Stephen Smith is a former Australian politician who was a member of the House of Representatives from 1993 to 2013. He served as a minister in the Rudd and Gillard Governments, including as Minister for Foreign Affairs (2007–2010), Minister for Trade (2010), and Minister for Defence (2010–2013).
He was appointed Winthrop Professor of International Law at the University of Western Australia in 2014, and chair of its newly minted defence and security institute from 2021 to December 2022. He has been appointed Australia’s High Commissioner to the UK in early 2023.
Mr Smith was a member of the Ernst & Young Oceania Government and Public Sector Advisory Board and board member of Hockey Australia. He is chair of Canberra-based cyber security company archTIS, chair of the advisory board of the UWA Public Policy Institute, a board member of the LNG Marine Fuel Institute and the Perth USAsia Centre, and was appointed chair of the Morrison Government's Industry Advisory Committee in October 2020. The Industry Advisory Committee helps to guide the government's implementation of Australia’s Cyber Security Strategy 2020 and provides ongoing advice about the best ways to address emerging cyber security challenges.
Mr Smith completed his Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws at the University of Western Australia and has practised as a barrister and solicitor in Perth. He then completed a Master of Laws in Public International Law at London University, and subsequently lectured and tutored in Law in London.
