Professor Sir Steve Smith was appointed as the UK Government International Education Champion in June 2020, a role aimed at boosting global education partnerships. In October 2020, he was also appointed as the UK Government Special Representative to Saudi Arabia. His reappointment to both roles was confirmed in 2024. He holds a BSc, an MSc, and a PhD in International Relations from the University of Southampton. He served as Vice-Chancellor of the University of Exeter and held various prominent positions in the UK education sector, most notably as the President of Universities UK (UUK) and the Chair of the UCAS Board. Sir Steve has been recognised internationally for his work.