IN a world increasingly attuned to the urgency of environmental conservation, Environment, Health and Safety Manager at Sandals South Coast, Vilma Smith, stands out as a beacon of commitment and resilience. With over 39 years in the tourism industry, she has devoted 20 of those years turning passion into purpose as an environmentalist.

Though she had many career aspirations; from teaching to nursing and then to law, Smith always knew that working in the tourism industry was her true calling. She recalled her first introduction to the field when she was enrolled at Elim School of Agriculture where she did her studies in Home Economics.

Sharing that she always saw herself working with Sandals Resorts, Vilma’s vision came to fruition when she was offered the position of administrative assistant to the then security manager when the resort was opened in 2005.

Proving to be a great asset to the team, she transitioned to the engineering department as the administrative assistant to the chief engineer. This was where her true transformation began. As the only woman in her department, she had to assert herself, earning the deep respect of her colleagues along the way.

Little did she know that the next five years spent in the engineering department prepared her for a lifelong love that she would pass on to not just her team, but also to many even beyond the gates of her resort. Moving up the ranks, Smith went on to become the executive administrator to the then hotel manager, however her time in this role was cut short when the opportunity to transition to the role of environment, health and safety (EHS) coordinator presented itself in 2010.

“This was sudden, but my time spent in engineering and handling the EHS documents gave me great insight, I also spent quite some time with the EHS manager before her departure. However, this was a new territory that I wanted to explore; I wanted the experience of being out there in the field as well. It was not easy, but I knew what my goals were,” she shared.

As Smith looks ahead to retirement, she reminisces on how the years have shaped not just her professional life, but have pushed her to be steadfast and strong-willed. Over time her passion has led to others being presented with similar opportunities to grow and learn as she has.

Through the years she piloted and bolstered many initiatives and has taken not just the EHS department to higher levels, but has curated an Earth Guardian team – a group of team members who assist in community development on an environment and health level – that matches her passion and has led successful projects both on and off her resort. One of her most memorable moments was the first turtle release initiative held at the resort which drew the interests of not just guests, but community members and media to Jamaica’s south coast.

Notable accomplishments along her journey include a recycling programme collaborating with surrounding schools, numerous beach clean-ups, and the conservation of protected areas. In more recent times, with Smith’s dedication and with the help of the Sandals South Coast team, the resort was recently awarded the prestigious Master Certification from EarthCheck – a group that helps businesses, communities, and governments create sustainable, safe and thriving travel and tourism destinations through global benchmarking, certification and advice – which is the highest level that any given institution can attain.

She was awarded the Founder’s Circle Award at the resort’s Annual Prestige Awards in 2023 for this same commitment that exemplifies the core values of the company and her outstanding contributions that have profoundly impacted the organisation.

Though faced with many challenges over the years, the hardest to-date according to Smith, was the sudden passing of her husband. She notes that some of the greatest life lessons have been to seize the moment, show up for yourself everyday, and extend grace to everyone we come in contact with. Adding that even though this is still a mountain she has to climb, the love and support she received from her work family have helped in ways she will never truly be able to understand.

When asked about life after retirement, she desires to continue pushing the mark when it comes to sustainable practices and protecting the environment. With a love for engaging children she hopes to continue passing on her knowledge to the youth, as well as institutions which may benefit from her experience.

Through hard work, perseverance and a deep-seated passion for protecting our planet, Smith has turned an unexpected opportunity into a remarkable success story, demonstrating that with vision and tenacity, it is possible to make a meaningful impact on the world.

Vilma Smith assisting in curating a peace garden at Black River Primary School.

Vilma Smith alongside a few of her Earth Guardians at a recent beach clean-up.