Murdoch University has honoured the work of Emeritus Professor Stuart Harris AO, a remarkable contributor to public policy debate.
Over the past six decades Professor Harris has worked on a variety of issues, including the economies of developing countries, agricultural and commodity trade, agricultural and economic policy in Australia, energy and environmental policies.
“Professor Harris is widely recognised as being among Australia’s leading senior public servants of the post-World War II generation and a distinguished academic in his own right,” said Murdoch Vice Chancellor Professor Richard Higgott.
Professor Harris has had a particular interest and involvement in Asian political and economic cooperation, notably through the Pacific Economic Cooperation Conference and the establishment of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum.
Professor Harris worked as an advisor for the Harvard Development Advisory Service in the Planning Department of Colombia, and as a visiting scholar in the Trade Policy Research Centre, Royal Institute of International Affairs and London School of Economics.
He has also been closely involved with United Nations activities, including his work on the UN Report on African Commodities and as a member of the UN Commission for Human Rights on the issue of the Right to Development, and with the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development.
Other positions include a period as the head of the Australian Bureau of Agricultural Economics, the leader of the Australian National University’s Centre for Resource and Environmental Studies, and subsequently the head of ANU’s North-East Asia Program.
His current role is Emeritus Professor and Visiting Fellow at ANU’s College of Asia and the Pacific, where he continues researching Asian affairs and is nearing completion of a contracted book on China’s foreign policy.
Professor Harris was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Letters on February 23.