Mr Spithill has a degree in Electrical Engineering and is a graduate of the Harvard Executive Program. He is a Director of Vodafone Hutchinson Australia and a Director of Hutchinson Telecommunications Australia. Mr Spithill is a former Director of Telecom New Zealand, has over 40 years in the telecommunications industry with Alcatel and led Alcatel's marketing efforts globally.

Mr Spithill has addressed the World Economic Forum and has served as President of the Telecommunications Industry Association of Australia, Director of AEEMA, Director of the Australia Industry Group, Member of the Australian Business Council, Member of the Malaysian Government Industry Advisory Panel, Member of the NSW Government IT Advisory Board, and Member of the Australian Government "Goldsworthy" Committee. He has also served on Advisory Councils to several Provincial Governments in China and also served as a Director of not-for-profit organisation- Good Beginnings Australia.

Mr Spithill is a Life Fellow of the Australian Telecommunications Society of Australia and a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering. In 2014, Mr Spithill was awarded the Order of Australia Medal for his services to the telecommunications industry.