She was the chief executive and secretary general of the New Zealand Olympic Committee (NZOC) from January 2011 to December 2021.

However, her plans to compete at the highest levels ended when, while still at school, she was thrown from a horse, breaking her leg and damaging her knee.

[1][2][3] At the end of 2010 Smith was appointed Secretary General of the New Zealand Olympic Committee (NZOC), the first woman to be given this role.

[4] One of her main aims during her tenure had been to increase the number of women involved in leadership positions in sport.

The NZOC's activities that led to the award included the Aspiring Women's Olympic Leaders programme, which supports female athletes to transition to leadership positions in the work place.

In 2012 she was inducted into the Wall of Fame of her alma mater, the University of Otago and in the same year she was made a life member of Netball New Zealand.

[3][7][8] In the 2023 New Year Honours, Smith was promoted to Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to sports governance.