The chair of the Southern Highlands Community Foundation (SHCF) was awarded Wollondilly's Woman of the Year on March 7 at the Sydney Convention Centre.

The accolade was a part of the Women of the Year Awards in the lead-up to International Women's Day.

"It was a great honour and surprise," she said, and was inspired by the work women were doing in their local communities.

Ms Smith has been a part of the foundation's board since 2015, and is passionate about using her marketing and strategic skills to support not-for-profits across the region.

She said using her professional skills to help community groups gave her joy and "fills" her up.

Another highlight at the foundation was celebrating locals who make a difference through the Highlands Hero initiative, she said.

The SHCF chair is also a board member for Ngununggula gallery and the vice President of Grow Southern Highlands.

She has also lent her skills to the Southern Highlands Arts Fund, the Bowral and District Children's Foundation and Bowral Public School.

"To be able to do something in the local community is very important to me," she said.

Ms Smith encourages others to help not-for-profits and community groups through the skills they already have.

"When you have skills, it can make a large impact," she said.

Not only could people help others, but it was a chance to connect with the community and others, the chair said.

Along with her work in the not-for-profit sector, Ms Smith works with international and national clients in marking, branding and strategy through her business Tin Shed Marketing.