontario. Janel has worked at all three levels of government and internationally, including holding policy and consultancy roles with Public Safety Canada, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Statistics Canada, the US State Department in Afghanistan, and with non-profits in Sri Lanka and Guatemala.
Janel received her PhD from the London School of Economics and Political Science and is passionate about working to co-create policy and strategic planning initiatives that have a positive impact in community.
You can connect with Janel on LinkedIn.