Wilfred David (Mick) Borrie (1913-2000) - Emeritus Professor, demographer

Abstract

Professor Mick Borrie was born in Waimate, New Zealand on 2 September 1913. He was educated at Waitaki Boys' High School and the Universities of Otago (New Zealand) and Cambridge.

Professor Borrie has been connected with the Australian National University since its earliest years. In 1947 he accepted one of the first four Social Science Research Fellowships to undertake research into population trends at the London School of Economics.

While at LSE he was invited by Keith Hancock to take up a position as a demographer in the about-to-be-formed Research School of Social Sciences. He became Reader and head of the Department of Demography after its establishment in 1952. In 1957 he became Professor. From 1965 to 1968 he was also Acting Head of the Department of Sociology.

From 1968 to 1973 Professor Borrie was Director of the Research School of Social Sciences. He retired from the university in 1978 and was awarded the title of Emeritus Professor.

Professor Borrie served on a number of national and international commissions, including Chairman of the United Nations Population Commission 1965-68, Director of the Australian Population Inquiry 1970-78, Member of the Australian Population and Immigration Planning Council 1974-81 and Executive Director of the Academy of Social Sciences in Australia 1979-85.