Ben Smith

Ben is a Principal Consultant with 20-years' experience across science, policy and leadership roles within the water and environment sectors.

Ben is an excellent communicator who thrives in projects involving collaborative problem-solving with interdisciplinary teams and diverse stakeholders. He is passionate about developing evidence-based analyses, evaluations and insights to support strategic decision-making and practical and applied solutions.

Over his career, Ben has developed a deep understanding of environment and water policy, planning and management in Australia and the Middle East. At Ricardo, Ben has supported the delivery of complex engagements with government and industry clients, focusing on diverse topics including integrated water management, water markets and trade, town water security, water allocation planning, program evaluations and water compliance and enforcement.

In previous roles with the South Australian Government, Ben coordinated strategic policy input to diverse aspects of water management, with a particular focus on the Murray-Darling Basin. He also leveraged his science and leadership background to successfully manage the Department for Environment and Water’s Environmental Science Unit over two years; coordinating cross-disciplinary teams and honing his science and communications expertise.