Ashlea Smith has been appointed the new executive director of Cayman Connection, the non-profit global organisation connecting and supporting Caymanians overseas.
Smith, who is currently residing in the UK, has taken on her new role on a part-time basis but, from 21 Nov. will be working fulltime.
The executive director is responsible for leading all of the activities and operations of Cayman Connection as she develops a new global strategy for the organisation, according to a press release.
Smith brings with her a wealth of knowledge and experience in the charitable and not-for-profit, having helped to develop and sustain many community and membership initiatives across the UK throughout her career, stated the release.
Speaking about her appointment she was “ecstatic” about her new role.
“As a previous member and volunteer of Cayman Connection, I’ve had first-hand experience of the warmth and supportive, family feel of the CC community,” she said in the press release.
“It’s added so much value to my life and has helped me discover a home from home and connect to the place so dear to my heart, despite the distance. Through this exciting opportunity I look forward to helping even more Caymanians have positive experiences and connect across the globe.”
She graduated from Loughborough University in 2015 in sport management and has since worked in the sport, physical activity and health sector with partners including Sport England, Public Health and Nike.
Overseas experience
She extends her community development practice to her overseas work in Zambia, where she has worked on grassroots development programmes using sport as a tool to support the education and development of young people and their communities, according to the release.
Smith joined Cayman Connection in 2020 during the pandemic, and became a volunteer.
She was assigned as CC Fit Club lead, supporting the health and wellbeing of the Caymanian network and led the 2021 Fit4Fe campaign to keep Caymanians fit and health-conscious whilst living overseas.
Outside of her professional life, she co-hosts her own podcast ‘Melanin and Me’, supporting women of colour through discussions on health, wellness and self-improvement.
Smith also volunteers her time to contribute her Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) expertise to UK’s Basketball England EDI Committee while running her own personal training business.
‘Passion for Cayman’
Jennifer Dilbert, Cayman Connection director, speaking on the appointment of Smith, said, “With her Caymanian roots and passion for Cayman, coupled with her UK and international experience, Ashlea brings renewed energy and ideas to Cayman Connection. We know that under her leadership we will continue to play the important role of connecting Caymanians who live overseas to each other, and back home to Cayman.”
Noting that the organisation was “excited to welcome” Smith as the new head, she added she “has huge shoes to fill as she takes over from Kate Kandiah in this role. Kate has worked tirelessly over the past 10 years to create and expand Cayman Connection to the organization that it is today.”
Dilbert noted in the release that the organisation has more than 2,000 members with many more overseas “joining in our various Clubs and activities developed to assist and support Caymanians in the UK and around the world”, and that Kandiah will continue to support Cayman Connection as a member of the board.
For more information about Cayman Connection, email [email protected] or visit www.caymanconnection.org
Related Videos
