In March 2009, Zoe Dean-Smith joined Vital Voices Global Partnership as the Senior Director of their Global Women Artisan Export Development Program. She also works with TechnoServe in Swaziland, mentoring a number of emerging handcraft export organisations. Her recent activities include : the International Finance Corporation’s Grassroots Business Initiatives working with CraftNetwork in Africa and SE Asia on handcraft development; Initiating a Mentorship Program for school-leaving Young Swazi Women and she is an Africa Jury member of the Cartier Women’s Initiative Awards.

For 8 years, Zoe held a Management position at Gone Rural, working with over 700 women handcrafters in Swaziland. In 2007, she launched the Gone Rural BoMake non-profit organisation facilitating : access to clean water, food security, HIV/AIDS support, women’s rights & literacy and youth entrepreneurship.

In 2005, Zoe received a Pan African Business Woman Award for Capacity Building. She was nominated for Swaziland Business Woman of the Year 2005 and through her role in business, Gone Rural won a World Bank Development Marketplace Award in 2004, was nominated for the 2005 Africa SMME Awards, was nominated for the Red Ribbon Award at the 2006 World AIDS Conference and was a finalist in the BBC World Challenge 2006 competition.

She has been active in public speaking both regionally and internationally, talking about the benefits and challenges of holistic business models and the importance of commitment to socially responsible business practice. These speaking engagements have also allowed her to help address issues concerning Swaziland such as the HIV/AIDS situation, women’s rights and basic rural community needs.

Zoe is a member of the Vital Voices Africa Advisory Board and the Vital Voices Global Advisory Board of Women Leaders.