History of the SASB

Previous councilors
Previous events and meetings

Previous councillors:

2022-2024

  • President – Michelle Guzik
  • Vice-President – Bryan Lessard
  • Treasurer – Mark Harvey
  • Secretary – Erinn Fagan-Jeffries
  • Councillor – Kevin Thiele
  • Councillor – Simon Tierney
  • Councillor (and webmaster) – Nikolai Tatarnic,
  • Councillor – Juanita Rodriguez
  • Councillor – Jane Melville
  • Councillor – Nerida Wilson
  • Councillor (student representative and social media officer) – Ethan Briggs
  • Councillor (student representative) – David Juszkiewicz

2020-2021

  • President – Kevin Thiele, Taxonomy Australia
  • Vice-President – Michael Rix, Queensland Museum
  • Secretary – Erinn Fagan-Jeffries, The University of Adelaide 
  • Treasurer – Mark Harvey, Western Australian Museum
  • Councillor – Ethan Briggs, University of Queensland
  • Councillor – Michelle Guzik, The University of Adelaide 
  • Councillor – David Juszkiewicz, Curtin University
  • Councillor – Bryan Lessard, CSIRO
  • Councillor – Kate Sanders, The University of Adelaide 
  • Councillor – Nik Tatarnic, Western Australian Museum
  • Councillor – Simon Tierney, University of Western Sydney
  • Councillor – Jeremy Wilson, Griffith University

2017-2019

  • President – Michael Rix, Queensland Museum
  • Vice-President – Andy Austin, The University of Adelaide   
  • Secretary – Jeremy Wilson, Griffith University 
  • Treasurer – Mark Harvey, Western Australian Museum
  • Councillor – Kym Abrams, University of Western Australia
  • Councillor – Shane Ahyong, Australian Museum
  • Councillor –  Lyn Cook, University of Queensland 
  • Councillor – Steve Cooper, South Australian Museum 
  • Councillor – Michelle Guzik, The University of Adelaide   
  • Councillor – Penelope Mills, University of Queensland
  • Councillor – Thomas Semple, Australian National University
  • Councillor – Nikolai Tatarnic, Western Australian Museum  
  • Councillor-  Simon Tierney, The University of Western Sydney
  • Councillor – Nerida Wilson, Western Australian Museum  

2015-2017

  • President – Nerida Wilson, Western Australian Museum  
  • Vice-President – Andy Austin, The University of Adelaide   
  • Secretary –  Michael Rix, Queensland Museum
  • Treasurer – Simon Tierney, The University of Adelaide 
  • Councillor – Kym Abrams, University of Western Australia
  • Councillor – Shane Ahyong, Australian Museum
  • Councillor –  Lyn Cook, University of Queensland 
  • Councillor – Steve Cooper, South Australian Museum   
  • Councillor – Penelope Mills, University of Queensland
  • Councillor – Thomas Semple, Australian National University

2013-2015

  • President – Andy Austin, University of Adelaide
  • Vice-President – Penny Mills, University of Queensland
  • Secretary – Andrew Thornhill, Australian National University
  • Treasurer – Simon Tierney, University of Adelaide
  • Councillor – Shane Ahyong, Australian Museum
  • Councillor – Lyn Cook, University of Queensland
  • Councillor – Steve Cooper, South Australian Museum
  • Councillor – Bob Mesibov, Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery
  • Councillor – Andrew Mitchell, Australian Museum
  • Councillor – Michael Rix, University of Adelaide
  • Councillor – Nerida Wilson, Western Australian Museum 

2011-2013

  • President – Steve Cooper, South Australian Museum
  • Vice-President – Penny Mills, University of Queensland
  • Secretary – Andrew Thornhill, Australian National University
  • Treasurer – (vacant)
  • Councillor – Andy Austin, University of Adelaide
  • Councillor – Catherine Byrne, Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery
  • Councillor – Lyn Cook, University of Queensland
  • Councillor – Laxmikant B. Dama, D.B.F. Dayanand College of Arts and Science (Solapur, India)
  • Councillor – Bob Mesibov, Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery
  • Councillor – Andrew Mitchell, Australian Museum
  • Councillor – Kevin Thiele, Western Australian Herbarium

2009-2011

  • President – Bob Mesibov, Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery
  • Vice-President – Penny Mills, University of Queensland
  • Secretary – Andrew Thornhill, Australian National University
  • Treasurer – Steve Cooper, South Australian Museum
  • Councillor – Michael Braby, Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory
  • Councillor – Lyn Cook, University of Queensland
  • Councillor – Mike Crisp, Australian National University 

2008-2009

  • President – Volker Framenau, Western Australian Museum
  • (Acting President – Lyn Cook, University of Queensland)
  • Secretary – Andrew Thornhill, Australian National University
  • Treasurer – Steve Cooper, South Australian Museum
  • Councillor – Michael Braby, Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory
  • Councillor – Mike Crisp, Australian National University
  • Councillor – Chris Lambkin, Queensland Museum
  • Councillor – Bob Mesibov, Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery

2003-2008
Society records for this period are missing. What is known:

  • Christine Lambkin (Queensland Museum) was President in 2006-2007 and 2007-2008
  • Greg Rouse (South Australian Museum) was Secretary in 2004-2005 and 2005-2006
  • Michelle Guzik (University of Adelaide) was Secretary in 2006-2007 and 2007-2008
  • Steve Cooper (South Australian Museum) was Treasurer for the whole of this period

2002-2003

  • President – Mark Harvey, Western Australian Museum
  • Vice-President – Dan Faith, Australian Museum
  • Secretary – Greg Rouse, South Australian Museum
  • Treasurer – Steve Cooper, South Australian Museum
  • Councillor – Chris Lambkin, Australian National Insect Collection
  • Councillor – Mike Crisp, Australian National University 

2001-2002

  • President – Steve Donnellan, South Australian Museum
  • Vice-President – Mark Harvey, Western Australian Museum
  • Secretary – David Morrison, University of Technology Sydney
  • Treasurer – Steve Cooper, South Australian Museum
  • Councillor – Jim Grimes, National Herbarium of Victoria
  • Councillor – Mike Crisp, Australian National University 

2000-2001

  • President – Robin Wilson, Museum of Victoria
  • Vice-President – Winston Ponder, Australian Museum
  • Secretary – David Morrison, University of Technology Sydney
  • Treasurer – Steve Donnellan, South Australian Museum
  • Councillor – Muhammad Iqbal, University of Adelaide
  • Councillor – Dan Faith, Australian Museum 

1999-2000

  • President – Winston Ponder, Australian Museum
  • Vice-President – Robin Wilson, Museum of Victoria
  • Secretary – David Morrison, University of Technology Sydney
  • Treasurer – Steve Donnellan, South Australian Museum
  • Councillor – Chris Lambkin, University of Queensland
  • Councillor – Mike Crisp, Australian National University 

1998-1999

  • President – Mike Crisp, Australian National University
  • Vice-President – Winston Ponder, Australian Museum
  • Secretary – David Morrison, University of Technology Sydney
  • Treasurer – Steve Donnellan, South Australian Museum
  • Councillor – David Yeates, University of Queensland 
  • Councillor – Robin Wilson, Museum of Victoria 

1997-1998

  • President – Andy Austin
  • Vice-President – Mike Crisp
  • Secretary – David Morrison
  • Treasurer – Steve Donnellan
  • Councillor – Cheryl Grgurinovic
  • Councillor – Mark Harvey 

Previous Conferences and General Meetings

2023: Conference and GM held 26 – 30 November 2023, Kambri Cultural Centre, Australian National University Canberra, in conjunction with the Australian Biological Resources Study, Australasian Mycological Society and Australasian Systematic Botany Society. Conference website

2021: Conference held online in conjunction with the Australian Entomological Society and the International Union for the Study of Social Insects, 6-9 December 2021. GM held online 10 December 2021.

2019: Conference and GM at Brisbane Convention Centre, 1 – 4 December 2019, in conjunction with the Australian Entomological Society and the Australasian Arachnological Society (AAS).

2017: Conference at The University of Adelaide, 26-29 November 2017, Adelaide, Integrating Systematics for Conservation and Ecology, in conjunction with the Australasian Systematic Botany Society and the Invertebrate Biodiversity and Conservation group. GM at conference venue.

2015: Conference at The Esplanade Hotel, Fremantle, Perth, December 2015. GM at conference venue,  December 2015.

2013: Conference at University of Sydney, 1-5 December 2013, in conjunction with Australasian Systematic Botany Society and Invertebrate Biodiversity and Conservation group. GM at conference venue, 3 December 2013.

2011: Conference at St Marys College, University of Melbourne, 4-7 December 2011, in conjunction with Invertebrate Biodiversity and Conservation group. GM at conference venue, 5 December 2011.

2009: Conference at Holiday Inn, Darwin, 25-28 September 2009, in conjunction with Australian Entomological Society, Invertebrate Biodiversity and Conservation group and Australian Coral Reef Society. GM at conference venue, 25 September 2009.

2007: SASB conference and GM at University of Queensland, Brisbane, 3-7 December 2007, in conjunction with Invertebrate Biodiversity and Conservation group

2005: SASB conference and GM at Australian National University, Canberra, 5-9 December 2005, in conjunction with Australian Entomological Society and Invertebrate Biodiversity and Conservation group.

2002: GM in Adelaide.

2001: Conference at University of Melbourne, Melbourne, 16-20 July 2001, in conjunction with Australasian Evolution Society. Workshops held on the new opportunities that digital publishing offers to taxonomic and systematic journals in Australia, on short-range endemism in the Australian biota and on the controversial Phylocode. GM at conference venue, 18 July 2001.

2000: GM at Australian Museum, Sydney, 23 November 2000. A referendum closed 15 June 2001 with 30% of 318 contactable members responding. Members overwhelmingly approved minor changes to the SASB Constitution and By-Laws.

1999: Conference at WA State Library, Perth, 6-10 December 1999, in conjunction with Australian Systematic Botany Society, Invertebrate Biodiversity and Conservation group and Royal Society of Western Australia. GM at conference venue, 7 December 1999.

1998: A referendum closed 22 May 1998 with 47% of 246 contactable members responding. Members unanimously approved the initial SASB Constitution and By-Laws. A referendum closed 23 October 1998 with 50% of 266 contactable members responding. Members unanimously approved minor changes to the SASB Constitution and By-Laws. GM at Australian National University, Canberra, 26 November 1998.

1997: Two referenda closed on 15 August 1997 with 61% of 208 contactable members responding. Members preferred the name Society of Australian Systematic Biologists (SASB) to Australian Society for Systematics (ASS), Australian Society of Systematic and Evolutionary Biologists (ASSEB), Australian Society of Systematists (ASS), Australian Systematic Society (ASS), Society for Australian Systematic Biology (SASB), Society of Australian Systematists (SAS), Systematic and Evolutionary Biology Society of Australia (SEBSA), Systematic Biology Society of Australia (SBSA), Systematics Society of Australia (SSA) and The Australian Systematics Association (ASA). In the second referendum, members preferred having a conference/meeting every second year, usually (but not always) in conjunction with another society. 
 
First joint conference: University of Adelaide, Adelaide, 29 September – 3 October 1997, in conjunction with Australian Systematic Botany Society. (First) General meeting at conference venue, 2 October 1997. Minutes PDF (90 kb). 

1996: Inaugural meeting 4 October 1996 attended by ca 40 people at Australian Systematic Botany Society conference at University of Melbourne, Melbourne.