Professor Johnston is familiar with UC, having previously served as Dean of Postgraduate Research and as a founding member of the New Zealand Institute of Language, Brain and Behaviour. She was also part of the Psychosocial Recovery Advisory Group for the Joint Centre for Disaster Research following the Christchurch earthquakes.
An accomplished leader in higher education, Professor Johnston brings extensive experience from roles at universities in New Zealand, Australia, and the UK. Most recently, she served as Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research and Enterprise at the University of Canberra, where she was interim Vice-Chancellor from 2023 to 2024. She has also held leadership positions at Murdoch University and the University of Newcastle.
An internationally recognised experimental social psychologist, Professor Johnston’s research has focused on non-verbal behaviour in social interactions, alongside significant contributions to higher education research. She holds degrees from the University of Oxford and the University of Bristol and was appointed to the University of Oxford Alumni Board in 2023.
We welcome Professor Johnston back to our community and look forward to benefiting from her expertise in research and innovation.
