Immediate Past President  Paul Smith, is a journalist, author and non-fiction writing tutor  for Auckland University's Continuing Education.
He is a director of  New Zealand On Air,  former Director of  TVNZ  and was recently appointed to  the National Commission of UNESCO in New Zealand,
serving as its specialist member in communications.

He is currently in his third year on the Board of New Zealand on Air, where he is chairman of a documentary committee.
Paul was a journo for nearly 40 years for leading dailies in New Zealand and overseas, starting on the Auckland Star in 1964. Years later he became the PR Manager for the fledgling TV2, and in that time wrote a radio play and some short stories before returning to journalism where he won awards, including the Wolfson Press Fellowship which took him to Cambridge.

He returned to New Zealand in1988 as a freelancer and specialised in media. He started the NBR's media column and wrote it for the next 12 years. During that time he also authored six non-fiction books, ranging from Twist and Shout - New Zealand in the Sixties, to Success in New Zealand Business and Our People Our Century, a social history of the 20th century, (with Louise Callan).

Paul has taught non-fiction at Auckland University's summer school for 15 years as well as being a non-fiction mentor both privately, and for the Society.
He has judged local and international media awards, and before becoming a director, was a frequent media commentator on radio and television.  He founded of the group Press for Freedom which successfully pushed for libel law reform.
Late last year he also launched kiwiboomers.co.nz  -  a website written by boomers for boomers.