Professor Peter McDonald has been appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO), in recognition of his distinguished service to demographic research, to policy development, and to professional associations.
Peter McDonald is a CEPAR Chief Investigator, Honorary Professor of Demography in the Melbourne School of Population and Global Health at the University of Melbourne, and Emeritus Professor of Demography at the Australian National University.
He is frequently consulted on the issue of population futures, its causes, consequences and policies, by governments around the world, especially in Australia, Europe and East Asia.
His theoretical and policy-oriented research on low fertility – the gender equity theory of fertility – is widely cited and has informed government policymaking in several countries.
In 2022, Peter McDonald received the Laureate Award of the International Union for the Scientific Study of Population (IUSSP), the leading international award in the field of demography.
In 2015, he received the Irene B. Taeuber Award from the Population Association of America which recognises an unusually original or important contribution to the scientific study of population.
Professor McDonald was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in 2008, for his service in the fields of demography and social research, particularly relating to population dynamics and future studies, through the exploration of related policy options and through education.
He was IUSSP President for the years 2010-2013, and has worked previously at the Australian National University, the Australian Institute of Family Studies, the World Fertility Survey and the University of Indonesia.
“Congratulations to Peter for his outstanding achievements, and invaluable contributions to our society. No other demographer has received all of these honours,” said CEPAR Director John Piggott.
The Order of Australia recognises Australians who have demonstrated outstanding service or exceptional achievement. An Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) is recognised for distinguished service of a high degree to Australia or to humanity at large.