West, Judith Gay (Judy) (1949 - )

Born in Harden, NSW, on 3 November, 1949;

Judy completed her B.Sc. with majors in Botany and Zoology in 1970; and her B.Sc.(Hons) with first class honours in Botany in 1972 (both from the University of Sydney, New South Wales). In 1981 she graduated from the University of Adelaide, South Australia with a Ph.D. by thesis on "A taxonomic revision of Dodonaea (Sapindaceae) in Australia".

She has been appointed to several positions throughout her career. Her professional botanical career started with her appointment as a tutor at the Botany Department from 1973-1977. She resigned from this position to devote all of her efforts to completing her Ph.D.

In 1980, she was appointed as a Research Scientist of the Australian National Herbarium, CSIRO Plant Industry, Canberra.

During 1987-1988, she represented Australian herbaria as the Australian Botanical Liaison Officer, based at the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, United Kingdom. This proved to be a very demanding year for Judy because of the extra official engagement linked to Australia's bicentenary celebration in 1988.

From 1989-1996, she was Senior Principal Research Scientist and Program Leader of the Australian Flora Resources & Management program, CSIRO Plant Industry, Canberra.

In 1989, she was appointed Director, Australian National Herbarium.

In 1994, she took on the Directorship of the newly formed Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, CSIRO Plant Industry. She has promoted plant systematic research by expanding her institution's activities in this area.

In 1999 she was granted the position of Adjunct Professor, Division of Botany and Zoology, Australian National University, Canberra.

In 2001 she was awarded the Nancy T. Burbidge Medal by the Australian Systematic Botany Society for a longstanding and significant contribution to Australian systematic botany.

In 2003 she was awarded the Order of Australia for her services to Australian botany.

In 2009 she was a ppointed Executive Director of the Australian National Botanic Gardens and head of Parks and Biodiversity Science within the Department of the Environment.

Judy has maintained a very active and diverse commitment to many important national and international professional associations and committee. She was actively involved while still a post-graduate student.

• 1977-1980: Member of the Community Pest Plant Advisory Committee (advisory body to South Australian Department of Agriculture Pest Plant Commission).
  
  
• 1977-1980: Member of the South Australian Evaluation Panel for Australian Heritage Commission.
  
  
• 1977-1980: Executive Member of the Conservation Council of South Australia.
  
  
• Judy has maintained a long and active service to the Australian Systematic Botany Society Inc., holding several position on Council: Secretary in 1979-1985, Vice-President in 1986-1989, and President in 1989-1992.
  
  
• 1981-1982: Executive Member of the Canberra and South East Region Conservation Council.
  
  
• 1987-1989: Council Member of International Organisation of Plant Biosystematists
  
  
• 1988-1991: Member on the Committee for List of Names in Current Use International Association of Plant Taxonomists:
  
  
• 1989-1992: Editor of Cladistics, International Journal of the Willi Hennig Society
  
  
• 1990: Member of Flora of Australia Editorial Committee; Chairperson 1994-1996.
  
  
• 1991: Member of CSIRO Working Group: Biodiversity in relation to Ecological Sustainable Development
  
  
• 1993-1995: Co-chairman of Plant Conservation Task Force, IUCN Species Survival Commission
  
  
• 1993-1998: Member of the Endangered Species Advisory Committee
  
  
• 1993-1998: Member of Endangered Species Scientific Sub Committee,.
  
  
• 1994-1999: Botany Advisor (Technical Advisory Group) GEF Biodiversity Collections Project, Indonesia
  
  
• 1995-2000: Deputy Chair of Biological Diversity Advisory Council
  
  
• 1988-: Member of Council of Heads of Australian Herbaria
  
  
• 1998-: Member of Editorial Advisory Committee Adansonia
  
  
• 1996-: Member of the Flora Malesiana Board
  
  
• 1993-: Australian Councillor Southern Connections
  
  
• 1996-: Member of Australian Biological Resources Study Advisory Committee
  
  
• 1999-: Council member of International Association of Plant Taxonomists.
  
  

Publications:

Judy has published on the biology and systematics of the Sapindaceae (particularly the genus Dodonaea), Portulacaceae, Pultenaea (Fabaceae) and Caryophyllaceae. She has also published on issues relating to biodiversity, biogeography and bioinformatics.

In conclusion:

Judy has raised the profile of Australian plant systematics through her participation on the numerous national and international associations and committees. She has promoted plant systematic research within the Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research and through her membership of the Australian Biological Resources Study Advisory Committee. Her vigorous championing of the importance of Australian plant systematics guarantees the significance of her representation on the Council of Heads of Australian Herbaria. She has played a pivotal role in the successful granting of significant financial support for the Australia's Virtual Herbarium Project.

Source:ASBS Newsletter, No.109, December 2001. Australian Systematic Botany Society Inc.

Collecting localities for 'West, J.G.' from AVH (2024)

Data from 3,817 specimens