Summer Alston-Smith
Staff Profile
Name
Summer Alston-Smith
Bio - Description
Dr. Summer Alston-Smith joins Clinks as Chief Executive with over two decades of experience in the criminal justice and voluntary sectors, championing systemic change for those impacted by the justice system.
Most recently, Summer served as Director of Development and Insights at Advance, where she shaped strategic direction for services supporting over 5,000 women annually across domestic abuse and criminal justice pathways. Her leadership has been instrumental in developing high-value partnership models, influencing commissioning and policy, and driving innovative, whole-system approaches to tackling violence against women and girls (VAWG) and supporting women involved in the criminal justice system.
Summer’s career spans operational and strategic roles, including service delivery leadership positions at the Prison Advice and Care Trust (Pact) and Advance, membership of Her Insight Collective expert advisory group, and serving as Vice-Chair of the Criminal Justice Alliance.
She has worked across male, young offender, and women’s prison estates, and spearheaded research and evaluation projects with leading universities to amplify the voices of women and families affected by the justice system. Her academic background includes an MSc in Forensic Psychology and a PhD in Psychology, with doctoral research on kidnap conducted with the Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA), National Offender Management Service (NOMS), and the Metropolitan Police.
A committed advocate for equity and inclusion, Summer has led large, national teams, fostered partnership working with specialist organisations, and operated a leadership style rooted in collaboration and co-production. She has engaged senior policymakers, parliamentarians, and international audiences, and remains dedicated to overcoming structural barriers, promoting early intervention, and ensuring lived experience meaningfully informs policy and practice.
Most recently, Summer served as Director of Development and Insights at Advance, where she shaped strategic direction for services supporting over 5,000 women annually across domestic abuse and criminal justice pathways. Her leadership has been instrumental in developing high-value partnership models, influencing commissioning and policy, and driving innovative, whole-system approaches to tackling violence against women and girls (VAWG) and supporting women involved in the criminal justice system.
Summer’s career spans operational and strategic roles, including service delivery leadership positions at the Prison Advice and Care Trust (Pact) and Advance, membership of Her Insight Collective expert advisory group, and serving as Vice-Chair of the Criminal Justice Alliance.
She has worked across male, young offender, and women’s prison estates, and spearheaded research and evaluation projects with leading universities to amplify the voices of women and families affected by the justice system. Her academic background includes an MSc in Forensic Psychology and a PhD in Psychology, with doctoral research on kidnap conducted with the Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA), National Offender Management Service (NOMS), and the Metropolitan Police.
A committed advocate for equity and inclusion, Summer has led large, national teams, fostered partnership working with specialist organisations, and operated a leadership style rooted in collaboration and co-production. She has engaged senior policymakers, parliamentarians, and international audiences, and remains dedicated to overcoming structural barriers, promoting early intervention, and ensuring lived experience meaningfully informs policy and practice.