Professor James Smith is a Matthew Flinders Professor of Health and Social Equity; Co-Director of the FHMRI Health Equity Impact Program; and a Movember Institute of Men;s Health Professorial Research Partner  at Flinders University. He is also a Professorial Research Affiliate with the Flinders Centre for Social Impact, and the Flinders Instittue for Mental Health and Wellbeing. Prior to commencing at Flinders, he held Professorial roles at both Menzies School of Health Research and Charles Darwin University in areas relating to alcohol and other drugs, men's health and Indigenous higer education. He is the Deputy Chair Association for Alcohol and Other Drugs Agencies NT. He holds academic status at Menzies, University of Queensland, Deakin University, University of Michigan and the University of Saskatchewan.

Professor Smith has received numerous research awards for leading impactful applied public health research within the Discipline of Rural and Remote Health in the Northern Territory.

Professor Smith is recognised nationally and globally for his expertise in both health promotion and men's health. He is the immediate past Editor-in-Chief of the Health Promotion Journal of Australia, a Fellow and Life Member of the Australian Health Promotion Association, and a Fellow of the Australasian College of Health Service Management.

Professor Smith serves on multiple national advisory committees including the Scientific Advisory Committee for Australian Prevention and Partnership Centre; Scientific Advisory Group for Ten to Men: the Australian Longitudinal Study on Male Health; and the Strategic Advisory Committee of the National Centre for Education and Training in Addiction. He also holds honorary appointments at various universities in Australia, Canada, and the United States.

With more than 20 years of experience, Professor James Smith is an applied social health researcher. His expertise lies in rural and remote health policy, practice, and research within South Australia (SA) and the Northern Territory (NT), focusing on advancing health and education outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander populations. Over the past decade, he has led and contributed to research projects totaling over $34 million, specifically dedicated to improving Indigenous health and education.