What do we mean by “Subject Matter Expert”?

A subject matter expert is someone who has specific and advanced knowledge or understanding about an issue or subject. Subject matter experts may have lived, learned, or professional expertise, or some combination of those forms of expertise. Some expertise is documented by credentials or degrees; not all valuable expertise is. Not all experts are leaders, as leadership is a relational activity with its own skillset and knowledge base.

Recommended citation: “Subject Matter Expert.” Movement Glossary. Collective Threads Initiative, 2026. https://www.collectivethreads.org (date accessed).