About

ASBS is run by members, for members, to promote the study of systematic botany in Australasia

Our Society was founded in 1973

The Australian Systematic Botany Society was established to encourage the exchange of ideas about systematic botany research in Australia, scrutinise existing scientific practices, discuss approaches to training young botanists, and provide a medium for its members to get to know and support each other.

In response to growing interest from colleagues across the region, the membership voted in 2011 to expand our scope to represent systematic botany across Australia, New Zealand, New Guinea, and surrounding islands. To reflect this change, we adopted a new name and became the Australasian Systematic Botany Society (ASBS).

ASBS is a Registered Charity with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission, with a Deductible Gift Recipient status.

The Governing Council is elected each year at the Annual General Meeting (AGM). Council members volunteer their time and are elected for a one year term. Each member is eligible to serve for up to six years consecutively in each role, except the President and Vice President, who may serve no more than 3 years consecutively.

Current Office Bearers

President
Katharina Nargar

Australian Tropical Herbarium,
James Cook University/CSIRO, Smithfield, QLD, Australia

Vice President
John Clarkson

Retired, Atherton, QLD, Australia

Secretary
Tim Collins

Queanbeyan, NSW, Australia

Treasurer
Mike Bayly

School of BioSciences,
The University of Melbourne,
VIC, Australia

Councillor
Lalita Simpson

Australian Tropical Herbarium,
James Cook University, Smithfield, QLD, Australia

Councillor
Kerry Ford

Allan Herbarium, 
Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research, Lincoln, New Zealand 

History of Office Bearers

Years Active

President

Vice President

Treasurer

Secretary

Councillor 1

Councillor 2

1973-75 Trevor Whiffin Dennis Carr Andrew Kanis Don McGillivray Des Boyland Alex George
1975-76 Trevor Whiffin Rod Henderson Mike Lazarides Karen Wilson Jim Armstrong Alex George
1976-77 Roger Carolin Trevor Whiffin Mike Lazarides Karen Wilson Jim Armstrong Alex George
1977-79 Roger Carolin Rod Henderson Mike Lazarides Karen Wilson Alex George John Jessop
1979-80 John Jessop Roger Carolin Mike Lazarides Judy West Andrew Mitchell Karen Wilson
1980-81 John Jessop Roger Carolin Barry Conn Judy West Andrew Mitchell Roger Hnatiuk
1981-83 Trevor Clifford Bryan Barlow Barry Conn Judy West Rod Henderson Laurie Haegi
1983-85 Bryan Barlow Barbara Briggs Philip Short Judy West Rod Henderson Laurie Haegi
1985-86 Bryan Barlow Barbara Briggs Philip Short Laurie Haegi Rod Henderson Mike Crisp
1986-88 Barbara Briggs Judy West Don Foreman Laurie Haegi Rod Henderson Mike Crisp
1988-89 Barbara Briggs Judy West Don Foreman Barry Conn Gordon Guymer Mike Crisp
1989-90 Judy West Mike Crisp Don Foreman Barry Conn Gordon Guymer Jim Powell
1990-92 Judy West Gordon Guymer Don Foreman Barry Conn Jim Powell Jenny Chappill
1992-93 Mike Crisp Gordon Guymer D. Bedford Barry Conn Jeremy Bruhl Tim Entwisle
1993-94 Mike Crisp Jenny Chappill Peter Wilson Chris Puttock John Clarkson Tim Entwisle
1994-95 Mike Crisp Gordon Guymer Peter Wilson Chris Puttock John Clarkson Tim Entwisle
1995-96 Peter Wilson Tim Entwisle Peter Wilson Chris Puttock John Clarkson Robyn Barker
1996-97 Tim Entwisle Chris Puttock John Clarkson Robyn Barker Peter Weston Terry Macfarlane
1997-98 Tim Entwisle Chris Puttock John Clarkson Robyn Barker Peter Weston Terry Macfarlane
1998-99 Tim Entwisle Chris Puttock John Clarkson Robyn Barker Peter Weston Terry Macfarlane
1999-00 Barry Conn Bill Barker Elizabeth Brown Robyn Barker Bob Makinson Kris Lemson
2000-01 Barry Conn Bill Barker Elizabeth Brown Robyn Barker Bob Makinson Kris Lemson
2001-02 Barry Conn Bill Barker Anthony Whalen Brendan Lepschi Bob Makinson Andrew Rozefelds
2002-03 Stephen Hopper John Clarkson Anthony Whalen Brendan Lepschi Bob Makinson Andrew Rozefelds
2003-04 Stephen Hopper John Clarkson Anthony Whalen Brendan Lepschi Darren Crayn Marco Duretto
2004-05 Stephen Hopper John Clarkson Anna Monro Brendan Lepschi Darren Crayn Marco Duretto
2005-06 John Clarkson Darren Crayn Anna Monro Brendan Lepschi Marco Duretto Kirsten Cowley
2006-07 John Clarkson Darren Crayn Anna Monro Kirsten Cowley Marco Duretto Dale Dixon
2007-08 John Clarkson Darren Crayn Anna Monro Kirsten Cowley Marco Duretto Dale Dixon
2008-09 Marco Duretto Peter Weston Mike Bayly Kirsten Cowley Dale Dixon Tanya Scharaschkin
2009-10 Peter Weston Dale Dixon Mike Bayly Gill Brown Tanya Scharaschkin Frank Zich
2010-11 Peter Weston Dale Dixon Frank Zich Gill Brown Tanya Scharaschkin Pina Milne
2011-12 Peter Weston Dale Dixon Frank Zich John Clarkson Pina Milne Ilse Breitwieser
2012-13 Bill Barker Mike Bayly Frank Zich John Clarkson Pina Milne Ilse Breitwieser
2013-14 Bill Barker Mike Bayly John Clarkson Frank Zich Ilse Breitwieser Leon Perrie
2014-15 Bill Barker Mike Bayly John Clarkson Leon Perrie Dan Murphy Kelly Shepherd
2015-16 Darren Caryn Dan Murphy John Clarkson Leon Perrie Jen Tate Mike Bayly
2016-17 Darren Caryn Dan Murphy John Clarkson Jen Tate Ryonen Butcher Matt Renner
2017-18 Darren Caryn Dan Murphy Matt Renner Jen Tate Ryonen Butcher Heidi Meudt
2018-19 Dan Murphy Heidi Meudt John Clarkson Jen Tate Ryonen Butcher Herve Sauquet
2019-20 Dan Murphy Heidi Meudt John Clarkson Herve Sauquet Ryonen Butcher Katarina Nargar
2020-21 Mike Bayly Heidi Meudt John Clarkson Herve Sauquet Kelly Shepherd Katarina Nargar
2021-22 Mike Bayly Herve Sauquet John Clarkson Heidi Meudt Kelly Shepherd Katarina Nargar
2022-23 Katarina Nargar Mike Bayly John Clarkson Heidi Meudt Kelly Shepherd Lalita Simpson
2023-24 Katarina Nargar John Clarkson Mike Bayly Tim Collins Kerry Ford Lalita Simpson

Public Officers and Administrators

Public Officer
Anna Monro

Australian National Botanic Gardens, Canberra, ACT, Australia

Website Administrators
Anna Monro

Australian National Botanic Gardens, Canberra, ACT, Australia

Kelly Shepherd

Western Australian Herbarium, Kensington, WA, Australia

Facebook Group Administrators
Mike Bayly

School of BioSciences,
The University of Melbourne,
VIC, Australia

ASBS Newsletter Editorial Team
To be confirmed

Local Chapter Conveners

Chapter Conveners are ASBS representatives located in most capital cities and some regional cities.

Adelaide
Robyn Barker

State Herbarium of South Australia, Kent Town, SA, Australia

Armidale
Andrew Thornhill

N.C.W. Beadle Herbarium,
School of Environmental and Rural Science
University of New England, Armidale NSW, Australia

Brisbane
Gill Brown

Queensland Herbarium,
Toowong, QLD, Australia

Cairns
Katharina Nargar

Australian Tropical Herbarium (CNS), James Cook University, Cairns Campus, QLD, Australia

Canberra
Alexander Schmidt-Lebuhn

Centre of Australian National Biodiversity Research,
CSIRO Plant Industry,
Canberra, ACT, Australia

Christchurch
Rob Smissen

Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research, Lincoln, New Zealand

Darwin
Ian Cowie

Northern Territory Herbarium, PO Box 496, Palmerston NT, Australia

Hobart
Miguel de Salas

Tasmanian Herbarium,
Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery, Sandy Bay, TAS, Australia

Melbourne
Frank Udovicic

National Herbarium of Victoria,
Royal Botanic Gardens,
South Yarra, VIC, Australia

Perth
Juliet Wege

Western Australian Herbarium, Kensington, WA, Australia

Port Moresby
Janet Gagul

Division of Biological Sciences, University of Papua New Guinea,
Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea

Sydney
Peter Weston

National Herbarium of New South Wales, Mt Annan, NSW, Australia

Wellington
Heidi Meudt

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa,
Wellington, New Zealand

How to run for office?

We encourage members at all career stages to consider running for Council to ensure a diverse governance  group that reflects the membership.

Nominations for Council positions are sought annually. They are called at least 10 weeks prior to the Annual General Meeting and must close 6 weeks prior to the meeting. If more than one nomination is received for a position, a ballot is held before the AGM, with the results announced at the meeting.

Nominations are currently closed.

ASBS Research Committee

All eligible applications for project funding from the scientific research funds are assessed by a Research Committee, whose members are appointed by ASBS Council.

The current Research Committee comprises:

Early Career Researcher Subcommittee

Early Career Researchers (ECRs) in the Society include students and postdocs in the early stages of their careers (up to 10 years post PhD). A key aim of this subcommittee is to build better dialogue between Council and ECR members and to identify ways in which we can better support ECRs. The committee will report to Council, with key members routinely attending the regular council meetings.

2023 ECR representatives:

Contact the Council

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