Jane Smart is Global Director of IUCN’s Biodiversity Conservation Group and Director of IUCN’s Global Species Programme. The Biodiversity Conservation Group comprises the Global Species Programme, Global Protected Areas Programme, World Heritage Programme, as well as the Invasive Species Initiative and TRAFFIC. Jane also takes a lead role in facilitating work to implement the Valuing and Conserving Biodiversity Area of IUCN’s Programme (2013-2016), and has a particular responsibility for the development and integration of IUCN’s knowledge products. As Director of the Global Species Programme, Jane is responsible for staff based in Switzerland, Washington DC, US and Cambridge, UK and is responsible for managing the compilation and production of The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species ™. She is focal point for the Species Survival Commission.
 
Jane trained as a botanist and began her professional life as a plant ecologist. In 1989 Jane founded Plantlife International, becoming its first Chief Executive. In 1993, she initiated Planta Europa, the network of organizations working for plant conservation across Europe. Prior to joining the IUCN Secretariat in 2005 Jane was Chair of the IUCN UK National Committee, as well as a long standing member of the IUCN SSC Plant Conservation Committee. In 2003 she was awarded the OBE for services to international conservation.