Stephen Smith

Former Foreign Minister, Defence Minister
Australia’s Chair of the Australia-Japan Leadership Dialogue

Stephen Smith had a distinguished Parliamentary career spanning 20 years, during which he served as Minister for Foreign Affairs, Minister for Trade, and Minister for Defence over the period 2007-2013. From August 2022 until January 2023 he was Co-Lead of the Australian Government’s Defence Strategic Review. His most recent appointment was as the Australian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, a role he held from January 2023 to December 2025.

Mr Smith has also held several senior academic and governance roles. Post his retirement from Parliament in 2013, he was Professor of Public International Law at the University of Western Australia, 2014-2022. Over this period he also served as Chair of the UWA Public Policy Institute and Chair of the UWA Defence and Security Institute. He was a member of the Board of the Perth USAsia Centre from 2014-2022. He was appointed Chair of the Centre in March 2026.

Mr. Smith completed a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Laws at the University of Western Australia, and practised as a Barrister and Solicitor in Perth. He later completed a Master of Laws in Public International Law at the University of London (LSE).He subsequently lectured and tutored in law in the UK. He is a Barrister of the Bar of England and Wales (Middle Temple).

In June 2026, Mr Smith was appointed by the Foreign Minister as Australia’s Chair of the Australia-Japan Leadership Dialogue.