The University of Queensland community is saddened by the passing of Emeritus Professor Graeme Turner AO FAHA FQA, one of Australia’s most distinguished humanities scholars.
Professor Turner passed away peacefully on Tuesday, with his family by his side, after a short illness. He was Emeritus Professor at the School of Communication and Arts, a former Head of School and the founding Director of the Centre for Critical and Cultural Studies.
Beyond his service for UQ, he was fundamental in establishing media and cultural studies in Australia and in driving the profile of humanities in this country. His establishment of the Centre for Critical and Cultural Studies at The University of Queensland, and his leadership of the ARC Cultural Research Network trained a generation of scholars and cemented Australia’s global standing in the field.
Professor Turner was an ARC Federation Fellow, President of the Australian Academy of the Humanities, and a scholar of great distinction - publishing more than 30 books, most recently a groundbreaking book on universities and the public good that was launched in July this year.
Pro Vice Chancellor for Campus Culture and Leadership and Executive Dean of UQ’s Faculty of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences Professor Heather Zwicker said Professor Turner’s passing is a tremendous loss.
“In a profound sense, Graeme Turner is the intellectual we probably all aspired to become when we first began our PhDs: rigorous in his scholarship, capacious in his intellectual appetites, talented in the classroom, both challenging and compassionate as a mentor, plainspoken and fearless,” she said.
“He had massive listenability. Honours students and Prime Ministers alike paid attention to what Graeme Turner had to say.
“And mostly what he had to say was that the world could be better than it is, and that culture and philosophy were crucial tools in that endeavour. That the next generation of scholars - and the one after that, and the one after that - were already making a difference.”
The Australian Academy of the Humanities also paid tribute to Professor Turner, a rare figure who combined exceptional scholarly distinction with an unwavering commitment to strengthening the humanities and Australia’s higher education sector.
Academy President Professor Stephen Garton AM FAHA FRAHS FASSA FRSN said Professor Turner’s advocacy for the value and contribution of the humanities to national life was tireless and truly without parallel.
“Internationally recognised for his pioneering work in cultural and media studies, he was equally admired at home as a sector leader, policy advisor, innovator and mentor,” Professor Garton said.
Within the Australian Academy of the Humanities, Professor Turner’s leadership was foundational. He served on Council for almost a decade, including as Vice-President (2002–2004), President (2004–2006), and Immediate Past President (2007–2009). He returned to Council in 2017 to serve as Policy Lead, offering wise, principled and generous guidance that helped shape the Academy’s reputation as a trusted and respected voice in public policy.
“His service was always thoughtful, strategic, and given with unwavering honesty and integrity.”
Professor Turner also played an extraordinary role in advising on Australia’s research agenda at the highest levels of government, serving on the Prime Minister’s Science, Engineering and Innovation Council – still the only humanities scholar to have served in this capacity. He also chaired the Expert Working Groups for the Chief Scientist; contributed to the Australian Research Committee in many ways; and led high-impact national studies such as Mapping the Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences in Australia with Dr Kylie Brass.
His work helped ensure that humanities teaching, research and workforce capability were 'at the table’ amidst ever-changing political cycles, securing recognition for the humanities in major national strategies.
Professor Turner was a scholar of immense influence, a leader of rare integrity, and a champion of the humanities whose legacy will endure for generations. His passing is an immeasurable loss but leaves behind a remarkable legacy and we share our condolences with all who knew him, his family, colleagues and friends.
Vale, Graeme. May your compassion, drive, wit and generosity enliven generations of humanities scholars to come.
