Professor Emma Johnston AO

Professor Emma Johnston became the 21^st Vice-Chancellor of the University of Melbourne on 10 February 2025.

A distinguished researcher of marine environments, Professor Johnston has held multiple senior academic leadership positions at Australian Group of Eight universities, including as the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) at the University of Sydney and Dean of Science at the University of New South Wales.

Professor Johnston is a leading authority in marine ecology. Her research focus is on the impact of human activities in marine ecosystems and how to build ecological resilience. This work addresses key environmental challenges, such as marine debris, and the effects of climate extremes on marine environments. She has led research teams working in diverse field environments, from the Great Barrier Reef to Antarctica and temperate Australian estuaries around Sydney and Melbourne.

Professor Johnston is an influential figure in the Australian higher education and research sector, and a prominent advocate for science and technology. Professor Johnston is co-chief author of the 2021 Australian Government’s State of the Environment report, and served as a past President of Science & Technology Australia, Director on the Board of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority and Director of the Sydney Harbour Research Program at the Sydney Institute of Marine Science. Currently, Professor Johnston is a member of the CSIRO Board, governor of the Ian Potter Foundation, and an elected fellow of the Australian Academy of Science, the Australian Academy of Technology and Engineering, and the Royal Society of New South Wales.

Professor Johnston was made an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) in 2018 for distinguished service to higher education, marine ecology and ecotoxicology and to scientific institutes. She is an elected fellow of the Australian Academy of Science, the Australian Academy of Technology and Engineering, and the Royal Society of New South Wales. She was appointed to the CSIRO Board by the Australian Government and is a governor of the Ian Potter Foundation.

Outside of work, Emma loves hanging out with her family and friends, walking her dogs, taking photographs, and getting close to nature. If she’s lucky she enjoys all four at once!