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Professor Mark Turner retires after 24 years at UC. Photo: Claudia Doman |
Claudia Doman
15 September 2014: After a 24-year career at the University of Canberra and a frequent-flying record to match, Mark Turner, professor of development policy and management, retired last Friday.
Professor Turner, also head of the government discipline at the University's Faculty of Business, Government and Law, has been a successful researcher, consultant and teacher in many Asia-Pacific countries, his region of expertise.
He's assisted in the development of one-stop shops for service delivery in Mongolia, led a United Nations (UN) team to evaluate the public sector reform program in China and set up the first ever Master's program in Bhutan, among other projects, and his fascination for the region has never diminished.
"I have always had a passion for understanding more about Asian-Pacific countries and I find every place very interesting," he said.
His research interests have ranged from Asia-Pacific politics, public sector management and development, decentralization and autonomy, to Third World development, terrorism and kidnapping.
He has undertaken advisory work for leading international organisations – such as the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank --, developing country governments, and non-government organisations.
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Professor Mark Turner during one of his visits to Bhutan in 2008. Photo supplied |
Professor Turner, who has successfully supervised over 15 PhD students during his career, said the highlight of his time at the University of Canberra was seeing his students succeed.
One of his former students, Karma Tshitteem, was responsible for promoting Bhutan's Gross National Happiness, which is the country's measure of success, instead of the Gross Domestic Product. Another one, Ala Jabar Mohammed, has gone back to her native Kurdistan, to work for the UN inrefugee camps.
"It's been very satisfying to see their success and see how they develop after they go back to their country of origin to hopefully make a difference," he said.
The Liverpool-born academic joined the University of Canberra in 1990, the first year of its operation as a university, and he said he's delighted to have witnessed the University's journey.
"It's been a great privilege to see the development of the University and see the rise of its cultural values, its attitudes in becoming a university," he said. "It's been very gratifying to see its coming of age and that it's headed in a good direction that stresses excellence in teaching and research."
Professor Turner doesn't plan to drop out completely from the academia "but it's time to move to a more flexible role, perhaps as a visiting professor, and make room for the younger academics that are coming behind."
