Following an extensive career as an applied economist in a of range sectors, Associate Professor Tom Murphy was awarded a Doctor of Business (honoris causa) at a Charles Sturt University (CSU) Faculty of Business graduation ceremony on Friday 20 December.

The University Council had previously resolved to confer this award on Professor Murphy in recognition of his significant contribution to the 'public good' as an outstanding economic leader and teacher who has substantially contributed to education, regional business and the regional communities of Australia.

Professor Murphy's particular expertise in regional economics and labour markets developed after he gained a Bachelor of Economics with first class honours from the University of New England in 1972, and a Master of Science (Economics) from the University of Lancaster in the United Kingdom in 1977.

Prior to becoming the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Western Research Institute (WRI) in Bathurst when it was established in February 1999, Professor Murphy held academic positions as senior lecturer in economics and Director of the Regional Economics Research Unit in the then-Faculty of Commerce at CSU in Bathurst, as well as positions at the University of New England and Macquarie University. As an academic, he was also a member of the NSW Higher School Certificate Economics Syllabus Committee from 1983 until 1993.

As a teacher, Professor Murphy taught a very wide range of subjects at both undergraduate and postgraduate level, including theoretical and applied economics as well as finance and management. He has taught in China for CSU, and has been a guest lecturer at the University of New England, Macquarie University, the University of Technology Sydney, and Chifley Business School. He has also supervised honours and masters degree students, and was a PhD examiner for the University of Queensland and the University of Wollongong.

Before becoming an academic, Professor Murphy had been involved in public sector decision-making as an economic analyst with the Office of National Assessments in Canberra, where he had responsibility for the ASEAN economies. He was reacquainted with public sector decision-making in 2002 when he accepted the role of Chair of the Cox's River Water Management Committee. He also spent time in the private sector as a senior consultant with KPMG Peat Marwick Management Consultants.

Professor Murphy's eclectic background ensured that he would be successful in his role at the WRI. Under his leadership, the WRI rapidly became the leading research and consulting group in regional Australia and completed more than 500 projects for all levels of government, industry groups and businesses including: Australian Pork, the Chicken Meat Federation, the Tourism Taskforce, Delta Electricity, BlueScope Steel, V8 Supercars, Westpac, Perpetual Regional Infrastructure Fund, regional development boards, community groups, and educational institutions including universities, TAFE, and schools in NSW, Victoria and Queensland. Professor Murphy retired from the WRI in 2012.

He has published in a wide range of economic subject areas and established a high media profile in Western NSW for economic and social commentary, featuring regularly on national radio particularly in connection to the quarterly agribusiness survey conducted for Westpac Australia-wide.