Dr Kevin Hewison

Born in Collie and attending Doubleview Primary before coming to Churchlands, Kevin Hewison has had a distinguished academic career, epitomised by the title of Distinguished Emeritus Professor, bestowed on him by the University of North Carolina. He completed undergraduate studies in social science at WAIT and a Graduate Diploma in education before attaining a First Class Honours degree in Southeast Asian Studies at Murdoch University, followed by a Ph.D. Kevin has held academic posts at Murdoch University, the Australian National University, the University of Papua New Guinea, the University of New England and the City University of Hong Kong in various social science disciplines. In January 2005, Hewison joined the University of North Carolina as professor of Asian studies and director of the Carolina Asia Center and became Weldon E. Thornton Distinguished Professor. He subsequently became the Sir Walter Murdoch Professor of Politics and International Studies and director of the Asia Research Centre at Murdoch University.

His research interests have included democratization, globalization and social change in Southeast Asia, particularly Thailand, and labour issues such as precarious work. He was a consultant sociologist for the Thai-Australia Northeast Village Water Resources Project and team leader on the UNICEF Laos rural sanitation and water supply masterplan and also worked as an advisor on social and community issues for the Australian Agency for International Development. In 2014, he was elected a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences in Australia. Kevin is the author or editor of 18 books and has written some 250 articles, chapters, and media contributions. He is editor-in-chief of Journal of Contemporary Asia.