Latest News

2011 John Smith Fellowship Programme

The fourteenth Fellowship Programme of the John Smith Memorial Trust took place in June/July 2011 bringing twenty two leaders from eight countries to the UK. There are a number of articles relating to the Programme, including:

2011 Fellows Arrive in Edinburgh
Fellows hosted throughout the UK by top experts and institutions
Return of the 2010 Fellows and Foreign Office Conference
Action Plan Presentations, Committee Room 2, House of Lords
Meeting the Prime Minister, Downing Street

JSMT engages in Middle East and North Africa

Sponsored by BP, the Trust has selected its first two Fellows from the MENA region. Read More

Moldovan Deputy Foreign Minister, 2009 Fellow Andrei Popov, meets Minister for Europe

On 18th March 2011, John Smith Fellow Andrei Popov met with David Lidington MP to discuss UK relations with Moldova. Please visit the FCO website to read about their meeting.

The John Smith Memorial Trust is delighted to announce that twenty two talented young leaders have been selected to take part in this year's Fellowship Programme.

Please use the following link for further details 2011 Fellows

What makes a John Smith Fellow?

Trust Adviser, the Rt Hon George Reid, was interviewed by the Face2Face television programme on 27 January 2011 after chairing the Trust’s interview panel in Chisinau, Moldova. Read More

Two new appointments for Trust Adviser George Reid

In January 2011 Trust Adviser, the Rt Hon George Reid, was appointed to two new public positions in London and Cardiff. He is now a UK Electoral Commissioner and Chair of the statutory Remuneration Board of the National Assembly for Wales. The Electoral Commission is responsible for the financial regulation of political parties, the conduct of elections and referendums, and the registration of voters.  The Remuneration Board determines the salaries and allowances of Ministers, Members and staff of the Welsh legislature. Mr Reid said: “These jobs fit well with my work for the John Smith Trust and its commitment to good governance and the democratic process.” Since his retirement from politics when he demitted office as Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament in 2007, George Reid has led strategic reviews and reforms of the Northern Ireland Assembly and the National Trust for Scotland.

National Road Safety Council of Armenia wins the Prince Michael International Road Safety Award

The National Road Safety Council (NRSC) has been awarded the 2010 Prince Michael International Road Safety Award. Congratulations to Poghos Shahinyan (2004 Fellow) who is the NRSC's Founder and Director on this fantastic achievement. For more information please visit the Road Safety Awards website: 2010 Prince Michael International Road Safety Awards

Trustees Baroness Smith and Dennis Sammut OBE launch 2011 Fellowship Programme

In September 2010 Baroness Smith led a Trust delegation to Russia in order to launch recruitment for the 2011 John Smith Fellowship Programme in Novosibirsk and Moscow. Read More

Georgian seat belt legislation amended due to efforts of 2006 Fellow Gela Kvashilava 

Due to the persistent efforts of Georgian Fellow Gela Kvashilava and his team at the Partnership for Road Safety, significant amendments have been made to Georgia’s seat belt legislation. Read More

2010 Fellowship Programme 

The 2010 John Fellows arrived in Scotland during the first week of June and took part in a busy programme of visits, seminars and meetings with a number of Scotland's key public figures. Please use the following links to read more about the Fellowship Programme:

2010 Fellows Arrive in Edinburgh
Attachments and Academic Programme
2010 Fellowship Programme Finale

Plastic Bag Free Communities - Action Plan of 2008 Fellow Ovsanna Yeghoyan (Armenia)

With the creation of a 'Bag for Life', Ovsanna Yeghoyan is changing the attitudes of consumers and businesses in Armenia. To read about her pioneering project please Download PDF

The former Labour leader Michael Foot has died aged 96.

For his 92nd birthday, Trust Director Brian Brivati who was a close friend of Michael's, wrote the following tribute first published in the Guardian newspaper on 21st July 2005:  Tribute to Michael Foot

Trust Chairman Lord Falconer travels to Russian capital on Trust visit

The Chairman of the Trust, Lord Falconer, led a Trust team on a visit to Moscow from November 29th to December 2nd 2009. Read More

Exploring Constitutional Reform - visiting the Georgian capital Tbilisi, October 2009

JSMT Director, Brian Brivati, visited Georgia to promote the 2010 Fellowship Programme and explore the theme of constitutional reform. Read More

Advisory Board member John Newbigin launches 2010 Fellowship Programme in Kyrgyzstan

On a recent visit to Kyrgyzstan, Trust Adviser John Newbigin launched the 2010 John Smith Fellowship Programme in Bishkek and Osh. Read More

Advisory Board member Rt Hon George Reid promotes the 2010 Fellowship in Moldova 

The acting President of Moldova has praised the work of the Trust for “bringing instant results” in its work to promote democracy in his country. Read More - Download PDF

Can Elections be Harmful to Democracy? Stephen Byers MP discusses in Ukraine

During a JSMT visit to Ukraine, Stephen Byers MP delivered a fascinating lecture at the ICPS on the role of elections in democratic society. Read More

JSMT Deputy Chairman Damian Green MP visits project of 2005 Fellow Shahla Ismailova

The Shadow Minister for Immigration travelled to Baku in September 2009 on behalf of the JSMT. Read More

Dennis Sammut OBE promotes the work of the Trust in Chechnya and Novosibirsk

In September 2009 Dennis Sammut travelled to the region to promote the work of the Trust. Read More

JSMT Armenia visit for leading UK political commentator Iain Dale

From 6th - 9th Sept 2009 Iain Dale travelled to the Armenian capital Yerevan on behalf of the John Smith Memorial Trust. Read More

Celebrating 12 years of the John Smith Memorial Trust  

In July 2009, the JSMT held events to mark the 15th anniversary of John Smith’s death and to celebrate its Fellows. Read More

Finale of the 2009 John Smith Fellowship Programme at Downing Street

Please use the following link to read about the final day of the 2009 Fellowship Programme: Read More

2009 Fellows arrive in Edinburgh for start of 2009 JS Fellowship Programme

Please use the following link to read about the start of the 2009 Fellowship Programme: Read More

Trust Advisor Rt Hon George Reid honoured by University of Glasgow

On 17 June 2009 the Rt Hon George Reid was awarded the degree of Doctor of Laws Read More 

John Smith Fellow Archil Bakuradze organises peace-building conference in Georgia  

This event was launched by Archil as part of the John Smith Memorial Trust’s ‘Year of Action’. Read More

John Smith Fellow Maxim Chereshnev takes part in Youth G8 Summit

The Trust is pleased to announce that Maxim Chereshnev was recently selected to take part in the Youth G8 Summit. Read More

Trust Director Brian Brivati delivers lectures in Moscow and St. Petersburg

During a visit to Russia in February 2009, Brian Brivati delivered two lectures - in the Russian capital and in St. Petersburg. Read More

'Future Visions for the South Caucasus and its Neighbours', Istanbul Conference - January 2009

In early 2009 our Trustees agreed that conflict between Georgia and Russia, continuing tensions between Armenia and Azerbaijan, and other regional disputes, required a response from the Trust and its alumni network. Read More - Download PDF

New Road Safety Project Launched across Georgia by 2006 Fellow Gela Kvashilava

The Partnership for Road Safety has recently launched its new project - “Youth Road Safety Education” - which will be conducted in 48 schools in Georgia. Read More

Trust Advisor Rt Hon George Reid re-appointed as Lord High Commissioner  

The Queen has approved the appointment for a second year of the Rt Hon George Reid as Her Majesty’s Lord High Commissioner. Read More

Baroness Smith and Lord Falconer travel to Russia to promote 2009 Programme

During the end of September 2008, the Trust Chairman Lord Falconer, Baroness Smith, Brian Brivati and Natalia Westcombe travelled to Russia. Read More

Deputy Director Joanna Lamb travels with APPG Moldova to promote Fellowship Programme

From Monday 29th September to Friday 3rd October 2008, a delegation from the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) Moldova travelled to Moldova at the invitation of the Moldovan Parliament. Joanna Lamb travelled with the delegation on behalf of the Trust - her last visit in her capacity as Deputy Director. Read More 

Trust Advisor Lord Haworth travels to Bishkek On 19th September 2008 Lord Haworth took part in a press conference in order to launch the 2009 Fellowship Programme in Kyrgyzstan. Taking part in the press conference with him, were Chinara Kasmambetova (2000 Fellow) and Sheradil Baktygulov (2001 Fellow) together with Lena Milosevic (Director, British Council Kazakhstan). They answered questions about the Fellowship Programme and encouraged talented young Kyrgyz leaders to apply for next year’s programme. Lord Haworth also met with Fellows later that evening at the Santa Maria Restaurant where he spent an enjoyable evening with Gulnaz Baiturova (2006 Fellow), Farida Sulaimanova (2008 Fellow), Sheradil Baktygulov (2001 Fellow), Chinara Kasmambetova (2000 Fellow), Gulfia Abdullaeva (2001 Fellow), Guldjan Aldasheva (2002 Fellow) and Lena Milosevic (British Council). The Trust is grateful to Lord Haworth, our Fellows and Lena for their support and their promotion of the Programme. 

Trust Deputy Chairman Damian Green MP travels to Yerevan with Trust Director Brian Brivati

On 15th September 2008, Damian Green MP travelled to the Armenian capital Yerevan with the Trust’s Director Brian Brivati. Read More

A tribute to Ken Munro, a founder Trustee of the John Smith Memorial Trust

Ken Munro, a founder Trustee of the John Smith Memorial Trust, died of cancer on 23 September 2008. Read More 

2008 Fellows honoured to meet the Prime Minister the Rt. Hon. Gordon Brown MP

On Thursday 10th July, our 2008 John Smith Fellows were privileged to meet the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. Gordon Brown MP. Read More

Trust Advisor Rt Hon George Reid honoured by University of Stirling

Trust Adviser the Rt Hon George Reid has been honoured with the award of a doctorate of the University of Stirling. Read More

2008 Fellows arrive in Edinburgh for start of Fellowship Programme

On Friday 6th June 2008, twenty three young leaders from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia and Ukraine arrived in Scotland to take part in the 2008 John Smith Fellowship Programme. Read More