Mike Young (economist)

Michael "Mike" Denis Young FASSA is an Australian economist and water policy expert. He is best known for his work informing the management of the water resources of the Murray-Darling Basin.[1][2][3] In 2006 he was listed by The Canberra Times as one of the ten most influential people in water policy reform.[4] In 2009 Young became the inaugural director of the Environment Institute at the University of Adelaide. He holds a Research Chair in Water Economics and Management there and has been a member of the Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists since 2002. In 2013–14, Young held the Gough Whitlam and Malcolm Fraser Chair of Australian Studies at Harvard University.[1]

Mike Young at Adelaide University (2014)
Mike Young at the University of Adelaide in 2014

Early career

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Prior to joining the University of Adelaide, Young worked for the CSIRO for thirty years. During this time, he established their Policy and Economic Research Unit with offices in Adelaide, Canberra and Perth.[5]

Nuclear waste

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Mike Young is interested in exploring the idea that there may be a role for the development of a nuclear waste storage industry in Australia.

In 2015/16, he chaired the South Australian Royal Commission into the Nuclear Cycle's Social and Economic Modelling and Assessment Committee.[6]

Honours

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Young received a Centenary Medal for "outstanding service through environmental economics" in 2001.[7] In 2005, The Canberra Times recognised Young as "Green Australian of the Year." In 2008, Young was awarded South Australian of the Year in the Environment category. He was elected fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences in Australia in 1998[8] and is a Distinguished Fellow of the Australian Agricultural and Resource Economics Society.[5]

References

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  1. ^ a b Rowbotham, Jill (15 February 2012). "Water-wise Young for Harvard". The Australian. Retrieved 15 November 2014.
  2. ^ Nucifora, Melinda (5 March 2010). "Murray Darling". ABC. Retrieved 15 November 2014.
  3. ^ Lane, Sabra (6 November 2006). "Govts to hold Murray River crisis talks". AM. ABC. Retrieved 15 November 2014.
  4. ^ "Mike Young". RiAus. Archived from the original on 29 November 2014. Retrieved 15 November 2014.
  5. ^ a b "Professor Mike Young". Staff Directory. University of Adelaide. Retrieved 15 November 2014.
  6. ^ "Prescription for the Planet". The Environment institute. University of Adelaide. 3 February 2010. Retrieved 20 May 2015.
  7. ^ "Centenary Medal – Michael Denis Young". It's an Honour. Australian Government. 2001. Retrieved 15 November 2014.
  8. ^ "Academy Fellow – Professor Mike Young FASSA". Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia. Retrieved 25 November 2023.