Forbes Smith, Energy & Water Ombudsman Queensland
Forbes Smith was appointed the second Energy and Water Ombudsman Queensland on 4 July 2011.
Immediately prior to his appointment as Energy and Water Ombudsman, Forbes was the Deputy Ombudsman in the Office of the Queensland Ombudsman, having commenced there in December 2006.
Forbes has a long career history working in independent accountability agencies and prior to joining the Queensland Ombudsman’s Office, was Queensland’s first Chief Inspector of Prisons. This followed a senior executive career in the Crime and Misconduct Commission and its predecessor, the Criminal Justice Commission.
During his career, Forbes has also been involved in the investigation of organised crime. His interest in this area took him to Melbourne in 1995/96 where he was appointed to the newly created senior executive position of Manager, Project Development with the National Crime Authority (now the Australian Crime Commission).
Forbes was a legal officer with the Fitzgerald Inquiry from 1987 to 1989, and was invited to join the Inquiry from the Crown Law Office where he had been a prosecutor/advocate since his admission as a barrister 1981. Forbes holds a Bachelor of Law from the University of Queensland.