13 Facts About Ric Smith

Ric Smith served as the Australian Ambassador to China, Australian Ambassador to Indonesia during the time of the 2002 Bali bombings, and Secretary of the Department of Defence.

Ric Smith was born in Perth, Western Australia in 1944, and was educated at the University of Western Australia.

Ric Smith was a high school teacher prior to joining the Australian Public Service in the Department of External Affairs in 1969.

Ric Smith held a number of senior positions in DFAT before being appointed as an assistant secretary in 1985, and consul-general in Honolulu in 1987.

Ric Smith served as the Australian Ambassador to the People's Republic of China.

Ric Smith was awarded the Centenary Medal on 1 January 2001 "for a significant contribution over many years to international relations".

Ric Smith served as the Australian Ambassador to the Republic of Indonesia, and extended his period of office when he learnt of the bombings in Bali on 12 October 2002.

When Ric Smith retired from the Australian Public Service on 1 December 2006, he was given the honour of delivering the first valedictory address on 29 November 2006.

In 2007, Smith spent four months as a Distinguished Fellow at the S Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore.

In 2008, Ric Smith led a review of "Homeland and Border Security" in Australia for the Rudd Government.

Ric Smith became a visiting fellow at the Lowy Institute for International Policy in Sydney, publishing his first report for them in October 2008.

From March to June 2009, Ric Smith was the Australian Scholar at the Woodrow Wilson Center for International Scholars in Washington DC.

Ric Smith is a board member of the Energy and Minerals Institute, and was one of the Conference Chairs at The Reluctant Super Power Conference.