Elery Hamilton-Smith

Elery Hamilton-Smith (28 December 1929 – 27 June 2015) was an Australian interdisciplinary scholar and academic, and later an adjunct professor of Environmental Studies at Charles Sturt University.

Background Elery Hamilton-Smith was born on a property named Shady Grove, near Hahndorf and grew up in rural South Australia.

He did not have conventional academic training, and graduated from the University of Adelaide with a Diploma in Social Sciences in 1956.

His professional career moved between research, consultancy and teaching in 50 countries. From 1949 to 1968 he worked in teaching and community services. From 1969 to 1977 he was a social policy & planning consultant, with an honorary position as zoologist at the South Australia Museum. His work included many studies on social policy and open space in Victoria, Australia. In the 1980s and 90s he was lecturer and then Professor, latterly in the Department of Leisure Studies, Phillip Institute of Technology (now RMIT University), Melbourne. Professor, Department of Environmental Studies, Charles Sturt University He spent a total of 15 years outside Australia working for the UNESCO World Heritage Bureau and the United Nations Development Program. Educational Fellowship with the Government of Canada. He also had many years of working (as a volunteer) within various IUCN programs.

Professional contributions Hamilton-Smith had wide interests. He worked on: social policy development and programmes dealing with youth issues. development of leisure and outdoor recreation activities Conservation, particularly tourism and visitor appreciation of wilderness and National Parks Cave and karst management sustainability and environmental studies.

Awards Membership of the Order of Australia (AM) in Australia Day Honours List in 2001 former federal president of the Australian Association of Social Workers