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Geoffrey Blainey

Professor Geoffrey Blainey has a long and distinguished career in academic circles. For twenty years he was a professor of economic history and then Ernest Scott Professor of History at the University of Melbourne. He also held the chair of Australian Studies at Harvard University. In 1988 in New York he received the International Britannica Award for excellence in the dissemination of knowledge for the benefit of humankind. A member of various federal government committees, he was Chairman of the Australia Council for four years and Chairman of the Australia-China Council for five years and in 2001 ws chairman for the National Council for the Centenary of Federation. In the early 1980's he was Visiting Professor of Australian Studies at Harvard University. In 1988 he received the International Britannica Award for excellence in the dissemination of knowledge for the benefit of humankind.

He is the author of many books, including The "Tyranny of Distance" and "The Causes of War". Amongst his recent titles are "A Short History of the World" (2000) - a best seller now issued in many editions and translations extending from Italian to Portugaese and "A Short History of the Twentieth Century" released in 2005.

Professor Blainey is a witty speaker with a warm, approachable manner which delights his audiences. His presentations draw on economic events and their effects on the future.