Tim was recognised for distinguished service to environmental conservation, to botanical sciences, to the media, to tertiary education, and to the community. In acknowledging the honour, Tim said he was “genuinely delighted to have the odd mix of things I have done (and do) wrapped up into this award”. Details of Tim’s extensive contributions from the official citation, are as follows:
Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria
• Honorary Associate, since 2024.
• Director and Chief Executive, 2013-2023.
• Assistant Director, Research and Herbarium, Melbourne, 1993-1998.
• Botanist and Senior Botanist, Melbourne, 1990-1993.
• Horticultural Assistant, Melbourne, 1981-1982.
Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain Trust, Botanic Gardens of Sydney
• Director Emeritus, since 2025.
• Executive Director, 2003-2011.
• New South Wales Government Botanist, 2007-2011.
• Senior Assistant Director, Plant Sciences, 1998-2003.
Botanic Gardens of Australia and New Zealand
• Vice-President, Australia, 2009-2011.
• Committee Member, Victorian Branch, 2014-2016.
Council of Heads of Australian Botanic Gardens
• Former Chair.
• Committee Member, 2021-2023.
Botanic Gardens Other
• President, International Association of Botanic Gardens, 2016-2025.
• Councillor, International Advisory Council, Botanic Gardens Conservation International, 2004-2011
and 2016-2023.
• Director of Conservation, Living Collections and Estates, Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, London, 2011-
2013.
Patronage
• Patron, Australian Garden History Society, since 2018.
• Patron, Plant Trust, since 2018.
• Patron, Fungimap, since 2015.
• Patron, Southern Highlands Botanic Gardens, since 2025
• Patron, Mossman Botanic Garden, since 2021.
• Patron, Cactus and Succulent Society of Australia, since 2014.
• Patron, Friends of the Ballarat Botanical Gardens, 2013-2021.
• Patron, New South Wales Cactus and Succulent Society, 2004-2011.
University of Melbourne
• Honorary Professorial Fellow, School of Botany, since 2014.
• Research Associate, School of Botany, 1994-1998.
• Post-doctoral Research Fellow, Ecology of filamentous algae in the Yarra River Basin, National
Water Research Program, 1986-1989.
Honours list: The King’s Birthday 2026 Honours List 22 of 66University of Sydney
• Adjunct Professor, School of Biological Sciences, 2008-2011.
• Research Associate, School of Biological Sciences, 1999-2005.
Education
• Visiting Professor, School of Biological and Biomedical Science, Durham University, 2012-2015.
• Honorary Fellow, Australian Institute of Landscape Design and Management, 2007.
Australian Systematic Botany Society
• President, 1996-1999.
• Vice-President, 1992-1995.
• Associate Editor, since 2009.
• Chapter Convener, 1992-1996.
• Chair, Editorial Advisory Committee, 1999-2004.
• Member, Editorial Advisory Committee, 1997-1999.
Blue Mountains World Heritage Institute
• Member, Research Committee, 2009-2011.
• Director, 2005-2009.
• Deputy Chair, 2007-2008.
Australian Biological Resources Study
• Member, Advisory Committee, 2001-2005.
• Chair, Flora Grants Subcommittee, 2003-2005.
Biodiversity Council Australia
• Councillor, 1994-1996.
• Assembly Member, 1994-1999.
New South Wales Biodiversity
• Chair, Research Network, 1999-2011.
• Chair, Strategy Implementation Group, 2000-2001.
• Member, Strategy Implementation Group, 2001-2004.
New South Wales Biological Diversity Advisory Council
• Member, 1996-1999.
• Chair, 2001-2004.
Botanical and Garden Committee Work
• Director, Australian Garden Council, 2015-2018.
• Chair, Council of Heads of Australian Herbaria, 2002-2003, 2009-2011 and 2015-2018.
• Convenor, Victorian National Parks Advisory Council, 2013-2015.
• Member, Steering Committee, National Taxonomy Research Hub, 2008-2011.
• Deputy Chair and Member, National Committee for Plant and Animal Sciences, Australian Academy
of Science, 2003-2010.
• Member, Agricultural Scientific Collections Trust, New South Wales, 2003-2008.
• Member, Research Scientist Classification Committee, New South Wales, 2001-2003.
• Councillor, Australasian Society for Phycology and Aquatic Botany, 1996-1999.
• Member, Executive Council, Centre for Conservation Genetics, 1991-1998.
Other
• Chair, Sydney Harbour Federation Trust, since 2023.
• Acting Commissioner, Land and Environment Court of New South Wales, since 2025.
• Chair, Public Open Space Advisory Panel, Suburban Rail Loop Authority, 2022-2025.
• Trustee, Victoria Day Council, 2013-2023.
• Chair, Community Open Space Expert Panel, Level Crossing Replacement Authority, Victoria, 2016-
2017.
• Councillor, Royal Society of Victoria Council, 2013-2016.
• Chair, Victorian Reference Area Advisory Committee, 2013-2015.
• Trustee, Castle Howard Arboretum Trust, United Kingdom, 2011-2012.
• Member, Advisory Board, Macarthur Regional Organisation of Councils, 2005-2011.
• Member, Hyde Park Master Plan Reference Group, 2007-2008
• Member, Review Panel, Integrated Monitoring of Environmental Flows Project, 1997.
Radio, Australian Broadcasting Corporation
• Regular Contributor, ‘Blueprint for Living’, Radio National, 10 years.
• Co-host and Writer, ‘Talking Plants’ summer series, Radio National, 2014-2016.
• Co-Host, ‘In Season’ 10-part series, Radio National, 2016.
• Co-host, ‘Passion for Plants’, 702 AM Weekend Show, 2006-2011.
• Co-host, ‘Talking Plants’ 702 AM Breakfast Show, 2002-2005.
Media
• Author, ‘TalkingPlants’ Blog, since 2008.
• Contributor/Regular writer, Plant Curiosities Column, Gardening Australia Magazine, 2018-2025.
• Contributor, Feature Articles, Gardening Australia Magazine, since 2015.
• Contributor, ‘Secret Life of Plants’ Regular column, Nature Australia, 2002-2005.
• Presenter, ‘Fortnightly Science Show’, Plenty Valley FM, 1988-1991.
• Freelance Science Writer, The Age, 1989-1990.
• Secretary, Management Committee, Plenty Valley FM, 1988.
• Volunteer Reader, Radio for the Print Handicapped, 3RPH, 1985-1987.
Publications
• Author, ‘Three Worlds Oak’, 2026.
• Author, ‘The Sceptical Botanist’, 2025.
• Author, ‘Evergreen: The Botanical Life of a Plant Punk’, 2022.
• Author, ‘Sprinter and Sprummer: Australia’s Changing Seasons’, 2014.
• Co-Editor, ‘Flora of Victoria Vol. 4, Dicotyledons Cornaceae to Asteraceae’, 1999.
• Co-Author, ‘Freshwater Algae in Australia: A Guide to Conspicuous Genera’, 1997.
• Co-Editor, ‘Flora of Victoria Vol.3, Dicotyledons: Winteraceae to Myrtaceae’, 1996.
• Co-Editor, ‘Flora of Victoria Vol. 2, Ferns and Allied Plants, Conifers and Monocotyledons’, 1994.
Awards and Recognition include:
• ‘The Entwisle Medal’ named in his honour, Friends of the Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne, 2021.
• Blog Laurel’, Horticultural Media Association of Australia, 2018.
• Audio Laurel’, Horticultural Media Association of Australia, 2016.
• Horticulturist of the Year, Australian Institute of Horticulture, 2014.
• ‘Entwisleia bella’ a rare Algae in its own family (Entwisleiaceae) and order (Entwisleiales) named in
his honour, 2013.
• Distinguished Alumni Award, La Trobe University, 2013.
