Sabina Smith brings over a decade of law enforcement experience and a deep commitment to fostering conflict resolution skills. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Justice Studies and a Master’s degree in Conflict Analysis and Management. Sabina serves as Director of the Canadian Center for Applied Insight Conflict Resolution, a sister organization that shares Insight Policing’s mission of building capacity in conflict communication.
As a trainer with Insight Policing, Sabina combines her practical experience as a bylaw officer with her academic expertise in conflict analysis. Her teaching emphasizes the power of conscious curiosity to build trust, prevent escalation, and create sustainable solutions in complex situations.
Sabina’s dual perspective as a practitioner and educator allows her to connect with professionals across a range of fields, empowering them to navigate conflict effectively. She is passionate about helping others create meaningful change and develop the skills needed to make a lasting impact.
Learn more about Sabina in the full Q&A below.
How did you hear about and get started with CAICR and Insight Policing?
I first met Megan, the director, while pursuing my master's degree in Conflict Analysis and Management. It was during this time that I was introduced to the Insight Approach, the foundation of Insight Policing. Later, while working in law enforcement during the COVID-19 pandemic, my supervisor asked me to find virtual training opportunities for the team. I came across a newsletter from CAICR, which featured Megan and her work. That’s when my journey with Insight Policing began—starting with a training course, developing a deeper interest in the approach, and eventually becoming a trainer myself.
What interested you about this work?
What I found particularly interesting was that my degree focused on the Insight Approach from an organizational perspective, with an emphasis on facilitating groups using a mediation-style approach. In contrast, Megan’s work applies Insight Policing to manage conflict in real-time, offering a specific skill set for doing so. It was this practical, in-the-moment application that I found especially intriguing.
What is your favorite part of your role here?
One of my favorite aspects of training through the Center for Applied Insight Conflict Resolution is the opportunity to make a real impact on professionals from various fields. It’s incredibly rewarding to see their perspectives shift as they are introduced to a new way of approaching conflict.
What experience prepared you for this role?
Having spent over 10 years in front-line roles, I’ve encountered my fair share of tense and conflictual interactions. These experiences are what drive me to continue refining and practicing this approach. My passion for the method also fuels my motivation, enabling me to teach it effectively to others.
What do you think is the most effective part of what you do?
What stands out to me about the Insight Approach and the work of CAICR is its emphasis on conscious curiosity—both about ourselves and the people we engage with. In our everyday lives, we often lack curiosity about ourselves and others, but this approach encourages deep self-reflection and strategic questioning, both of ourselves and those we interact with. It's a vital shift in how we approach conflict and connection.
What impact are you hoping to have being part of Insight Policing?:
My hope is that we can foster a deeper understanding of ourselves and others, enabling people to better understand themselves as well. By doing so, we can reduce conflict and work toward more effective, relevant solutions. At the heart of this is communication—encouraging curiosity that helps people engage more thoughtfully with themselves and each other.
What is a common theme you notice when teaching classes?
People often approach this with skepticism at first, and what’s interesting is that questions themselves can sometimes feel threatening to someone. This usually happens because we aren’t naturally curious enough in our everyday interactions. When a question is asked in a thoughtful, strategic way—or when someone is asked a question they’ve never encountered before—it can feel intimidating. Acknowledging this reality is important, and there are ways to manage it. For instance, adjusting our tone of voice and using a verifying step can help people feel more at ease, allowing them to open up and engage with curiosity.
Do you have any interactions or outcomes that stand out to you from training?
I’ve received feedback from participants who took the course, such as one who shared, "I had a really frustrated individual, and I was able to identify the emotion he was expressing and paraphrase his frustration. By using a curious question, I got him to think about why he felt that was the best course of action." The questioning technique and skill set helped de-escalate the situation, bringing the person down to a level where they were engaging more like friends.
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