John P. Hearn

Professor John Hearn is Vice President (International) and Professor of Physiology at the University of Sydney, responsible for the University’s international engagement and internationalisation. Awarded his BSc and MSc from University College Dublin, and PhD from the Australian National University (ANU), he served for 5-7 years each in leading research, teaching and administrative positions at the Universities of Edinburgh, London UCL, Wisconsin, ANU and Sydney;  and as a senior scientific adviser to WHO and the Australian Government.

He has published 180 research papers and edited six books in reproduction and fertility, stem cell biology and biotechnology; was elected President of the International Primatological Society and of the Society for Reproductive Biology; and holds the Scientific Medal of the Zoological Society of London and the Australian Centenary Medal “for outstanding service to science and to the Australian Government as a scientific adviser”. 

A committed international citizen, he has worked extensively in research capacity development in China, India, Thailand, Kenya and Brazil. He is a member of the OECD Bioeconomy 2030 steering committee; the Boards of the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation and of Sport Knowledge Australia; and is Chairman of the Board of the Sydney Confucius Institute. He served earlier as Chairman of the Australian Biotechnology Advisory Council to Federal Government and as Chairman of the WHO Asia Pacific Regional Panel in Reproductive Health Research.