Crystal Smith is the Senior Fellow, Energy and Partnerships at Energy for a Secure Future (ESF), where she was a founding member of the Advisory Council during her tenure as Chief Councillor of the Haisla Nation.She also sits on the Board of Directors of Taseko Mines Ltd.

Ms. Smith dedicated 16 years to the Haisla Nation Council table. She began as Executive Assistant to Chief and Council (2009–2013), was elected to Council in 2013, and then elected Chief Councillor in 2017, serving until July 2025. During her leadership, the Haisla Nation played a central role in advancing LNG Canada and the Coastal GasLink pipeline project, ensuring Indigenous voices were represented in negotiations that shaped economic opportunities and environmental protections. She was also a Director of Cedar LNG, a majority Haisla-owned project currently under construction in Kitimat. From 2019 to 2025, she chaired the First Nations Natural Gas Alliance, advancing Indigenous participation in BC’s LNG industry to create employment and lasting benefits for Indigenous communities.

On September 10, 2025, Crystal Smith was appointed by the Government of Canada to the Indigenous Advisory Council, a group of eleven representatives tasked with ensuring that major projects create opportunities for equity ownership and responsible resource management through meaningful participation with Indigenous Peoples.

Her leadership emphasized building strong relationships with industry partners, creating opportunities for Haisla members to access meaningful employment, skills training, and education, improving social outcomes today while securing prosperity for future generations.

She holds a Diploma in Business Administration from Coast Mountain College, a Business Skills Certificate from Thompson Rivers University, and an ICD.D designation from the Institute of Corporate Directors.