Benevolent Society appoints new director

The Benevolent Society has announced the appointment of honoured public sector leader Ken Smith to its board of directors.

Spanning four decades, Mr Smith’s career includes extensive executive leadership experience. He has headed the Queensland Government’s Department of the Premier and Cabinet, held the posts of Trade Commissioner for Europe and Agent-General for the United Kingdom, and held CEO positions across a variety of services including family services, disability, education and employment providers.

More recently, he was chief executive officer and dean of the Australian and New Zealand School of Government, Enterprise Professor at The University of Melbourne, and has held adjunct professorships at University of Queensland and University of Sydney.

Mr Smith is currently a Professor of Practice at Queensland University of Technology and does sessional work with University of Queensland.

In 2021, Mr Smith was recognised in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list and awarded an AO for his service to public administration and to public leadership and education.

“I wish a warm welcome to Ken on behalf of everyone on the board of The Benevolent Society,” said the charity’s chair Tim Beresford. “His extensive senior and diverse public sector leadership experience, as well as his deep expertise in public policy, will be a valuable addition to our team.”

Also welcoming Mr Smith to the organisation, Benevolent Society CEO Lin Hatfield Dodds. “Ken and I crossed paths at ANZSOG where I saw firsthand his extraordinary commitment to achieving better and more equitable outcomes for individuals in diverse locations and communities. I am looking forward to him working with us as we continue empowering our clients to life live on their own terms with our vast range of services and programs.”

Mr Smith said he was looking forward to serving on the board of an organisation with such an impressive legacy. “The Benevolent Society has been supporting Australians since 1813 as an independent, non-religious service provider that assists people to achieve independent living. It’s been able to lead in a range of social policy areas and had great influence in shaping the way we deliver a range of human services across the nation.”

Main image: Ken Smith

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