Ian Shirley

Ian Francis Shirley (28 February 1940 – 20 January 2019) was New Zealand's first professor of public policy and an advocate for social justice.^[2][3][4] He established the Institute of Public Policy at Auckland University of Technology.

Ian Shirley
Born	Ian Francis Shirley (1940-02-28)28 February 1940[1] Kaiapoi, New Zealand[1]
Died	20 January 2019(2019-01-20) (aged 78)
Academic work
Discipline	Social policy
Institutions	Massey University[2] Auckland University of Technology
Doctoral students	Anne de Bruin

Academic career

Shirley was appointed as a lecturer in the Social Work Unit at Massey University in 1977, and promoted to senior lecturer in 1980.^[5] In 1982, he succeeded Merv Hancock as the director of the unit.^[6] In Shirley completed a PhD through Massey, on social practice within a capitalist state.^[7] He moved to the Auckland University of Technology in 2000, where he established the Institute of Public Policy, and also served as pro vice-chancellor.^[4] Shirley's notable students include Anne de Bruin.^[8]

Social policy

Shirley advised on the Auckland super city.^[9]

Later life and death

Shirley retired from Auckland University of Technology in 2016, and was accorded the title of professor emeritus.^[2][10] He died aged 78 on 20 January 2019.^[11][12]