About the Society
Committees & Representatives
The ASPS Committee is made up of elected volunteers from the Australian plant science community, supported by discipline and student representatives, delegates to partner bodies and the Website & Communications Sub-committee.
2026 Committee
The executive committee is elected by members at the Annual General Meeting.
President
Professor Brent Kaiser
University of Sydney, NSW
President Elect
Professor Christine Beveridge
University of Queensland, QLD
Honorary Secretary
Associate Professor Mary Byrne
School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney, NSW
Honorary Treasurer
Dr Joseph Pegler
University of Newcastle, NSW
Public Officer
Dr John Evans
Research School of Biology, Australian National University
Academic website
Discipline representatives
Each discipline elects a representative to raise its profile within the Society. Read about the disciplines.
Representatives take office within two months of election and serve for 12 months. They may be re-elected to the same position for a second consecutive term, but not a third.
The role of a discipline representative
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Raise the profile of their discipline.
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Keep their discipline's page on the ASPS website up to date.
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Contribute to Phytogen each year for their discipline, and possibly their state.
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Attend the ASPS council meeting held the Sunday before the annual conference.
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Help judge ASPS awards where asked.
The Education representative also co-chairs a session at the annual ComBio or ASPS conference.
Genetics and Molecular Biology
Dr Farhad Masoomi-Aladizgeh
University of Sydney, NSW
Genetics and Molecular Biology
Dr Stephanie Kerr
Queensland University of Technology, QLD
Cell Biology
Dr Lim Chee Liew
La Trobe University, VIC
Plant-Microbe Interactions
Dr Ronan Broad
La Trobe University, VIC
Plant Development
Dr Stephanie Conway
University of Queensland, QLD
Plant Development
Dr Eduardo Flores Sandoval
Monash University, VIC
Plant Physiology
Dr Sajitha Biju
University of Melbourne, VIC
Plant Science Education
Dr Robert Sharwood
Australian National University, ACT
Future Agriculture
Dr Samantha Harvie
University of Western Australia, WA
Diversity and Inclusion
Dr Sunita Ramesh
Flinders University, SA
?
Plants and the Environment
Position vacant
To nominate, contact the Honorary Secretary at secretary@asps.org.au or download the nomination form.
Student representatives
Student representatives are sought from the city hosting the next annual conference.
Dr Lucas Auroux
La Trobe University, VIC
Academic website
Qinqin Yang
University of Sydney, NSW
Academic website
Daniel Wallis
University of Sydney, NSW
Academic website
Gabriella Jessica
University of Sydney, NSW
Academic website
Soumitra R Patekar
Queensland University of Technology, QLD
Academic website
ASPS representation
ASPS is represented by volunteer members on the Global Plant Council and Science & Technology Australia.
Global Plant Council delegate
Dr Peter Ryan
Visitor, Division of Plant Sciences, Research School of Biology, Australian National University
Science & Technology Australia delegate
Associate Professor Jenny Mortimer
School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, University of Adelaide
Science & Technology Australia delegate
Dr Neeta Lohani
Associate Research Fellow in Agriculture, Western Sydney University
Website & Communications Sub-committee
Established at the 2014 AGM, the WCSC shares news about ASPS and plant biology with members and the public. It maintains this website, edits Phytogen and runs the Society's social media.
Follow ASPS
Ideas for the website? Send them to Janet Wheeler at janet.wheeler@latrobe.edu.au.
Chair
Dr Scott Boden
University of Adelaide
Website coordination and technical support
Dr Janet Wheeler
La Trobe University
Phytogen co-editor, Bluesky and LinkedIn
Dr Razlin Azman
CSIRO
Phytogen co-editor
Dr Sneha Reddy
University of Western Australia
Education
Dr Beth Loveys
University of Adelaide
Social media (X)
Dr Frances Sussmilch
University of Tasmania
Social media (LinkedIn)
Dr Francine Perrine-Walker
Member
Dr Caitlin Byrt
Australian National University
Member
Dr Alison Bentley
Australian National University
Past WCSC members
Thank you for your service.
Dr Gonzalo Estavillo
Chaired the WCSC from 2013 to 2018.
Academic website
Additional link 3
Dr Caitlin Byrt
Chaired the WCSC from 2019 to 2023.
Academic website
Additional link 3
Dr Lucas Auroux
Phytogen co-editor from 2024 to 2026.
Academic website
Additional link 3
Conjoint Professor Tina Offler
Phytogen co-editor from 2011 to 2017.
Academic website
Additional link 3
Dr Chris Cazzonelli
Phytogen co-editor from 2011 to 2017.
Academic website
Additional link 3
Dr Georgia Koerber
Phytogen editor from 2018 to 2023.
Academic website
Additional link 3
Dr William Salter
WCSC member from 2018 to 2021.
Academic website
Additional link 3
Past Presidents
The Society has been led by a remarkably long list of Australia's most eminent plant scientists.
1958–1960
JG (Joe) Wood
1960–1961
RN (Bob) Robertson
1961–1964
JS (John) Turner
1964–1967
LAT (Les) Ballard
1967–1969
KT (Ken) Glasziou
1969–1971
LG (Les) Paleg
1971–1973
LT (Lloyd) Evans
1973–1975
FL (Fred) Milthorpe
1975–1977
KS (Kingsley) Rowan
1977–1979
A (Adele) Millerd
1979–1981
MD (Hal) Hatch
1981–1983
JS (John) Pate
1983–1985
LG (Les) Paleg
1985–1987
MG (Michael) Pitman
1987–1989
MM (Merv) Ludlow
1989–1992
RFM (Ted) van Steveninck
1992–1994
JM (Jan) Anderson
1994–1996
CB (Barry) Osmond
1996–1998
JT (Joe) Wiskich
1998–1999
RD (Bob) Teasdale
1999–2001
George Stewart
2001–2004
Hans Lambers
2004–2006
2006–2008
2008–2010
Rana Munns
2010–2012
2012–2014
Tim Colmer
2014–2016
John Evans
2016–2018
Sergey Shabala
2018–2020
2020–2022
Peter Ryan
2022–2024
2025–present
Brent Kaiser
Past Executive Committees
The Society's office bearers for each year since 2001. Dr John Evans has served as Public Officer throughout.
Year
President
Honorary Secretary
Honorary Treasurer
President Elect / Past President
2026
Brent Kaiser
Mary Byrne
Joseph Pegler
Christine Beveridge President Elect
2025
Brent Kaiser
Mary Byrne
Mark Waters
Martha Ludwig Past President
2024
Martha Ludwig
Kim Johnson
Mark Waters
Brent Kaiser President Elect
2023
Martha Ludwig
Kim Johnson
Mark Waters
Peter Ryan Past President
2022
Peter Ryan
Kim Johnson
Mike Haydon
Martha Ludwig President Elect
2021
Peter Ryan
Simon Williams
Mike Haydon
Kathleen Soole Past President
2020
Kathleen Soole
Simon Williams
Mike Haydon
Peter Ryan President Elect
2019
Kathleen Soole
Vanessa Melino
Rosemary White
Sergey Shabala Past President
2018
Sergey Shabala
Matthew Gilliham
Rosemary White
Kathleen Soole President Elect
2017
Sergey Shabala
Matthew Gilliham
Rosemary White
John Evans Past President
2016
John Evans
Martha Ludwig
Brent Kaiser
Sergey Shabala President Elect
2015
John Evans
Martha Ludwig
Brent Kaiser
Tim Colmer Past President
2014
Tim Colmer
Martha Ludwig
Brent Kaiser
John Evans President Elect
2013
Tim Colmer
Christine Beveridge
Helen Irving
Ros Gleadow Past President
2012
Ros Gleadow
Christine Beveridge
Helen Irving
Tim Colmer President Elect
2011
Ros Gleadow
John Evans
Tony Ashton
Rana Munns Past President
2010
Rana Munns
John Evans
Tony Ashton
Ros Gleadow President Elect
2009
Rana Munns
John Evans
Tony Ashton
David Day Past President
2008
David Day
Robyn Overall
Tony Ashton
Rana Munns President Elect
2007
David Day
Robyn Overall
Peter Ryan
Steve Tyerman Past President
2006
Steve Tyerman
John Patrick
Peter Ryan
David Day President Elect
2005
Steve Tyerman
John Patrick
Peter Ryan
Hans Lambers Past President
2004
Hans Lambers
John Patrick
Kathleen Soole
Steve Tyerman President Elect
2003
Hans Lambers
Rana Munns
Kathleen Soole
George Stewart Past President
2002
Hans Lambers
Rana Munns
Kathleen Soole
George Stewart Past President
2001
George Stewart
Rana Munns
Kathleen Soole
Hans Lambers President Elect