Graeme Hugo, distinguished demographer and academic, dies aged 68
One of Australia's most distinguished demographers, Professor Graeme Hugo, has died at the age of 68 after a short illness.
Regarded by his peers and students as an academic giant, the University of Adelaide professor was also director of the Australian Migration and Population Research Centre.
Professor Hugo was named an Officer of the Order of Australia for his services to population research in 2012.
He was also recognised as a generous public intellectual and was a regular contributor to ABC local radio.
Some of Professor Hugo's most recent research focused on the problems, including discrimination, faced by jobseekers from non-English speaking backgrounds.
Tributes from fellow academics and politicians have flowed on social media.
Acting deputy vice-chancellor of research, Richard Russell, said Professor Hugo's death came "very suddenly" and said he would be sorely missed.
"He was a prolific writer. I think he logged up somewhere over 400 articles in books and chapters and the like," he said.
"He leaves a very big hole. He was, I think, probably one of the eminent Australian geographers and demographers and sadly he's left us rather sooner than we would have hoped for."
Professor Russell said Professor Hugo was an inspiring lecturer who had supervised more than 50 PhD theses.
"He really did share his knowledge with a lot of young people from all around the world," he said.
"His interests ranged far beyond Australia. He had interests in migration all around the world. He had a very deep connection into a large part of Asia, particularly Indonesia.
"He was also interested in things that impact on population such as climate change, health and living standards.
"I think his legacy will live on through his students and that's not such a bad way to be remembered in this world."
Premier Jay Weatherill also expressed his sadness, calling Professor Hugo's death an "enormous loss to South Australia and the nation".
"[Professor] Hugo was an international thinker of the highest calibre and was greatly respected," Mr Weatherill said in a statement.
"I regarded him as a friend and I am deeply saddened at his passing."
