Nick Smart - Vice Chair

Nick has worked in the criminal justice system since 1979. He was Chair and CEO of the London Community Rehabilitation Company, delivering probation services to 30,000 service users across the capital, from its inception in 2014 through its sale to private owners.

He was previously CEO of Surrey & Sussex Probation Trust (SSPT). In this role, he led a pioneering project that resulted in a radical revision of National Standards for the supervision of offenders. He also chaired the Sussex Criminal Justice Board.

Nick was a front-line Probation Officer for 15 years. He taught social work students up to post graduate level. He then held a series of senior management roles including a period on secondment at the Ministry of Justice.

Throughout his career, he has always been committed to the importance of the relationship between providers and service users at individual, family, group and community level, as a key factor in promoting positive change. Since stepping down from LCRC in 2016, Nick has continued to contribute to the sector. He is a Trustee of PACT (Prisoners Families) and is also a Fellow and Acting Chair of the Probation Institute and he mentors third sector leaders in his home city of Brighton.