 In 2008, Mackie was appointed by Quentin Bryce, Governor-General of Australia, as a member of the Council of the Order of Australia, a role in which he served until 2013.From 2008 to 2013, he served as Chairman of the South Australian Premier's Communications Advisory Group (PCAG), the state's watchdog on tax-payer funded advertising.In January 2012, at the invitation of Minister for the Arts, Health and Ageing, Hon John Hill MP, Mackie took on the role of 'ageing provocateur' as Executive Director, Office for the Ageing.