Former Premier Dame Jennifer Smith earned her place in Bermuda's history as the first Bermuda Progressive Labour Party Leader to win a General Election. She also has the distinction of winning a second term for her Party in 2003.

In 1972, Dame Jennifer became the youngest woman to run in a General Election and in 1980, she became the first woman and youngest member of Bermuda’s appointed Upper House, the Senate. She was also the first woman to become Deputy Speaker of the House of Assembly. She currently serves as the elected Member of Parliament for Constituency 1, St. George’s North, having first won election in 1989.

Dame Jennifer's political experience has been broadened through participation at various international conferences and symposiums, including the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, the Overseas Territories Consultative Council meetings in London, The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association's Plenary Conferences in the Bahamas, Canada, Fiji, and Nigeria, the UK/Caribbean Forum in Guyana, the Saga Foundation World Leaders Summit in San Francisco and the Council of Women World Leaders meetings.

Dame Jennifer’s background encompasses the Arts, journalism, public relations, advertising and communications. She currently serves as a member of the Board of Trustees of the Bermuda National Gallery; the Bermuda Dance Foundation, the De Boys Day Out Club and the Boys and Girls Club of Bermuda. In addition, she is a member of the Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences, the Bermuda Society of Arts, Masterworks Foundation of Bermuda and the Bermuda Musical and Dramatic Society, and a Founding Member of the Bermuda Heritage Association. She is also a proud member of Richard Allen AME Church.

Dame Jennifer was made a Dame Commander of the British Empire (DBE) in the June 2005 Queen's Birthday Honours in recognition for her service to Bermuda and its people. She has received Honourary Degrees from her alma mater, the Art Institute of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, USA (June 2003) (DHumL), Morris Brown College, Atlanta Georgia, USA (May 2000), and Mount Saint Vincent University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada (October 2000). She is also the recipient of many awards, including the "Woman of Great Esteem" award from Q-Kingdom Ministries New York, USA (March 2001) and a special award from the National Congress of Black Women, Inc. Washington, D. C. USA (September 2001).

Dame Jennifer Smith, DBE, JP, DHumL, MP currently serves as one of three Caribbean, Americas and Atlantic Region Representatives to the Executive Committee of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA), and was the first Bermudian Vice Chairman of this international Organisation.