Richard Smith (diplomat)

Richard Smith AM
Born	Richard John Smith 14 December 1934 Tamworth, New South Wales
Died	26 July 2015 (aged 80)
Alma mater	University of Sydney
Occupation	Public servant, diplomat

Richard John Smith AM (14 December 1934 – 26 July 2015) was 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] As head of ONA, he was responsible for advising the Prime Minister and the Government on political, strategic and economic developments affecting Australia's national interests.^[4]

He died on 26 July 2015.^[5]

References

1. World Who's Who, Europa Biographical Reference.
2. Downer, Alexander (28 October 1996). "Diplomatic appointment: Ambassador to the Philippines" (Press release). Archived from the original on 12 February 2014.
3. History of the Office of National Assessments – ONA, Office of National Assessments.
4. Howard, John (29 May 1996). "Director-General Office of National Assessments (ONA)" (Press release). Australian Government.
5. "Richard John Smith". The Canberra Times. 1 August 2015. Retrieved 23 September 2015.