Ric Lawson Wells (born 20 October 1955[1] is an Australian former diplomat and senior public servant with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).

Wells' senior postings included Australia’s Ambassador to France from 2011 until 2014[2] and two terms as Deputy Secretary of DFAT.

He was Assistant Secretary, Services and Intellectual Property Branch (1994-1995) and was Deputy Head of the Australian Mission to the World Trade Organization in Geneva (1995-1999).

During 2002 he headed the White Paper Task Force And in the following year was appointed the First Assistant Secretary of the South Pacific, Africa and Middle East Division.

[9][10] Upon his return to Australia in 2014, Wells again served as Deputy Secretary of DFAT[11] and, in 2016, conjointly held the role of Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan.