Richard Smith (diplomat)
Richard John Smith AM (born 14 December 1934) is an Australian diplomat.
Smith was born in Tamworth, New South Wales and educated at Sydney High School and the University of Sydney. He worked as a teacher in London in the late 1950s, then as a solicitor in New South Wales, before joining the Australian Department of External Affairs in 1961. He had several postings in the United States, with the United Nations, and in Switzerland.[1]
Smith's first ambassadorial posting was as Ambassador to Israel from 1975 to 1977. He was Ambassador to Thailand from 1985 to 1988, and Ambassador to the Philippines from 1994 to 1996.[2] After serving as Deputy Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in Canberra, he was appointed as Australian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom from 1991 to 1994.[1]
From 1996 to 1998, he was the Director-General of the Office of National Assessments, an Australian intelligence agency reporting to the Prime Minister.[3]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 World Who's Who, Europa Biographical Reference.
- ↑ Downer, Alexander (28 October 1996). "Diplomatic appointment: Ambassador to the Philippines" (Press release). Archived from the original on 12 February 2014.
- ↑ History of the Office of National Assessments - ONA, Office of National Assessments.
| Diplomatic posts | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Rawdon Dalrymple |
Australian Ambassador to Israel 1975–1977 |
Succeeded by Walter Handmer |
| Preceded by Gordon Jockel |
Australian Ambassador to Thailand 1985–1988 |
Succeeded by Richard Butler |
| Preceded by Doug McClelland |
Australian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom 1991–1994 |
Succeeded by Neal Blewett |
| Preceded by Mack Williams |
Australian Ambassador to the Philippines 1994–1996 |
Succeeded by Miles Kupa |
| Government offices | ||
| Preceded by Philip Flood |
Director-General of the Office of National Assessments 1996–1998 |
Succeeded by Kim Jones |