Professor Irene Barnes presented her inaugural address in the University of Pretoria’s Senate Chamber on 9 April, marking the inauguration of her acceptance as a full Professor. The event was attended by many colleagues, several members of her family, and friends. Her address “Strengthening forest health through population genetic insights and global networks” traced her 25-year academic career in the Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology (BGM) and member of  the academic staff of FABI. In her presentation, she also illustrated how important relationships and networks are in shaping a professional career path. Irene is a full Professor in BGM and concurrently a research leader in the Tree Protection Co-operative Programme (TPCP), the RGE-FABI Tree health Programme and heads the Kiwifruit Protection Programme in FABI. She is also a member of the Executive Council of the International Mycological Association and African Mycological Association and holds a leadership position in the International Union of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO).

In introducing her, University of Pretoria Deputy Vice-Principal, Prof. Loretta Feris, noted that Prof Barnes has published more than 125 papers and three book chapters and supervised 54 postgraduate students. Also, that she currently acts as supervisor for 12 postgraduate students. Irene was also the first Honours student in the Institute.

Irene’s inaugural address marks an important milestone in her academic career, and it also allows the University to showcase the research being conducted at the University by its senior academics to people from outside academia. In her presentation, she made note of the fact that she was one of the small number of first BSc Honours students in FABI. Irene also spoke about the important forest pathogens and diseases on which she has worked and that have shaped her academic career. These included pathogens such as Ceratocystis species that cause wilt diseases and Dothistroma needle blight. She also explained how DNA sequencing technology and population biology studies have become increasingly important to research concerning tree health and plant pathogens in general.