Richard Bedford (geographer)

Richard Dodgshun Bedford CNZM QSO (born 3 January 1945), also known as Dick Bedford,[1] is emeritus professor in human geography at Auckland University of Technology (AUT). He was the president of the Royal Society Te Apārangi from 2015 to 2018.

Richard Bedford CNZM QSO
Bedford in 2008
Born	Richard Dodgshun Bedford (1945-01-03) 3 January 1945 Takapuna, New Zealand
Spouse(s)	Janet Sholto Douglas ( m. 1969)
Children	2
Relatives	Harry Bedford (grandfather) Sholto Douglas (father-in-law)
Academic background
Alma mater	Australian National University
Thesis	Mobility in transition: an analysis of population movement in the New Hebrides (1971)
Doctoral advisor	Harold Brookfield Godfrey Linge
Academic work
Discipline	Geography
Sub-discipline	Human geography
Institutions	University of Canterbury University of Waikato Auckland University of Technology

Early life

Bedford was born in 1945 in Takapuna. His parents were Beryl (née Sanders) and John Dodgshun Bedford.[2] His grandfather was the academic and member of parliament Harry Bedford.[3] He received his primary school education in East Taieri, Te Puke, Te Kauwhata, and Campbells Bay. He then attended Rangitoto College before completing a Bachelor of Arts in 1965 and a Master of Arts in 1967 at the University of Auckland. He gained his PhD from the Australian National University in Canberra in 1972, with the title of his doctoral thesis as Mobility in transition: an analysis of population movement in the New Hebrides.[2][4]

In 1969, he married Janet Sholto Douglas, the daughter of Royal Air Force senior commander Sholto Douglas. They were to have one son and one daughter.[2]

Career

From 1972 to 1989, Bedford was a geography lecturer at the University of Canterbury.[2] From 1989, he was professor of geography at the University of Waikato. He retired from the university and in 2014, Waikato awarded him the title emeritus professor.[5]

In 2010, Bedford moved to Auckland University of Technology (AUT) as pro vice-chancellor research. In 2016, AUT also awarded Bedford the title emeritus professor.[6]

Bedford was president of the Royal Society Te Apārangi from July 2015 to July 2018.[7]

Honours and awards

Bedford was awarded the New Zealand 1990 Commemoration Medal. He was elected Fellow of the Royal Society of New Zealand in 2000. He was awarded Distinguished New Zealand Geographer in 2007.[1] In the 2008 New Year Honours, he was appointed Companion of the Queen's Service Order (QSO) for services to geography.[8] In the 2020 New Year Honours, he was appointed Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit (CNZM) for services to governance.[9]

References

1. "Distinguished New Zealand Geographer Award 2007 : Professor Richard Bedford" (PDF). New Zealand Geographical Society. 2007. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
2. Lambert, Max; Traue, James Edward; Taylor, Alister (1991). Who's Who in New Zealand, 1991 (12th ed.). Auckland: Octopus. p. 46.
3. Births, deaths, and marriages online: registration number 1916/29887; Department of Internal Affairs
4. Bedford, Richard. "Mobility in transition : an analysis of population movement in the New Hebrides". Australian National University. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
5. "Trio honoured for their work". University of Waikato. 16 October 2014. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
6. "Professor Richard Bedford named AUT Emeritus Professor" (Press release). Auckland: Auckland University of Technology. Scoop. 27 June 2016. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
7. "Past President's speech at farewell function". Royal Society Te Apārangi. 26 July 2018. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
8. "New Year honours list 2008". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 31 December 2007. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
9. "New Year honours list 2020". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 31 December 2019. Retrieved 15 August 2020.

Professional and academic associations
Preceded by David Skegg	President of the Royal Society of New Zealand 2015–2018	Succeeded by Wendy Larner