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Paul Smith studied Botany and Mathematics at University College of North Wales, Bangor, and was recruited as a Cadet Statistician in the Government Statistical Service, where he also earned an MSc in Statistics from the University of Sheffield. He joined the Office for National Statistics (ONS) in Newport, South Wales, and worked on a variety of business surveys. In 1994, he joined the expanded Methodology Division at ONS, focusing on survey methodology for business surveys, as well as expanding social surveys and the population census. After a year-long secondment with the Forestry Commission in Edinburgh from 2000 to 2001, he returned to ONS. His experience at ONS has provided him with a deep understanding of the challenges faced in official statistics, which he leverages in his teaching and research. In 2014, he became a member of the Department of Social Statistics & Demography at the University of Southampton, staying connected with the official statistics community through various partnerships and collaborations. He has directed and co-directed MSc courses in Official Statistics and Data Analytics for Government and has taken on the role of Head of the Department from August 2022 to July 2025. His research interests include capture-recapture estimation, the use of administrative data in official statistics, and sample design issues related to consumer price indices. Additionally, he has a strong interest in botany and volunteers as a botanical recorder.
University of Southampton • Southampton, ENG
Director of the Southampton Statistical Sciences Research Institute and Head of the Department of Social Statistics & Demography.