John HEARN

Executive Director, the Worldwide Universities Network

Professor John Hearn is Executive Director of the Worldwide Universities Network, Chairman of the Australia Africa Universities Network, and Professor of Physiology (Medical School) at the University of Sydney. He is Executive Chairman of Hearn International Pty Ltd (Higher Education and Research Networks). Born in India and raised in England and Kenya, he was awarded his BSc and MSc from University College Dublin, and PhD from the Australian National University (ANU-1973). He served for 6-7 years each in leading research, teaching and administrative positions at the Universities of Edinburgh, London UCL, Wisconsin, ANU and Sydney. Most recently he was Vice President (Research) at ANU 2001-4, and Vice President (Academic and International) at Sydney 2004-13. He teaches and mentors first year and advanced students in science and medicine. He has published 210 research papers and edited six books in reproduction and fertility, stem cell biology and biotechnology. He holds the Scientific Medal of the Zoological Society of London, and the Australian Centenary Medal. He was elected President of the International Primatological Society (1984-88) and the Society for Reproductive Biology (2001-4). He is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. A committed international citizen, he has worked globally in research capacity development, especially in China, India, Thailand, Kenya and Brazil. He has visited China since 1979, initially as a scientist working on the biology and conservation of the Giant Panda, and as a representative of universities and international organisations. He is an adviser and a regular board member in higher education and research to the Australian Government, British Council, Swedish Institute for International Cooperation, World Health Organisation and the OECD. He was (to 2013) a Board member of the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation and Chairman of the Board of the Sydney Confucius Institute.