Full Name
Professor Hugh Mackay AO
Job Title
Social psychologist and researcher
Speaker Bio
Hugh Mackay is a social psychologist and researcher and the bestselling author of 25 books, including nine novels. His latest non-fiction book is Just Saying, published in November 2025.
Hugh has had a 60-year career in social research and was also a weekly newspaper columnist for over 25 years. He is currently an honorary professor of Psychology at ANU. Among other appointments, he has been deputy chairman of the Australia Council for the Arts, chairman of the board of trustees of Sydney Grammar School and an honorary professor at Macquarie, Charles Sturt and Wollongong universities.
He is a Fellow of the Australian Psychological Society and the Royal Society of NSW. In recognition of his pioneering work in social research, he has been awarded honorary doctorates by five Australian universities. He was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia in 2015.
Hugh has had a 60-year career in social research and was also a weekly newspaper columnist for over 25 years. He is currently an honorary professor of Psychology at ANU. Among other appointments, he has been deputy chairman of the Australia Council for the Arts, chairman of the board of trustees of Sydney Grammar School and an honorary professor at Macquarie, Charles Sturt and Wollongong universities.
He is a Fellow of the Australian Psychological Society and the Royal Society of NSW. In recognition of his pioneering work in social research, he has been awarded honorary doctorates by five Australian universities. He was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia in 2015.
