Erica Smith (Dr)

Erica served as CEO of Barbados’ collective management organisation, COSCAP, where she oversaw the administration of rights for songwriters, publishers, producers, and performers, and contributed actively to the Association of Caribbean Copyright Societies (ACCS). For many years, she also worked as a consultant at the intersection of intellectual property (IP) and the creative industries, advising on how intangible assets can drive brand development and business growth. Her expertise spans IP integration in business planning, IP audits, risk mitigation, valuation, commercialisation strategies, capacity building, and shepherding services. As of December 2025, she is the Director of the Barbados Intellectual Property Office.

Her consulting portfolio includes work for the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry, the Caribbean Development Bank, the Inter-American Development Bank, and the Caribbean Export Development Agency. She is also a course developer and lecturer on IP and commercialisation for WIPO, the Centre for International Intellectual Property Studies, and the European Patent Office.

Erica holds undergraduate degrees in business management and law, and postgraduate degrees in international business, intellectual property law, international sports law and management, and IP law and management. Her doctoral research examined the role of collective management organisations in small developing economies in the digital age.