Brendan Smyth is the inaugural Australian Capital Territory’s (ACT) Commissioner for International Engagement for the ACT Government, taking the position on 1 August 2016.
During his 18 year service to the ACT, Mr Smyth has held various portfolios. From 1998-2001 he held Ministerial portfolios for Business, Planning, Urban Services, Tourism, Arts, Environment, Industrial Relations and Police and Emergency Services. Mr Smyth was also elected as the Deputy Chief Minister from 2000-2001.
From 2002 to 2006 Mr Smyth was the ACT Leader of the Opposition and from 2002 to 2016 held multiple Shadow portfolios including Shadow Treasury, Shadow Minister for Business and Economic Development, Shadow Minister for Industrial Relations, Shadow Minister for Higher Education, Shadow Minister Gaming and Racing, Shadow Minister Emergency Services and Shadow Minister the Arts and Tourism. Mr Smyth was on multiple committees including the Public Accounts Committee (Chair), Select Committee on Estimates 2013-2014, Select Committee on Estimates 2014-2015 (Chair), Select Committee on Estimates 2015-2016 (Chair), Select Committee on Estimates 2016-2017 (Chair).
Mr Smyth is married to Ms Robyn Devin and has twin daughters, Amy and Lorena and son David. His interests include reading, whiskey, bushwalking and astronomy.