Dr Heather Smith is a member of the US Studies Centre Board of Directors. She was appointed Deputy Chair in September 2020.

Heather served as Secretary of the Department of Industry, Innovation and Science from September 2017-January 2020.

She has had nearly 20 years’ experience in the Australian Public Service at senior levels leading significant initiatives` covering economic, foreign affairs, national security and intelligence matters.

Heather was Secretary of the Department of Communications and the Arts (2016-2017). Prior to this she served as Deputy Secretary in the departments of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (2013-2016) and Foreign Affairs and Trade (2010-2013), and was Deputy Director-General in the Office of National Assessments (2005-2010). She has also worked at the Australian Treasury and at the Reserve Bank of Australia.

In 2013 she was appointed by Prime Minister Abbott as Australia’s G20 Sherpa, overseeing Australia’s Presidency of the G20 in 2014. Heather was awarded a Public Service Medal in 2015.

Heather holds a Masters and PhD in Economics from the Australian National University and a B. Economics (Hons 1) from the University of Queensland. She has been a visiting scholar at the Brookings Institution in Washington DC. In 2012, Heather completed the Advanced Management Program at the Harvard Business School.

Heather is a member of Chief Executive Women.