Sheree Smith (née Elliott, Harington 1999–2000) was first featured in the Network Magazine in 2018. Since then, her journey has continued to evolve - spanning veterinary medicine, entrepreneurship, and now, conservation leadership.

Originally from a farm in Morrinsville, Sheree’s early love for animals led her to complete a Diploma in Veterinary Nursing at Unitec in Auckland. Her career quickly gained momentum with roles in frontline veterinary clinics and appearances on SPCA Rescue. She worked with a wide range of animals – from rehabilitating fighting dogs to reuniting lost pets with their families – but it was a two-year tenure at the Willows Veterinary Referral Centre in the UK that shaped the next phase of her career, sparking a deep interest in animal rehabilitation and natural pain management.

On her return to New Zealand, Sheree trained in hydrotherapy and launched Kinesis Veterinary, a business that introduced Nutravet to the local market. Her aim was to provide affordable and effective natural alternatives to conventional high-dose medications for animals.
After a successful period in business, Sheree made the difficult decision to close her company. On the same day, she was offered a new challenge – joining New Zealand Customs. At the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, Sheree was stationed at the Tauranga Port, helping to manage and enforce border protocols.

A relocation to Gisborne for her husband Lee’s football career prompted another shift in direction. Soon after, Sheree joined the Department of Conservation (DOC), where she now leads the Biodiversity and Visitor Heritage team for the Tairāwhiti region – an area stretching from East Cape to the Mohaka River. Her work involves the protection of native species, heritage sites, and natural taonga, including the reopening of the saltwater Mōrere Hot Springs after a two-year closure due to Cyclone Gabrielle in 2023. In her capacity as acting operations manager, she oversaw critical infrastructure repairs and worked closely with iwi to relaunch the site as Nga Hua o Mōrere.

Her responsibilities extend across species conservation – including the protection of the tūturuatu (shore plover), ngutukākā (kākābeak), bittern, whio, and whitebait – as well as pest control, track and hut maintenance, and the management of marine reserves.
Sheree’s approach is deeply rooted in both place and people. She has completed Tikanga Māori Level 4 and draws on her whakapapa to Waikato and Ngāti Tamaoho to guide her leadership. “Each marae visit uncovers a part of myself,” she says.

Beyond her conservation work, Sheree is equally committed to her local community. She and Lee, now parents to three daughters, have become instrumental in developing grassroots football in Gisborne. Initially stepping in as a coach to support her daughters, Sheree quickly embraced the sport. Under her guidance, her under-12 girls’ team won the Napier Reps Tournament – a first in Gisborne’s history. Her daughters now compete in futsal at the national level, and the family has since established Rebels Futsal, a club providing opportunities for players across U11, U13, and U15 age groups.

Sheree was the assistant manager of the Gisborne Girls' High School team to a junior regional futsal title and this year, she is managing the U13 Girls’ Representative team and coaching their futsal squad, alongside a senior women’s football team. She was recently invited to take part in an all-women C License coaching course through NZ Football.

“I believe in seizing every opportunity – that’s something St Paul’s instilled in me,” she says. “We don’t stay still for long, but I hope our girls are learning the value of commitment, community, and courage.”