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Smith, Bill

Bill Smith PGCE MA PhD (Stanford)

Visiting Senior Research Fellow

Contact Details
tel: +44 (0) 28 90776570; 7789757042
email: btsmith@ntlworld.com

Academic Background
University of Sussex (BA 1971), Keele University (PGCE 1974) and Stanford University (MA 1981, PhD 1987).

Research Interests
The prevention, management and resolution of violent political conflict; policy analysis and evaluation; British policies toward the conflict in Northern Ireland; devolution in Northern Ireland; local government reform; tackling health inequalities; cross-border cooperation.

Selected publications and presentations
“The British State and the Northern Ireland Crisis, 1969-1973: from Violence to Powersharing” (Washington, US Institute of Peace, spring 2011).  Three anonymous peer reviewers have said:
“…a model of lucidity and clarity and a joy to read…”
“…an intelligent and impressive book, with a wealth of detail…”
“…an excellent study of a crucial period of British policy…”

"Getting to Powersharing", Fortnight, June 2006; an analysis of the structural challenges facing a powersharing administration as identified in cross-national research on the governance of deeply divided societies.
"Ulster's British Problem", PSA Territorial Politics Group Conference, QUB, 12 January 2006.
"Managing Political Violence – the Case of Northern Ireland", presentation at US Federal Executive Institute, Charlottesville Virginia, 11 May 2004.
Occasional commentator on issues of public policy and governance on BBC ‘Inside Politics’ and UTV ‘Insight’ programmes.

Consultancy
I offer independent advice on issues of public policy, strategic planning, leadership and risk management to organizations in the public, private and non-profit sectors. My clients include the Department of Regional Development; the Local Government Association; the Economic and Social Research Council; the UK Chief Fire Officers’ Association; and the philanthropic foundation Atlantic Philanthropies. I chair the Audit and Risk Management Committee of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission and am the first Independent Member of Belfast City Council’s Audit and Risk Management Panel.

Government experience
As a member of the Northern Ireland Senior Civil Service from 1996 to 2004, I served as Principal Private Secretary to the First Minister. I also took the lead in the development and implementation of a series of health and social policies and programmes, including inter-Departmental strategies on early years education, tackling health inequalities, and the modernisation of the Fire and Rescue Service.

Previously I worked with the European Commission in Brussels as co-ordinator of the INTERREG Community Initiative for cross-border co-operation in regional development.

Ministerial appointments
I am a member of the Parliamentary Boundary Commission.

Community engagement
I chair the boards of the Early Years Organisation and the Voluntary Service Bureau. I am a non-executive director of Volunteer Now, which promotes active citizenship through volunteering across Northern Ireland. I previously chaired the Board of Trustees of the Old Museum Arts Centre.