Leadership lessons from the frontline

Join us for an inspiring Leadership Jersey event with Robin Smith, a seasoned law enforcement leader with over 30 years of experience.

Speaker Profile

Robin’s journey began in the mid-80s when he applied to Sussex Police, not knowing where Sussex was. At 18½, he travelled from Cambridgeshire to “Police HQ in Loo’s,” only to be kindly corrected by the ticket office lady, “I think you mean Lewes, love.”

Starting his career at Brighton Police Station, Robin’s early roles included the Drug Squad and Special Branch before his first taste of leadership as a Sergeant—a rank he fondly recalls as the best in the police service. Over the next two decades, Robin ascended to Chief Officer, leading through numerous high-profile incidents requiring exceptional crisis management.

His experiences include handling the tragic Shoreham air crash in 2015, the Greenwich Tube bomb, and the Croydon Tram crash. Robin also played critical roles during the Westminster Bridge and London Bridge terrorist incidents and the Manchester Arena attack.

Appointed Chief Officer for the States of Jersey Police in 2020, Robin was soon navigating the challenges of the Covid pandemic. He led responses to the Haut du Mont tragedy and Storm Ciaran and managed one of the largest operations for the Royal Visit of King Charles III and Queen Camilla.

Affectionately nicknamed ‘Jonah’ by colleagues, Robin’s career has been marked by being in the wrong place at the wrong time—turning adversity into a testament to resilience and leadership.