Samantha Smith is a lawyer, an activist and the Director of the Just Transition Centre, an initiative of the International Trade Union Confederation and partners. Building on the power and reach of the global trade union movement, the Centre supports and promotes social dialogue in communities, cities, countries and companies for a just transition to zero carbon and zero poverty.

Ms. Smith has worked with climate, energy and social justice issues for more than two decades. Most recently she led WWF’s global climate and energy team, with responsibility for international climate change negotiations, campaigns, renewable energy advocacy, engagement with business, and civil society and movement partnerships. She has served on various international expert groups and task forces on climate and energy.

Her passion for climate issues comes from first-hand experiences in the Arctic, where she worked for ten years in the field and with international policy as the Director of WWF’s Global Arctic Programme.