Biography

Robert Ward was elected as one of the three co-Directors of the Secretariat of the International Hydrographic Organization, based in Monaco, in September 2007. Re-elected in 2012 for a second five-year term of office as President, now Secretary-General. Term ended on 1 September 2017.
Born in England, joined the Royal Australian Navy after 13 years service in the British Royal Navy and retired from the Royal Australian Navy in 2007 as the Deputy Hydrographer of Australia in the rank of Captain.
37 year naval career, over 20 years spent in ships, including in command. FIG-IHO-ICA Catagory A hydrographic surveyor with a wide practical experience in hydrographic and oceanographic surveying around the world. Served for a short time as a deck officer in the British Merchant Navy. Shore-based experience has included training hydrographic surveyors both in the UK and as Head of the Royal Australian Navy Hydrographic School in Sydney, strategic planning, capability development, project management, and commercial support programs.