After qualifying as a solicitor and working for four year with Norton Rose Fulbright in their shipping department, Ellie retrained and was employed as a researcher in the UK’s Court of Appeal before becoming Head of Research for the UK’s Immigration Advisory Service.  She subsequently joined the Medical Foundation for the Care of Victims (now 'Freedom from Torture'), Europe’s largest torture-treatment centre, as their Senior Researcher, designing, leading and delivering combined legal, clinical and psychological projects with a focus on fact-based policy development.  She has also been a consultant for numerous legal and interdisciplinary projects.

She has worked and collaborated with legal practitioners, governmental and intergovernmental offices, medical staff, academics, think tanks and international tribunals.  She also provides advice and training to journalists and documentary filmmakers on working with vulnerable and traumatised individuals, and self-care in the investigative process.

Externally, Ellie has been a Visiting Research Fellow in the Centre for Human Rights in Conflict at the University of East London; a member of The Independent Expert Advisory Panel to the UK Government on Trafficking; and a Member of the Expert Advisory Board to Freedom from Torture.  She is an Associate Researcher with the Centre on Conflict and the Rule of Law in Society, based at Bournemouth University, and an Associate Member of Newcastle University’s Forum for Human Rights and Social Justice.  She is also a member of the Victims’ Rights Working Group to the Coalition for the International Criminal Court.

One of her current research and publications focuses on the interactions of Law with Medicine and Psychology, including in relation to the medical and psychological documentation of international crimes (including sexual violence), the effects of trauma on the investigative and judicial processes, including its effect on memory and evidence in the court room, effective investigative approaches and the provision for victims within justice mechanisms.

Ellie is inclusive, respectful and sensitive to others. In her spare time, Ellie likes camping, running and exploring new places.

• PhD:  Bournemouth University (2011 - 2016).
• LLM:  International Law, London School of Economics (1999 – 2000).
• Solicitor of the Senior Courts of England and Wales (1996).
• Law Society Finals Examination, Chester College of Law (1992 – 1993).
• BA Hons: Law, Cambridge University (1989 – 1992).

• E. Smith, ‘Victims in the Witness Stand: Socio-cultural and Psychological Challenges to the Achievement of Testimony’, in K.T.J. Szabo and M. Hirst (eds), Victim Participation in International Criminal Justice (Springer, 2017).
• M. Klinkner and E. Smith, ‘The Right to Truth, appropriate forum and the International Criminal Court’ in N. Szablewska and S. Bachmann  (eds), Current Issues in Transitional Justice: Towards a More Holistic Approach (Springer 2015).
• E. Smith, ‘Investigating Rape at the International Criminal Court and the impact of Trauma’, Issues in International Criminal Justice (2012).
• E. Smith, ‘The impact of trauma on recall, evidence and testimony’, Access Bulletin, Journal of the Victims’ Rights Working Group, Coalition for the International Criminal Court (Spring 2011).
• E. Smith, N. Patel and L. MacMillan, ‘A Remedy for Torture Survivors in International Law: Interpreting Rehabilitation’, Medical Foundation for the Care of Victims of Torture (2010).
• E. Smith and J. Boyles, ‘Justice Denied: The experiences of 100 torture-surviving women of seeking justice’ Medical Foundation (2009).
• E. Smith, ‘Justice Denied: The experiences of 100 torture-surviving women of seeking justice: Summary’, Conference Paper, High Level Consultation, “Women, Peace and Security: From Resolution to Action,” Geneva (2010).
• E. Smith, ‘A legal analysis of rape as torture in the international and regional (non-European) fora’ and ‘A legal analysis of rape as torture: Article 3 ECHR and the treatment of rape within the European system’, in M Peel (ed), Rape as a Method of Torture (2004).

• Workshop panelist, ‘Public Health, Mental Health and Mass Atrocity Prevention’, co-organised by the Cardozo Law Institute in Holocaust and Human Rights and the Auschwitz Institute for Peace and Reconciliation (forthcoming, 2019).
• Selected delegate and presenter, ‘Good Pitch’, a prestigious annual event for journalists and filmmakers organised by Doc Society, Amsterdam (2018).
• ‘Trauma within the ICC processes – understanding impacts’, presentation to the Centre for Human Rights and Social Justice, Newcastle University (2018).
• Chair of Second Consultative Expert Meeting on the development of Guidelines for Cooperation between Civil Society Actors and Courts in the Investigation of Conflict-Related Sexual Violence, Nuremberg Principles Academy (2017 - 2018).
• Participant and Rapporteur to First Consultative Expert Meeting on the development of Guidelines for Cooperation Between Civil Society Actors and Courts in the Investigation of Conflict-Related Sexual Violence, Nuremberg Principles Academy, (2017).
• ‘Investigating Rape at the International Criminal Court and the impact of Trauma’, Conference Presentation, ‘The Lubanga Trial: Lessons Learned’, ICCSN, The Hague, (2012).
• Participated in and contributed to Expert Working Group for the Development of a Definition of Rehabilitation in the Context of the UN’s Convention Against Torture, Essex University (2010).
• Independent Expert delegate to the OSCE Torture Symposium, (2007).
• Numerous University guest lectures on victim-related topics.