Society Fellow, Professor Emma Johnston AO FRSN FTSE, has just been named as the incoming Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) at the University of Sydney.  She joins the University in July 2022. 

Professor Johnston, who is currently the Dean of Science and previously Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research) at UNSW (Sydney), is a leading authority in marine science and conservation, a sustainability and diversity champion, and a chief author of the Australian State of Environment Report 2021. Serving previously as President of Science and Technology Australia during 2018–2019, she is recognised for her strong advocacy of research and industry engagement. 

In announcing her appointment on 8 February 2022, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Sydney, Professor Mark Scott AO FRSN, noted that Professor Johnston is a highly influential figure in the Australian higher education and research sector who brings considerable higher education leadership experience at a senior level, having led the development of multiple research centres and institutes of cross-faculty multi-million dollar initiatives with strategic support funding. Professor Johnston has also led major research projects for industry, government, the Australian Research Council, and the Australian Antarctic Science Program, and has contributed to the development of international and national research strategies, priorities, and plans.

An elected fellow of the Australian Academy of Technology and Engineering (ATSE) and the Royal Society of New South Wales, Professor Johnston was made an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) in the 2018 Queen’s Birthday honours for “distinguished service to higher education, particularly to marine ecology and ecotoxicology, as an academic, researcher and administrator, and to scientific institutes”.

The Royal Society of NSW extends its warmest congratulations to Professor Johnston, a former Clarke Medallist of the Royal Society of NSW, on her appointment as Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) at the University of Sydney.