Robin Smith

Colonel Robin Smith is the inaugural Director of the Army’s Robotic & Autonomous Systems Implementation & Coordination Office (RICO) within Future Land Warfare Branch of the Australian Army HQ. RICO leads concept development around emerging and disruptive technology, including autonomy and AI, Quantum Technologies and alternative power and energy. He has overseen Army’s exploration of autonomous systems since 2017 after he authored the Australian Army Robotic and Autonomous Systems Strategy.

He is a logistician by background and served for over 30 years in the British Army before transferring to the Australian Army. He has commanded at all levels up to and including Regimental level and deployed a number of times. He has a background in Electronic Engineering and has fulfilled a number of roles in the Joint logistics domain at the tactical and operational levels.