Professor Janine Deakin appointed Director of the Institute for Applied Ecology

The Institute for Applied Ecology (IAE) are pleased to announce the appointment of Professor Janine Deakin as the new Director of the Institute. Professor Deakin has an exceptional academic record, combined with a keen mind for strategy and excellent leadership skills.

Professor Janine Deakin has been appointed as the new Director of the Institute for Applied Ecology

“I am honoured to be taking on this position and will do all I can to ensure that the Institute continues to excel in research and maintain the positive culture that sets us apart. I already feel the support from my colleagues within the Institute, and will do my best to serve them as Director,” says Professor Deakin.

Professor Deakin is a geneticist focused on bringing the more traditional field of cytogenetics (the study of chromosomes) closer to the rapidly advancing field of genomics. Professor Deakin has been Deputy Director of the Institute since 2016, has a leadership role in the University’s Science in Australia Gender Equity program, is the Higher Degree Research coordinator with the IAE, and holds a number of high calibre academic and leadership roles external to the University, including a member of the ARC College of Experts.

“Janine has been a source of wise counsel over the last couple of years as Deputy Director and member of the IAE Executive, and has already shown her strength as a leader when she took on the role of Acting Director last year,” says current IAE Director Professor Thompson. “I wish Janine every success, and I reflect on how lucky we are to have someone of her calibre ready to take on this task.”

Professor Ross Thompson will step down from his role as Director in mid June after three years in the role. Under Professor Thompson’s leadership the Institute has seen great success including the University being awarded an Excellence in Research in Australia assessment of 5 (being “well above world standard”) in the Environmental Science discipline, significant growth in the number of higher degree research students at the IAE, and an increase in research revenue.