Archived News
John Smith Memorial Trust hosts reception at the River Room
On Wednesday 7th May 2008, Trustees and Advisors of the John Smith Memorial Trust were joined by Trust sponsors and friends at the Lord Speaker’s residence in the House of Lords. Read More
Advisory Board member, Rt Hon George Reid, takes up office this week as Lord High Commissioner
As personal representative of the Queen to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, holding a position which dates back to the 16th century, he is based in the Palace of Holyroodhouse. Read More
2008 John Smith Memorial Trust Networking Conference held in Tbilisi, Georgia
On 10-11th April 2008, John Smith Fellows travelled to the Georgian capital Tbilisi to take part in the 2008 John Smith Memorial Trust Networking Conference. Read More
John Smith Memorial Trust is delighted to announce new Chairman, the Rt. Hon. Lord Falconer of Thoroton PC QC
At the last meeting of Trustees, Lord Robertson intimated his retirement after four years on the Board of Trustees. Read More
Trust Chairman Rt. Hon. Lord Robertson honoured by University of Stirling
On 24th November 2007, Trust Chairman and Former Secretary General of NATO Lord Robertson received an honorary doctorate in recognition of his work in public affairs. Read More
Trustees wish warm farewell to Trust Director Emma MacLennan
On the eve of her retirement from the directorship, Emma was entertained by the Trustees to a valedictory dinner. In addition to all the available Trustees, Emma’s professional colleagues, Joanna, Emily, Moira and Julie, were present. Read More
Trust Advisor Rt. Hon. George Reid honoured by Edinburgh University
On 28 November 2007, Trust Advisor Rt. Hon. George Reid was honoured by the award of a doctorate of Edinburgh University. The Trust warmly congratulates Mr. Reid on his achievement. Read More
Georgian Road Safety Review led by 2006 John Smith Fellow Gela Kvashilava
The Partnership for Road Safety, launched by 2006 Fellow Gela Kvashilava, has published a review of the road safety situation in Georgia. According to the review, not 'a single research study' on Georgian road safety has been conducted for the last decade. Read More
Trust Advisor Lord Dubs addresses Plenary of Moldovan Parliament during Trust visit
Trust Advisor Lord Dubs of Battersea, Chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Moldova, addressed the Moldovan Parliament on the issue of EU integration as part of a visit to promote applications for the John Smith Fellowship Programme. Read More
Trustee Lord McCluskey travels to Georgia to promote 2008 John Smith Fellowship Programme
From 15th to 17th October 2007 Lord McCluskey visited Georgia as a guest of the Scottish Football Association. Among other visits, Lord McCluskey met with representatives from the Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association. Read More
Trust Advisor Michael Moore MP visits Baku to promote 2008 John Smith Fellowship Programme
On 24th September Trust Advisor and Liberal Democrat Foreign Affairs Spokesman Michael Moore MP and Deputy Director Joanna Lamb travelled to Baku. This visit was co-sponsored by the British Embassy and British Council in Azerbaijan. Read More
Trustee Lord McCluskey travels to Yerevan to promote 2008 Fellowship Programme
On 12th September 2007 Lord McCluskey travelled to Armenia's capital Yerevan to promote the work of the John Smith Memorial Trust and to encourage applications for the 2008 Fellowship Programme. Read More
John Smith Memorial Trust appoints new Director, Dr. Brian Brivati
The John Smith Memorial Trust is delighted to announce the appointment of its new Director, Dr. Brian Brivati, who will take up the post at the end of this year. Read More
Trust Director Emma MacLennan announces decision to retire
After eight years as Trust Director, Emma MacLennan has announced her decision to retire. Read More
2007 Fellows meet new Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. Gordon Brown MP
On the final day of the 2007 John Smith Fellowship Programme our 24 John Smith Fellows were enormously honoured to meet the new Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. Gordon Brown MP. The Prime Minister, who was a close friend of John Smith, has been a long-time supporter of the Trust. Read More
2007 Fellows arrive in Edinburgh
On Tuesday 5th June 2007, twenty four young leaders from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia and Ukraine arrived in Edinburgh to take part in the 2007 John Smith Fellowship Programme. Read More
JSMT hosts 2007 Networking Conference in Odessa, Ukraine
On 13th and 14th April, thirty-five John Smith Fellows from the Trust’s seven Fellowship countries took part in the 2007 John Smith Memorial Trust Networking Conference in Odessa, Ukraine, sponsored by Trust supporters Scottish & Newcastle plc. Read More
2006 Fellow Gela Kvashilava launches first UN Road Safety Week in Georgia
In late April 2007, The Partnership for Road Safety launched the UN First Global Road Safety Week in Georgia. The Partnership for Road Safety was established by 2006 Fellow Gela Kvashilava to reduce road traffic accidents and make roads safer in Georgia. Read More
British Council Library Opens in Bishkek
On the 19th January 2007, the Deputy Director of British Council Kazakhstan-Kyrgyzstan, Paul Norton, and several senior representatives from the Kyrgyz government opened a new centre of British Literature and Education at the National Library of Kyrgyzstan in Bishkek. Read More
The John Smith Memorial Trust welcomes young Moldovan political leaders to the UK
On 18th February 2007 six young Moldovan political leaders arrived in the UK to take part in a week long programme organised by the John Smith Memorial Trust on behalf of the UK Embassy in Moldova. Read More
Kenneth Munro heads roundtable discussion in Europe, attended by John Smith Fellows in Armenia
On 16th January 2007, Kenneth Munro, Deputy Chairman of the John Smith Memorial Trust Advisory Board, travelled to Armenia in order to promote the work of the Trust and to interview applicants for the 2007 Programme. Read More
CEGSTAR hosts international conference on 'Effective Democratic Governance'
On December 4-5 2006, the Center for Effective Governance Systems and Territorial Arrangement Reforms (CEGSTAR) organised a two-day international conference on ‘Effective Democratic Governance at Local and Regional Levels’. Read More
George Ugulava, 2002 Fellow, elected Mayor of Tbilisi
On October 12th 2006, George Ugulava was elected as Mayor of Tbilisi by the Tbilisi city council. The Trust warmly congratulates Gigi on his election which has been welcomed by Georgian Fellows. George, a 2002 Fellow, had previously been appointed as Mayor of Tbilisi on 14th July 2005. Prior to this, he served as Deputy Minister of Justice and as Deputy Minister in the Ministry of State Security.
“Transition: 15 Years of Building the Future” - 2006 Fellow speaks at the EBRD's 15th Anniversary Conference
A John Smith Fellow from Georgia, Nana Janashia, joined an impressive panel of speakers at the 15th Anniversary Conference of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development at its London headquarters on the 28th November. Read More
All Party Parliamentary Group on Moldova visits Chisinau - inspired by John Smith Fellows
Members of the UK All Party Parliamentary Group on Moldova have just returned from an official visit to Chisinau on the invitation of the Moldovan Parliament. Heading the delegation was the Group’s Chairman, Lord Dubs of Battersea, who is also a member of the John Smith Trust Advisory Board. Read More
Baroness Stern travels to Baku to promote Penal Reform - inspired by John Smith Fellow, Ramil Isganderov
On 2nd October 2006, Trust supporters Baroness Stern and David Croft joined Deputy Director Joanna Lamb in Baku in order to encourage applications to the 2007 Fellowship Programme. Read More
Damian Green MP meets Georgian MPs to share UK experience of engaging with constituencies
Trust Deputy Director Damian Green MP travelled to Georgia from the 24th-28th September on a mission to share his experience as an active constituency MP with Georgian 'majoritaire' MPs representing local districts. Read More
Sir Malcolm Rifkind MP visits Moscow and Nizhny Novgorod to promote Fellowship Programme
On 11th September 2006 Sir Malcolm Rifkind joined Trustee Baroness Smith and Deputy Director Joanna Lamb in Russia in order to promote the work of the John Smith Memorial Trust and to encourage applications to the 2007 Fellowship Programme. Read More
John Smith Fellow appointed Permanent Representative of Moldova to the United Nations
On 11th September 2006, Alexei Tulbure, 2000 John Smith Fellow from Moldova, became the Permanent Representative of the Republic of Moldova to the United Nations. Read More
Lord Patten gives lecture on China's Return to the World Stage
On Thursday 15th June 2006, the Rt. Hon. Lord Patten of Barnes gave a lecture in honour of the 2006 John Smith Fellows on the growth of the Chinese economy and its impact for Europe and the rest of the world. Read More
2006 Fellows arrive in Edinburgh
On Monday 5th June 2006, twenty four young leaders from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia and Ukraine arrived in Edinburgh to take part in the 2006 John Smith Fellowship Programme. Read More
2004 Fellow Poghos Shahinyan launches Road Safety Campaign in Armenia
On Thursday 11 May 2006, 2004 Fellow Poghos Shahinyan officially launched the National Road Safety Council Armenia (NRSC) and their ‘Think Before You Drive’ road safety campaign in Yerevan. Read More
John Smith Fellow Olya Melen Awarded Prestigious International Prize
On 24th April 2006 it was announced that Olya Melen, 2004 Fellow from Ukraine, has been awarded the Goldman Environmental Prize, the world's largest prize honouring grassroots environmentalists. Read More
2006 John Smith Memorial Trust Networking Conference
Twenty John Smith Fellows travelled from seven countries across the Former Soviet Union to take part in the 2006 John Smith Fellowship Networking Conference, held in Chisinau, Moldova on 7th and 8th April. Read More
River Room Reception Held to Thank Trust Supporters
On Wednesday 15th March 2006 sponsors and supporters of the John Smith Memorial Trust gathered at a reception in the magnificent River Room of the Lord Chancellor's residence in the House of Lords. Read More
Deputy Chairman Sir Menzies Campbell elected Leader of Liberal Democrat Party
On Thursday 2 March 2006, Sir Menzies Campbell, a vice-chairman of the Trust, was elected Leader of the Liberal Democrat Party. We offer him our warmest congratulations. Please click here for a profile of Sir Menzies Campbell.
Baroness Smith honoured by the University of Birmingham
Baroness Smith, the widow of John Smith and founding Trustee of the Trust, was made an Honorary Doctor of the University of Birmingham on Friday 8th July.
Trust Chairman honoured by the Queen
Lord Robertson, Chairman of the Trust, was honoured by Her Majesty the Queen who bestowed on him one of the highest of honours in the United Kingdom, by making him a Knight of the Thistle: photographs of the occasion appear in Photo Gallery Two
2005 Networking Conference
Seventeen John Smith Fellows travelled from five countries across the Former Soviet Union to take part in the 2005 John Smith Fellowship Networking Conference, held in Nizhny Novgorod, Russia on 9th and 10th March. Read More
Oleg Serebrian, 2004 Fellow, elected to the Parliament
Oleg Serebrian, a 2004 Fellow, President of the Social Liberal Party, was elected on 6 March 2005 to the Parliament of the Republic of Moldova. The future for Moldova is still uncertain; but Moldovan Fellows are pleased that Oleg is in a position to influence events. The Trust congratulates him on his election. (see his photograph in Photo Gallery Two)
Sir Malcolm Rifkind leaves Trust Board
Sir Malcolm Rifkind, PC, QC, LL.D, has retired from the Board of Trustees. He was re-elected to Parliament as a Conservative MP in the recent General Election. His wise contribution to the work of the Trust is much appreciated.