Defence

Cover Story

Farewell to an influential leader

After four years of dedicated service as the Secretary of the Department of Defence, Mr Ric Smith has retired and handed over the reigns to Mr Nick Warner. Mr Smith's retirement marks the end of a 38-year career serving successive Australian governments and, more recently, jointly leading Defence through a very demanding period. Alisha Welch reports.

L-R: CDF ACM Angus Houston, Minister for Defence, Dr Brendan Nelson MP, and the Secretary, Ric Smith, are all smiles at the top!
Photos provided by Public Affairs

On 2 November, the Prime Minister announced that Mr Smith would retire from the Public Service with effect from 1 December. The Prime Minister said that Mr Smith "has made an outstanding contribution to policy development, particularly in the areas of foreign affairs and defence - I particularly wish to thank him for his excellent stewardship of the Department of Defence since 2002. He has filled this difficult role with distinction."

Mr Smith said the last four years have been marked by significantly higher operational tempo, which had notably affected the Australian Defence Force (ADF), but also the whole Defence organisation. "Defence has responded with commitment and professionalism," he said.

I asked Mr Smith what he believed his main achievements were during his extremely busy time as Secretary.

"When I began as Secretary on 18 November 2002 we were not in Iraq, Afghanistan, the Solomon Islands or in Timor-Leste on anything like our present scale" he said.

A man of the people - the Secretary chats to Defence personnel at Russell Offices.
Photos provided by Public Affairs

"We have also had significant deployments to Sumatra and Pakistan, and maintained a high tempo in north Australian waters. The way Defence has been able to embrace this busy period has been remarkable.

"I have been especially pleased with the way in which policy and operational areas within the organisation have been able to work together. That has undoubtedly helped ensure the success of our operations, every one of which has been 'policy rich'."

Mr Smith said he was also very pleased with the way Defence has been able to improve its financial management over recent years.

"Our budgetary and cash management has got better and better. Our financial statements ran into serious difficulties, but we've turned them around because many people have worked very hard."

The Secretary said that he was pleased to have had a part in winning additional funds for Defence in some key areas. Apart from some significant acquisitions, this included critical additional logistics and sustainment funding.

L-R: Former CDF GEN Peter Cosgrove (Retd), CEO DMO Dr Stephen Gumley, and the Secretary, conduct important Defence business.
Photos provided by Public Affairs

He also said he was pleased to have helped secure increased funding from the Government in order to improve and rehabilitate base facilities across Australia.

"Spending in this area is higher than it has ever been. It is a significant factor in morale," he said.

When asked what challenges he had been confronted with during his four years as Secretary, Mr Smith commented that the increasing operational focus had been the overriding challenge during his tenure.

"Since September 1999 Defence has deployed more than 90 000 ADF members overseas," he said.

Mr Smith said he saw the major issues facing Defence into the future as being the ability to sustain the high operational tempo, ensuring policy and operational considerations remain in lock step, improving recruitment and retention, and attaining higher standards of financial management.

"I am confident of Defence's ability to tackle these continuing challenges and succeed. Civilian and military Defence members have worked incredibly well together to achieve our objectives over the past four years, and I'm certain this will continue under the leadership of the Chief of the Defence Force, Air Chief Marshal (ACM) Angus Houston, and Nick Warner"

The Minister for Defence and Secretary check out ADF capability first-hand.
Photos provided by Public Affairs

Referring to future challenges for the organisation, Mr Smith noted the demanding personnel environment and the continuing pressures on our corporate IT systems. He said he particularly regretted having made little progress in redressing the parking challenges at Russell Offices in Canberra.

I asked the Secretary about his fondest memories.

"I have been fortunate to be able to work with some extraordinary people," he said.

"Both ACM Houston and his predecessor, General Peter Cosgrove (Retired) are fine men and it has been an honour to work so closely with both of them. I have also worked with some terrific senior officers and civilians."

While reflecting on the differences in the public service now, compared to when he joined 38 years ago, Mr Smith said it was far more open and accountable and that the pressure on public servants had increased significantly due to the '24/7' nature of the world.

The Secretary and CDF test their new passes at Russell Offices.
Photos provided by Public Affairs

I felt compelled to ask the Secretary if he had a farewell message to Defence personnel.

"The message is that both civilian and military personnel are working for a great national enterprise. By working effectively together at all levels, Defence will continue to enjoy success both at home and internationally.

"I would also like to remind people that individuals can make a huge difference. Even in such a large and diverse organisation, outstanding individuals can certainly have a huge impact."

CDF, ACM Houston, said Mr Smith had been a tower of strength in Defence over his four years as Secretary.

"I want to say on behalf of the entire Defence organisation a very sincere thank you to our very competent and very capable Secretary," he said.

"He's provided very inspirational leadership, he's worked incredibly hard and he has turned around a number of areas where we were a little bit lacking. Ric deserves out best wishes after a job incredibly well done.

"Ric, we've really enjoyed having you aboard, thank you very much - you've given us wonderful inspiration."

Mr Smith was born in Perth in 1944, educated at the University of Western Australia and taught in Western Australian country high schools before joining the then-Department of External Affairs in 1969.

He served as Second Secretary in the Australian High Commission, New Delhi from 1970 to 1973, First Secretary at the Australian Embassy in Tel Aviv from 1975 to 1977 and Counsellor and Deputy Head of Mission at the Australian Embassy in Manila from 1980 to 1984. From 1987 to 1989 he was Consul-General in Honolulu, accredited at the same time to the Federated States of Micronesia and the Republic of the Marshall Islands.

The Secretary talks to a Naval Officer on a recent visit to HMAS Warramunga.
Photos provided by Public Affairs

From 1989 to 1992, Mr Smith was Head of the Pacific, Africa and Middle East Division of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). In 1992 he was appointed a Deputy Secretary. In this position he had responsibility for Australia's relations with Asia and, in particular, worked closely with ASEAN countries, participating in the ASEAN Post Ministerial Conference and contributing to the development of the ASEAN Regional Forum. He acted as Secretary to DFAT for some of the period from December 1992 to May 1993.

From March 1994 to the end of 1995, Mr Smith served on secondment to Defence as Deputy Secretary Strategy and Intelligence. Mr Smith took up duty as Ambassador to the People's Republic of China in February 1996 and served in that position until February 2000. He was also accredited as non-resident Ambassador to Mongolia.

From January 2001 to 31 October 2002, Mr Smith served as Ambassador to the Republic of Indonesia. He was recalled to Canberra to take up duty as Secretary in November 2002.

Mr Smith was named as an Officer of the Order of Australia in the 1998 Australia Day Honours List and was awarded the Public Service Medal on 17 October 2003. In September 2004 he was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Letters by the University of Western Australia.

Reflecting on his four years as Secretary, Mr Smith said he would, "certainly miss the friends and colleagues I have made over my time in Defence.

"I've known Nick and worked with him for 20 years. He is a good friend, and a real professional. I wish him the best with his new role and hope he enjoys the challenge as much as I have."

Alisha Welch is Editor, Defence magazine, Directorate of Leadership Communications, Corporate Governance and Renewal Branch.

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