Background
Smith was born in Edinburgh, and attended George Watson"s College before going on to the University of Edinburgh to study politics and economics.
politician Member of the Scottish Parliament
Smith was born in Edinburgh, and attended George Watson"s College before going on to the University of Edinburgh to study politics and economics.
University of Edinburgh. George Watson"s College.
She was first elected in 2007 and re-elected in 2011, having earlier stood unsuccessfully for the of the United Kingdom at the 2001 general election. Before entering parliament, Smith was a schoolteacher and political researcher, as well as an amateur sportswoman, representing the Scottish women"s cricket team Smith left the teaching profession in 1997 to work as an advisor to Sir Malcolm Rifkind.
Between 2001 and 2003, she worked at the Scottish Conservatives" central office, as head of the office of the chairman.
A keen sportswoman, Smith played club cricket for many years, but was not given an opportunity to play at a higher level until 2000, when the Scottish national side was reassembled for the first time since 1979. Her first match for the national team came against Cumbria, an English county team, but she neither batted nor bowled as her team cruised to a ten-wicket victory.
In 2001, Smith was selected in the Scottish squad for the 2001 European Championship, where matches held One Day International (ODI) status. On her international debut against England, she was 41 years and 164 days old, making her the fourth-oldest ODI debutant on record, and the oldest to debut since 1978.
Smith made nine-ball ducks against both England and Ireland, and against the Netherlands did not bat, thus failing to score a run in her international career.
Smith remains the oldest Scottish player, male or female, to appear in a full ODI. She has remained involved in promoting the sport since retiring, and in April 2014, following a reconstitution of the organisation, was elected the inaugural president of the Scottish Women"s Cricket Association (SWCA), aligned with Cricket Scotland. Outside of cricket, Smith has an interest in mountaineering and hillwalking, having taken part in expeditions to the Alps and the Himalayas. After climbing Slioch in July 2012, she completed the feat of "bagging the Munros" (climbing every mountain in Scotland over a set height).
She had begun the task in 1982, with a climb of Ben Nevis, and after entering parliament used her climbs to raise funds for charity.
Smith was narrowly beaten (by just 48 votes) to the Perth seat at the 2001 General Election by the Scottish National Party"s Annabelle Ewing. She made The Herald Scottish Politician of the Year shortlist for "The One to Watch" in 2007.
She acted as campaign manager for Murdo Fraser in his leadership election campaign in 2011.
After graduating, she returned to George Watson"s College as a member of the staff, where she taught economics and modern studies.
