Professor Emma Johnston AO is being remembered as a transformative science leader with a passion to improve education and create opportunities for all kinds of people to thrive in STEM.
Professor Johnston was President of Science & Technology Australia (STA) from 2017-2019. She is credited with growing STA’s visibility, membership and capacity to influence. STA President Jas Chambers said she set an example that will inspire many to continue the work.
“We are deeply saddened to hear of Emma’s passing. And we offer our sincerest condolences to her family and the thousands of colleagues who will be mourning her today. But make no mistake – Emma’s influence and impact will be felt for years to come. She leaves a great legacy, and STA is one of the institutions who are the beneficiaries of her leadership,” Ms Chambers said.
“Emma was a dedicated scientist, leader and one of the most impactful communicators of science I have had the privilege to work with. She had a great ability for distilling complexity into something beautiful, engaging and fun and she did that for anyone and everyone. She was the rare, complete package, defined by her commitment to meaningful human connection and improving our planet.”
STA CEO Ryan Winn said Professor Johnston’s visionary leadership set her apart. The globally recognised Superstars of STEM Program was established with her support.
“Emma was full of big ideas and had the talent to deliver them. She established new ways to bring the science and business communities together and to engage leaders across STA’s member organisations to inform policy for science and the Australian Parliament,” Mr Winn said.
“Emma was the first STA President to address the National Press Club in 2017 where she shared a vision of STEM as the solution sector. That’s a great description of what the scientists and technologists of Australia offer to the nation.”
Working alongside former STA CEO Kylie Walker, now CEO of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering, they achieved improved funding for national research infrastructure, saw the reinstatement of a Federal Minister for Science, sped up the announcement of delayed ARC funding and progressed the Translational Research Fund.
“Emma led with optimism, energy and heart. Throughout her career, she matched brilliance with pragmatism and compassion, and believed deeply in the potential for people, and science, to build a better world. She was a great leader and a dear friend, and will be deeply missed,” Ms Walker said.
A world-leading marine biologist, Professor Johnston was appointed Vice-Chancellor of the University of Melbourne in 2024, elected to the Australian Academy of Science in 2022, elected to the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering in 2019 and received an Order of Australia in 2018.
Media contact: Paul Richards – media@sta.org.au or 0412 145 905
