Patron of the Australian Geographic Society, which he founded.
In 1968, he founded the electronics retailer Dick Smith Electronics, establishing the first store in the Sydney, New South Wales suburb of Artamon. He sold the business to Woolworths Limited in the early 1980's.
Winner of the 1986 Australian of the Year award.
He was the first person to reach the North Pole by a solo helicopter flight (which he achieved in 1987).