Charles Massy

Respected regenerative farmer, scientist and author, Dr Charles Massy gained a Bachelor of Science (Zoology, Human Ecology) at the ANU (1976), before going farming for 35 years, developing the prominent Merino sheep stud ‘Severn Park’.

Concern at ongoing land degradation and humanity’s sustainability challenge led Charlie to return to ANU in 2009 to undertake a PhD in Human Ecology. Charlie was awarded an Order of Australia Medal for his service as Chair and Director of a number of research organisations and statutory wool boards. He has also served on national and international review panels in sheep and wool research and development and genomics.

Charlie has authored several bestselling books on the Australian sheep industry, including the widely acclaimed Breaking the Sheep’s Back (UQP), The Australian Merino (Random House), Call of the Reed Warbler (UQP) and a children’s bookThe Last Dragon (NLA Press). Call of the Reed Warbler won Scholarly Non-Fiction Book of the Year at the 2019 Educational Publishing Awards and sold to the US and Canada. 

AWARDS

Scholarly Non-Fiction Book of the Year, 2019 Educational Publishing Awards

Winner of the Children’s Book ACT Notable Awards 2021

Shortlisted, Small Publishers' Adult Book of the Year, 2018 ABIA Awards

Longlisted, 2018 Indie Book Awards

Shortlisted, 2018 Alex Buzo Prize, Mark and Evette Moran Nib Literary Award

Shortlisted, 2020 Adelaide Festival Awards for Literature - Non-fiction Award

Shortlisted, 2012 Ashurst Business Literature Prize

Shortlisted, 2012 Prime Minister's Literary Awards, History

Shortlisted, 2011 Ashurst Business Literature Prize