Ross Steele is a world-renowned expert on France, honoured in both France and Australia for his work promoting French language and culture, and for his service to tertiary education and his support of the arts.

Ross Steele is Honorary Associate Professor of French in the School of Languages and Cultures at the University of Sydney, Australia. He was previously Associate Professor in the Department of French Studies where he specialised in the teaching of French language and culture, having introduced the Beginners French Course.

He was a cofounder in 1976 of the Applied Linguistics Association of Australia and was the Association's President for sixteen years. He was a Vice-President of the International Association of Applied Linguistics (AILA) and Coordinator of the Scientific Commissions of AILA.

He was an Andrew Mellon Fellow at the National Foreign Language Center, School of Advanced International Studies, Johns Hopkins University, Washington DC, USA and has given numerous invited lectures and conference papers in the USA, France and Australia on the methodology of integrating language and culture in foreign language courses. He was an early proponent of the use of 'authentic documents' (extracts from newspapers, magazines, TV programmes and movies) to develop the learner's communicative skills.

He has been a Committee Member and active participant in many cultural and charitable organizations as well as President of the Fédération des Alliances Françaises d'Australie.

Ross is a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) and was awarded the Centenary of Federation Medal for service to culture and the arts. He has also been awarded the French honours of Officier de la Légion d'Honneur, Officier de l'Ordre National du Mérite and Officier des Palmes Académiques.

Ross was the recipient of the 2007 Woollahra Citizen of the Year Award as part of the Australia Day 2007 celebrations. In 2007, a Distinguished Service Award was conferred on Ross Steele by The Art Gallery Society of New South Wales.

Ross Steele has written over thirty French language and culture books published in France, the USA and Australia. His eighteen books published in France have been used in French as a Foreign Language courses around the world. Ross's most recent books include 'The French Way' (2006), a paperback that gives an overview of life and traditions in France today and "Rucking France 2007: A Tourist Guide" (2007) which contains a wealth of tourist information and practical hints for travellers to France.

Ross offers a customised service, A LA CARTE, to Companies, Professional Associations, Clubs and goups of friends who want expert information and advice on France, on the French way of life and on tourism in France.