Dean of the Faculty of Environment, Society and Design, Lincoln University, Aotearoa New Zealand.

Professor Tim Smith is a human geographer focused on coastal management, water governance, and climate change adaptation. Prior to recently accepting the Dean position at Lincoln University, he held an Australian Research Council (ARC) Future Fellowship and was a core researcher with the Sustainability Research Centre and the Australian Centre for Pacific Islands Research, at the University of the Sunshine Coast. Professor Smith is also an Adjunct Professor with Brock University, Canada, an Adjunct Professor with Southern Cross University, and a Senior Research Associate with Uppsala University, Sweden. He is also currently co-Chair of Future Earth Coasts, and Executive Editor of the international journal Ocean & Coastal Management.

Prior to accepting the ARC Fellowship, Professor Smith was the Executive Dean for the Faculty of Arts, Business and Law. He also initiated research measures that increased research quantum, quality and impact by emphasising existing areas of strength in sustainability, forestry, human factors, Indigenous studies, and the arts; as well as other areas of critical significance to communities such as sexual violence. He was also the faculty lead on strategic university imperatives including student wellbeing and planning of the new Moreton Bay campus precinct.

Before joining UniSC, Professor Smith was a senior research scientist with the CSIRO. He has also led the social sciences and education portfolios of 2 national research centres (Coastal and Catchment Hydrology CRCs). Professor Smith has also worked at Griffith University and UNSW, for local and state government, and in the private sector.