Vale Emma Johnston, former Dean of Science

UNSW Sydney Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Attila Brungs pays tribute to Professor Emma Johnston AO.

Prof. Emma Johnston AO has passed away after a short illness. Like many of us, I had the great privilege of knowing Emma as a colleague and as a friend. I am deeply saddened and shocked to hear of her far too premature death.

Emma Johnston enriched the lives of many across Australia and particularly at UNSW, where she worked for more than 20 years in the School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, then as Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research), and later as our Dean of Science. Her generosity, insights and infectious enthusiasm were a core driver of the UNSW culture we have today, and we will always be grateful to her for this.

At UNSW, she is remembered as a strong, clear and considerate leader. She was friendly and engaging, incredibly knowledgeable and open, and a thoughtful sounding board for advice. She was esteemed by her academic peers whilst also having the ability to effortlessly communicate complex scientific ideas to any audience.

Emma possessed great clarity of purpose. This clarity, and her formidable intellect, ensured that she was respected by decision makers of all persuasions. Her contribution to marine ecology and conservation science was remarkable and made her the ideal choice for co-chief author of Australia’s 2021 State of the Environment Report. In 2018, she was made an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) for distinguished service to higher education, marine ecology and ecotoxicology and to scientific institutes. She was a fellow of the Australian Academy of Science, the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering, and the Royal Society of New South Wales. She was appointed to the CSIRO Board by the Australian government and was a governor of the Ian Potter Foundation.

Most recently, Emma became the 21^st Vice-Chancellor of the University of Melbourne. While many saw this as a crowning achievement of an already illustrious career, I know Emma saw this as an opportunity to better serve Australia and the higher education sector more broadly. I, like many across the UNSW community, have been truly privileged to work beside Emma and am devastated at this news.

Emma loved nature. She loved photographing the beauty of the natural world, walking her dogs, and most of all spending time with her family and friends. To her husband Sam, and her children Amelia and Antonin, we cannot fathom what you are enduring. Her UNSW family send our love and condolences.

We have not only lost an amazing individual but also a kind and beautiful friend. 

Vale Emma Johnston.