Mr Mike Smith

Australian Ambassador for Counter-Terrorism

Biography

Mr Smith was most recently Australia's Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva. Prior to taking up this position in April 2002, Mr Smith served as Chief of Staff, Office of the Minister for Foreign Affairs (1998 - 2002).

Mr Smith has held a number of overseas positions including Ambassador to Egypt (1995-98), Minister (Political), Australian Embassy,Washington (1993-95), Ambassador to Algeria (1989-91) and Counsellor, Australian Permanent Mission to the UN, Geneva (1986-89). In Canberra he has served in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade as Legal Adviser and Assistant Secretary, Refugees, Immigration and Asylum (1991-93) and as Head of the Multilateral and Humanitarian Legal Section (1984-86).

Mr Smith was born in Adelaide in 1949. He speaks Arabic and French. He holds a Bachelor of Laws degree from Adelaide University and is married with two adult children.