Art Smith is Founder, President and CEO of GS1 Canada and a VICS Item Level RFID Advisory Board Member. A well-known international speaker, he has enjoyed several careers:

• He has more than 20 years experience in Canadian retail in many roles including President & CEO for chains in drug and discount department store channels.
• As an entrepreneur, Art has founded, built, and sold several high tech companies.
• As a consultant, Art spent many years with Accenture & A T Kearney

In addition to participating on many Canadian Retail and Healthcare Boards, Art participates on several International Boards and Committees:

• Co-Chair, VICS Item Level RFID Initiative Outreach Committee and Advisory Board Member
• Chair, EPCglobal Business Advisory Committee and Chair of EPCglobal Strategic Planning Committee
• Chair, Global Product Classification Standards Committee; Chair, Global Product Recall Governance Committee
• Chair, GS1 Canada Standards & Services Board
• Chair, BladeNET - Amateur Hockey Network
• Member, Board of Governors, GS1 US and GS1 Global Management Board
• Member, Voluntary InterIndustry Commerce Solutions (VICS) Board of Directors

Art also has a number of firsts to share:

• Founding member of EDI Council of Canada in 1982
• Invented and implemented CLUB Z, the first on-line frequent buyer program in North America (NA) with over 9 million members.
• Pioneered and managed the first interactive electronic home shopping pilot in North America
• Designed and implemented the first retailer ATM and Debit Card program in Canada
• Implemented the first Electronic Coupon network in Canada with Catalina Marketing

Art is a graduate of the University of Western Ontario (MBA), University of Waterloo (Computer Science) and holds the designation of CMC, from the Canadian Association of Management Consultants.