Julia Smith is International and Regional Advisor with responsibility for technical and vocational education projects within the British Council’s cultural relations programme Skills for Employability.

Julia is currently responsible for PMI2 funded international Further Education Partnerships in association with the AoC (Association of Colleges) and the British Council’s cultural relations programme in China, Hong Kong, East Asia and Africa as well as having managed global vocational education partnerships in the UK since 2000.

She led a successful a professional development programme for middle managers in further education and training colleges in South Africa. In partnership with UK VET specialists she has advised other countries in Sub Saharan Africa including Mauritius and Nigeria and is a member of IVETA.

She is involved in focus groups for activity in these regions and with the devolved administrations plus the strategic planning of events such as the British Council biennial Going Global conference.

Prior to joining the British Council, she was Programme Director, British Training International, promoting international relationships focused on policy reform in education and training across whole education systems in many countries worldwide. Her background was in education policy planning and implementation with the Inner London Education Authority, followed by Tower Hamlets Local Education Authority, where she worked on the inception of Tower Hamlets College.

Julia Smith is participating in the 2020 vision - opportunities for skills partnerships in Vietnam session.