Emma Smith sitting on the floor, smiling while wearing a leopard print zip-up cardigan, with a relaxed and casual pose against a plain background

I'm Emma Smith, the founder of Nia Avanna.

I am passionate about creating meaningful connections between businesses and their communities. I am committed to helping organisations implement community engagement strategies that are impactful, authentic, and sustainable.

A woman, Emma Smith, with blonde hair tied back taking a selfie at a tree planting event. She is wearing a dark jacket and is surrounded by young tree saplings in protective green tubes.

After transitioning from a career in the recruitment industry, I found my true calling in community engagement. Over the years, I have developed a deep understanding of how businesses can make a positive impact by engaging with their local communities.  

My experience spans across all areas of engagement, from managing local concerns like noise, traffic, and community impact, to promoting sustainability initiatives such as biodiversity and carbon capture. I have worked on a wide range of projects, in both the public and private sector, which included producing communications around local issues, running social media accounts, organising events with strategic partners, and developing strategies to reach hard-to-reach members of the community. Whether it's designing and implementing engagement planning into a business, overseeing planning application communications, or partnering with charities to raise awareness, my focus is always on delivering effective results. 

“I’m excited to pass on my knowledge and help businesses enjoy community engagement rather than fearing it. While it can be challenging, especially when balancing conflicting interests, doing the right thing for both the community and the business is incredibly rewarding.”

— Emma Smith, founder, Nia Avanna

One area I am especially passionate about is charitable giving and partnerships. I have seen first hand how having a strategic approach in these areas can create lasting benefits for everyone involved, enhancing both business goals and community well-being. 

At Nia Avanna, my mission is to empower businesses to create and implement their own community engagement strategies, with a focus on building trust, collaboration, and driving positive change.  

A woman, Emma Smith, wearing a bright orange high-visibility jacket, safety glasses, and a white hard hat stands outdoor on a sunny day. She is smiling and leaning on a wooden railing, with open fields and blue skies in the background.

“Emma was great at coordinating and communicating the CSR opportunity between our organisations. She understood the needs of the charity and where our overlaps were. The needs of our young people were taken on board and ensured they were upheld. I'd love to work with Emma on future opportunities.”