Natalie Smith

Associate Professor in Practice

Dr. Natalie Smith brings a wealth of experience in digital projects, having started her career as a software engineer and progressed through roles including technical lead, project manager, project director, project assurance expert, and executive sponsor. Currently, she works in both academia and industry, specialising in digital transformation governance.

Academic Background

Dr. Smith earned her PhD in Transformation Governance in 2021, receiving the Dean’s Award for her outstanding research. She has since served as a research fellow, focusing on trustworthy Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the public sector. Her current research explores designing fit-for-purpose digital project assurance. In her teaching, she emphasises the digital mindset and capabilities that boards and executives need to successfully transform and govern digitally-enabled organisations.

Governance Roles

Dr. Smith is a non-executive director for several not-for-profit health and community service organisations and a government agency. She is also a member of the National AI Centre Thinktank, contributing her expertise to chart a path for Australia to responsibly adopt and deploy AI at scale.

Industry Experience

In the corporate sector, Dr. Smith was a Risk Advisory Consultant and Partner at Deloitte, where she supported organisations in delivering complex transformational changes. She was seconded to establish the Chief Delivery Officer role and function at eHealth Queensland, demonstrating her capability in leading high-impact digital initiatives.

Dr. Smith's extensive experience across various roles in digital projects and her current focus on digital transformation governance make her an invaluable resource for executives looking to enhance their skills in this critical area.