André Smit is the Regional Legal Adviser for Maritime Matters covering Asia and the Pacific Region from the Regional Resource Network (Asia and the Pacific) in Bangkok. He joined the ICRC in 2022 after private law practice, teaching law, serving as a senior officer in the South African National Defence Force, and service in the South African Foreign Ministry as State Law Adviser (International Law) with both diplomatic and legal functions. He writes occasionally, is accredited as a mediator (United Kingdom and South Africa) and admitted to the High Court of South Africa as a legal practitioner (advocate).

He is an alumnus of the University of Cape Town (Master of Laws in international law from the University of Cape Town School for Advanced Legal Studies), Stellenbosch University (postgraduate Bachelor of Laws as well as Bachelor of Commerce with law), the University of Pretoria; the University of Stellenbosch Business School; the Hague Academy for International Law; the San Remo Institute for International Humanitarian Law; the United Nations Institute for Training and Research; and several military training institutions with qualifications that include postgraduate certificates on public international law; air, space and telecommunications law; mediation; and legal practice.