Smith, Dick (1944-…), is an Australian businessman, aviator, adventurer, publisher, and philanthropist. He founded Dick Smith Electronics at the age of 24 and built it into a successful business. He sold his interest in the company in 1982 to finance philanthropy (charity) and other activities.
In 1986, Smith founded the quarterly nature and adventure magazine Australian Geographic and later established a chain of Australian Geographic shops. He sold Australian Geographic in 1995. In 1999, Smith founded Dick Smith Foods with the goal of creating brands to compete with foreign-owned companies in the Australian food industry.
Smith achieved several firsts in aviation. He made the first solo helicopter flight around the world in 1983, and the first helicopter flight to the North Pole in 1987. He became the first person to fly a plane around the world via the poles in 1989. Smith also made the first Australian transcontinental balloon flight in 1993, and the first balloon flight across the Tasman Sea in 2000.
Smith has written several books, including The Earth Beneath Me (1983), Our Fantastic Planet (1991), Solo Around the World (1992), and Above the World (1996). He served as the chairman of the Australian Civil Aviation Authority from 1990 to 1992 and of its successor, the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, from 1997 to 1999. He was named Australian of the Year in 1986 and was made an Officer of the Order of Australia in 1999. The Order of Australia is Australia’s highest award for service to the country or to humanity. Richard Harold Smith was born in Roseville, New South Wales.
