Tribute messages

I had the privilege of hosting Emma as VC at the 2025 Garma Festival. Emma had a genuine understanding of the importance of Indigenous Knowledges to achieving sustainability and a healthy planet. This is reflected in Strategy 2030, the first to reference the Aboriginal concept of Country. While I didn't spend a lot of time with Emma, we had a wonderful campfire chat where we spoke of her deep love of nature and her 10-year plan for her tenure at the University. Positive to the end, we will now never know where she might have taken the University over the decade to come. I will miss her optimism, enthusiasm, and energy. Her beliefs from ecological science mirrored the fundamentals of Indigenous law/lore systems. We are all part of an interconnected system of living and non-living things. We come and go, but what is important is that the system goes on and thrives with new life as it should. Our responsibility is to ensure her commitment to sustainability and Country is now honoured.

Barry Judd

Emma was an inspirational leader, a generous colleague, and a true friend. I was in awe of her dedication, her energy and her intellect. In just 10 months she gave new focus, energy and purpose to the University of Melbourne. Emma was one of the most gifted communicators I have ever seen. Her ability to connect with people, her delight in meeting passionate, intelligent colleagues, and her infectious interest in diverse fields meant she had a big impact on the many people she met. I am privileged to have worked closely with Emma; it is an experience that I will cherish.

Michael Wesley

Emma's enthusiasm and genuine interest and enjoyment in talking to staff and students was inspirational. We will miss her.

Lesley Stirling

Emma was a vibrant, curious, insightful and courageous leader. Our first female VC. It was a privilege to work alongside her as she shaped the strategic direction for our University. Her knowledge of the sector, passion for excellence and her deep connections across government, community sector, higher education and the scientific community were impressive. I loved observing her in action - the clarity of her communication, her spot on questioning style, her warmth and sense of humour - we all learnt so much from her. We will miss Emma very much, yet she has left us with a challenge - creating a resilient University. A university that is deeply connected and one that endures, working to make the world a better place. A goal that Emma spent her life working towards. Thank you Emma Johnston AO.

Professor Jane Gunn

Emma Johnston was of this place from so young – at University High then as an undergraduate on this side of Royal Parade, always engaged, an impressive student representative on council, a promising young academic. The stellar career which followed combined passion for marine science with ever more senior leadership roles, always building on, and circling back, to Parkville. We talked occasionally during her work at UNSW and then Sydney University, and I was struck always by Emma’s commitment to, and enjoyment from, the life she valued. It was inspiring when Emma returned at the start of 2025 with a vision evident in her very first messages to the university, expressed most fully in Strategy 2030. That document guides us still, and so her aspirations for Melbourne live on despite the tragic loss of Emma as colleague and leader. We mourn not just the person but the future Emma could see and was so keen to share. May we remember her and honour those aspirations for this university.

Glyn Davis, Emeritus Professor

On behalf of the Monash University community, I offer our heartfelt condolences to Emma’s family, friends, and colleagues. A distinguished scientific leader and tireless advocate for higher education and research, Vice-Chancellor Professor Emma Johnston AO was a deeply respected colleague across the sector, and a leader widely admired for her integrity, warmth and commitment to impact-driven research. Her leadership and dedication to science, research and the vital role of universities resonated well beyond institutional boundaries and strengthened the collective work of Australian universities. We join with the University of Melbourne community, and our colleagues across the sector, in mourning the loss of a valued leader and colleague. We extend our sincere sympathies to Emma’s family, friends and all who had the privilege of working with her. Vale, Professor Emma Johnston AO.

Professor Sharon Pickering

Having only recently met Emma Johnstone as Vice Chancellor I was looking forward to serving under her leadership. I was shocked and saddened like everyone by her passing. Her career has been truly inspiring and her courage shown in her last days very uplifting. I pray for comfort for her family at this difficult time. Graeme Clark AC

Graeme Clark

I met Professor Emma at a UA meeting. At the time few women were VCs, and so the few of us who were, had an organised plan to accelerate the next generation. Emma and I were sitting at the same table and hit it off. We were both biologists and the conversation at dinner was about working how to throw her hat in the ring when the opportunity arose. I recall thinking she would defintely go the whole way. She did. Emma Johnston was a bright star who gave much to our sector. The sector has lost a superb scientist, and a genuinely generous human - a friend, a colleague, a scientist, a mother. She is missed and the world is less bright today. Jane den Hollander

Dr Jane den Hollander AO, Professor emerita

It is hard to imagine a world without the energy of Emma. Weeks after her death and I think of that energy and light every day. I had the privilege of working wth Emma at UNSW and then at The University of Sydney. We were in different fields but we had a shared passion for science and for the support of women in STEM. She was a fierce warrior for both, her loss is to all of science, but it is intensely felt by women in science. The opportunities she was creating for the next generation are lost. It is beyond cruel, that is the devastation we all feel and we will feel that loss for many years. I am sure Emma would challenge us to find the light in this darkness. We will find and honor her but we will also deeply miss her. I will deeply miss her wise words and support. Thank you Emma for all you did for me personally , The Matilda Centre and for Australian science. Sincere condolences to Sam, Amelia and Antonin, we cannot imagine your loss, thank you for sharing Emma with us.

Professor Maree Teesson AC and The Matilda Centre, University of Sydney

We are saddened by the passing of Professor Emma Johnston AO. Our sincere condolences to her family, friends and colleagues, and to the University of Melbourne community during this difficult time. Mrs Pamela Galli AO David Burridge Barry Gilbert Lorenzo & Pamela Galli Medical Research Trust

Pamela Galli AO, David Burridge, Barry Gilbert

Emma Johnston was a friend and colleague through the Go8 DVCR group where we shared sector-wide challenges facing research in Australia’s universities. Emma's sharp intellect, uncanny strategic nous and her scientific brilliance were obvious from the outset of our work together. But more obvious was her personal warmth and genuine love of the University, her care for staff and huge commitment to our students. She was committed to excellence in teaching and research and was a superlative communicator. Emma was a champion of science, deep scholarship and women in academia. We couldn't have asked for a better, more qualified leader of the University. Like many, I am shocked at her passing and offer my respects and thoughts to Sam, her children and wider family. I also acknowledge the pain and loss to those in the University Council, the Office of the VC, the senior leadership team of the University, students and all staff who had come to know her at close quarters professionally.

James McCluskey AO FAA FAHMS

I was shocked to hear of Emma's passing. What a great loss for the University, for Australia and for the world. Emma's mix of intelligence, vision, warmth and humanity are not common. We were so lucky to have her as our leader, even for such a short time. She came to visit the Doherty Institute in May 2025. Her enthusiasm and passion for her work and the work we were doing was palpable and her support was greatly appreciated by our staff. My sincere condolences to Emma's partner Sam and her two children. We have lost a great Australian.

Professor Sharon Lewin, Doherty Institute