Darren Crayn

Professor Darren Crayn is the inaugural Director of the Australian Tropical Herbarium, a joint venture of James Cook University, the CSIRO, the Queensland Government and the Commonwealth Department of the Environment and Energy. Appointed in 2008, he has led this organisation through its formative, establishment and growth phases. It now boasts a national and international profile.

His research interests include studies of the taxonomy, evolution and conservation of Australia's and the region's tropical flora. His career has involved research in many tropical countries, including Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, New Caledonia, and Venezuela.

As a leader in the plant sciences in northern Australia, Prof Crayn has held many positions on a wide range of advisory and representative bodies including roles advising state and Commonwealth governments, leadership roles in professional societies and sector peak bodies, and roles on granting bodies.
He has authored over 100 scientific papers and book chapters, supervised 22 PhD and MSc students and attracted over $6 million in external competitive research funding.