Mr Smol has over 35 years of work experience, including in the energy sector in the UK and New Zealand, for Conoco UK Limited, Electricity Corporation and ILEX Energy Consulting. He was part of the Contact Energy establishment team in 1995-1996 and a member of the team that developed the rules for the New Zealand electricity market. In 2008 David was appointed as chief executive of Ministry of Economic Development and, from 2012-2017 was the inaugural chief executive of the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE), following the merger of four government departments. David is currently Chair of GNS Science and a board member of The Co-operative Bank Limited and Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency. He is also a member of Health, Safety and Environment Committee, and Audit and Risk Committee.