Jen Smith

Youth disaster resilience facilitator and coordinator

Preparing with Pride Project Coordinator

Jen is a passionate community builder with over a decade of experience working alongside young people, grassroots organisations, and regional communities. Jen blends hands-on experience, thoughtful planning, and genuine care in her work leading Plan C’s Youth Disaster Resilience program and the Preparing with Pride initiative for LGBTIQ+ communities.

Before joining Plan C, Jen worked with the Northern Rivers Community Foundation, where she supported hundreds of local organisations to access funding, build capacity, and grow their impact. She has delivered grant writing workshops, co-designed community development programs with Aboriginal communities, and led disaster recovery responses across the region—all with a focus on inclusion, empowerment, and long-term impact.

With a background in education, youth mentorship, and stakeholder engagement, Jen is skilled at bringing diverse people together to achieve meaningful outcomes. Her work is grounded in a strong belief in the power of local connection, and she’s driven by the vision of a more resilient, inclusive Northern Rivers.

Jen graduated from Bath Spa University in the UK with a Bachelor of English Literature and Cultural Studies. She lived and worked in South Korea for 7 years before settling in Australia in 2014. She worked as a teacher in Sydney before moving into vocational education and RTO management.

Jen lives in Lismore on Bundjalung Country and feels deeply connected to this region and its people. When she’s not working alongside communities or hanging with her sweet family, you’ll likely find her on the pickleball court, paddle in hand.