Elected Fellows of the Royal Society of Victoria
In 1995, the Council of the Royal Society of Victoria inaugurated a Fellowship program to recognise those who have made an outstanding and widely-recognised contribution to science and technology in Victoria. In 2017, the RSV Fellowship was reframed around “an outstanding contribution to science and the Australian science community.”
Our distinguished Fellows can be recognised by the attribution of the post-nominal ‘FRSV,’ and are listed below:
2026
Professor Elisabetta Barberio FRSV
Recognised for internationally distinguished contributions to particle physics, dark matter research, and scientific leadership in Australia.
Dr Drew Berry FRSV
Recognised for internationally significant contributions to biomedical visualisation, science communication, and public engagement with scientific discovery.
Dr Amanda Caples FRSV
Recognised for distinguished leadership in science policy, biotechnology strategy, and the translation of research into economic and societal impact.
The Honourable Linda Dessau AC CVO FRSV
Recognised for distinguished public leadership, service to the Victorian community, and longstanding advocacy for education, wellbeing and civic institutions.
Professor Alan Duffy FRSV
Recognised for distinguished contributions to astrophysics, scientific entrepreneurship, and public engagement with science.
Professor Tim Entwisle FRSV
Recognised for distinguished leadership in botany, environmental education, and public engagement with science and biodiversity.
Dr Alan Finkel AC FAA FTSE FIEAust FAHMS FRSV
Recognised for distinguished national leadership in science, innovation, technology policy and public advocacy for scientific advancement.
Professor Bronwyn Fox AO FRACIFTSE FRSV
Recognised for distinguished contributions to advanced materials research, manufacturing innovation, and scientific leadership in Australia.
Professor Douglas Hilton AO FAA FTSE FAHMS FRSV
Recognised for distinguished leadership in Australian medical research, scientific collaboration, and national research strategy.
Professor Emma Johnston AO FAA FTSE FRSN FRSV
Recognised posthumously for distinguished contributions to environmental science, scientific leadership, and public engagement with science in Australia.
Professor David Karoly FAA FRSV
Recognised for internationally distinguished contributions to climate science, environmental policy, and public understanding of climate change.
Professor Sharon Lewin AO FAA FRACP FAHMS FRSV
Recognised for internationally distinguished contributions to virology, infectious disease research, and pandemic preparedness.
Professor David Lindenmayer AO FAA FRSV
Recognised for internationally distinguished contributions to conservation biology, ecological research and environmental policy.
Associate Professor Jennifer Martin FRSV
Recognised for distinguished contributions to science communication, public engagement, and strengthening communication within the scientific community.
Professor Patrick McGorry AO FRSV
Recognised for transformative contributions to youth mental health research, clinical care, and mental health reform.
Professor Moira O’Bryan FRSV
Recognised for distinguished contributions to reproductive biology, scientific leadership, and higher education in Australia.
Professor Jose Maria Polo FRSV
Recognised for internationally distinguished contributions to epigenetics, stem cell biology, and translational biomedical research.
Professor Frances Separovic AO FAA FRSV
Recognised for pioneering contributions to biophysical chemistry and distinguished leadership within the international scientific community.
David Shelmerdine AO FRSV
Recognised for distinguished leadership in environmental sustainability, climate action, and the integration of science, policy and investment.
Dr Gillian Sparkes AM FRSV
Recognised for distinguished contributions to environmental sustainability, public administration, and science-informed policy leadership.
Peter Yates AM FTSE FRSV
Recognised for distinguished leadership in strengthening scientific institutions, advancing innovation, and supporting science communication and research in Australia.
2022
Professor Brendan Wintle, BForSc(Hons), PhD, FRSV
For his intersectoral leadership in defining the nature and scope of biodiversity decline in Australia, developing clear, tractable measures for governments to halt and reverse damage to Australian ecosystems and threatened species, and the historic establishment of an Australian Biodiversity Council to foster better public understanding, collaboration and action on the biodiversity crisis.
Ms Judith Downes, BA (Hons), DipEd, GradDipBus (Acct), FAICD, FCPA, FCA, FRSV
For her outstanding development of the Maths Olympiad program in Victoria for students with high potential, her commitment to promoting positive environmental and social impact practices in the finance sector, her business leadership of clean energy and medical diagnostic device companies, and her global leadership in driving the agenda for the Global Alliance for Banking on Values Governing Board Forum.
Mr Damein Bell, GDipNatResMgt, FRSV
For his leadership of the Gunditj Mirring Aboriginal Corporation, his contribution to the UNESCO World Heritage listing of the Budj Bim Cultural Landscape, his commitment to the health of the lands and water of Gundijtmara Country through establishing Indigenous Protected Areas and stewarding new governance programs for environmental water, and to the wellbeing of Indigenous Australians.
Ms Fern Hames PSM, BSc(Hons), GCertAustRurLeadership, FRSV
For her contributions to the communication and public understanding of environmental science, the leadership of globally significant environmental research efforts conducted within the Victorian government’s Arthur Rylah Institute, and the leadership development of other women in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Medicine through the Homeward Bound initiative.
2021
Dr Peter Baines, BA(Hons), BSc, PhD, FRSV
For his contribution to the geophysical sciences, to global scientific societies, to the development of our understanding of stratified fluid dynamics, the oceanography of Australian waters, the complex interactions of the global climate system, and to the leadership of the Royal Society of Victoria.
Dr William Birch AM, BSc(Hons), PhD, FRSV
For his contributions to the public understanding of the geology of southeastern Australia, to the study of Victorian minerals and gemstones, to the publication of the work of Victorian scientists, and to the leadership of the Royal Society of Victoria.
Professor Rachel Webster AO, BSc, MSc, PhD, FAA, FRSV
For her leadership of Australian research in the field of astrophysics, her contributions to the advancement of early career researchers, and to the engagement with astronomy by students in regions experiencing disadvantage.
Mrs Nicola Williams, BSc, DipEd, MSC, FRACI, FRSV
For her contributions to the teaching of chemistry, to the history of science and mineral exploration in Australia, and to the leadership of the Royal Society of Victoria.
2020
Dr Tom Beer AO, DSc, MSc, BSc, PhD, FRSV
Professor Jenny Graves AO, BSc, MSc, PhD, FAA, FRSV
Professor Pauline Ladiges AO, DipEd, MSc, PhD, FAA, FRSV
Dr Peter Thorne AM, BSc, PhD, DipPubPol, HonDEng, FACS, FRSV
Inducted 4 May, 2021
2019
Professor Sandra Rees, BSc, MSc, MPhil, PhD, ScD, FRSV
Inducted 9 May, 2019
2018
Professor Lynne Selwood AO, MSc, PhD, FRSV
Inducted 26th April, 2018
2017
Laureate Professor Peter C Doherty AC, BVSc, MVSc, PhD, FRS, FMedSci, FRSV
Inducted 27th April, 2017
2010
Professor Milton T W Hearn, BSc(Hons), PhD, DSc. FRSV
Inducted 10th March, 2011
2007
Professor David V Boger, BSc, MSc, PhD, FRSV
Inducted 13th March, 2008
2005
Dr Hilary J Harrington (1924 – 2015), MSc, DPhil, FGeioSocAust, FAusIMM, FGeolSocAses, FRSV
Dr Murray J Littlejohn, BSc, MSc, PhD, FAAAS, FRSV
Both inducted 10th November, 2005
2004
Dr Thomas A Darragh, BSc, DipEd, PhD, FRSV
Dr Joyce Richardson (1925 – 2019), MA, PhD, FRSV
Both inducted 11th November, 2004
2001
Dr Yvonne Aitken AM (1911 – 2004), DAgSc, FRSV
Dr Martin R Harris, BSc(Hons), VEW, TSTC(DipEd), FRSV
The Hon Dr Barry O Jones AO, LLB, MA, FAA, FASSA, FTSE, FACE, FRSV
Professor John F Lovering AO (1930 – 2023), FAA, FTSE, FRSV
All inducted 10th October, 2002
1999
Professor James Bowler AM, MSc, PhD, FRSV
Emeritus Professor Nancy F Millis (1922 – 2012), AC, MBE, BAgSc, MAgSc, PhD, FRSV
Both inducted 8th June, 2000
1996
Professor Jerry M Adams, BSc, PhD, FAA, FRS, FRSV
Dr Clive K Coogan AM (1925 – 2005), BSc, MSc, PhD, IRSA, FTSE, FAIP, FRSV
Professor Suzanne Cory AC, BSc, MSc, PhD, FAA, FRS, FRSV
Professor Emeritus Sir Gustav Nossal AC, CBE, BSc, MB, PhD, FRS, FRCPL, FRCPA, FRACOG, FRACP, FRACMA, FRSE, FAA, FTSE, FRSV
Sir Arvi Parbo (1926 – 2019) AC, BEng, FTSE, FRSV
Dr Graeme I Pearman AM, BSc(Hon), PhD, FAA, FTSE, FRSV
Emeritus Professor John A Talent, BA, MSc, PhD, FRSV
All inducted 9th October, 1997
1995 – Foundation Fellows
Dr David H Ashton, PhD, FRSV
Dr Herbert H Bolotin, MSc, PhD, DSc, FRSV
Mr Dewar W Goode AM FRSV
Dr Phillip G Law AC, CBE, MSc, HonPhD, FAA, FTSE, FRSV
All inducted 12th October, 1995
