Emily Butler

Emily Butler is based the National Herbarium of New South Wales located at the Australian Botanic Garden Mount Annan. She plays a crucial role in preserving and organising the extensive plant collection.  

Her responsibilities encompass a diverse range of projects, from the ongoing curation of the Herbarium's vast assortment of plant specimens, to collaborating on the integration of bryophytes into the collection, and managing specimens donated by the Tamworth Agricultural Research Centre Herbarium. Ensuring quarantine control and pest management are also integral aspects of her role, safeguarding the longevity of the collection.

With no two work days ever the same, Emily finds herself engaged in a variety of curatorial tasks, including processing specimens for incoming and outgoing loans to other institutions, maintaining the database accuracy, and working with the Herbarium’s research staff to implement taxonomic changes.

She cherishes the ever-changing nature of her work, relishing the opportunity to work with knowledgeable people, learn new skills, and uncover hidden botanical and historical treasures within the collection, many of which are over 100 years old.

Emily finds the excitement people have for their favourite plants contagious, and never tires of hearing them talk about the topic. While she doesn't have a particular plant she could single out as her favourite, she is drawn to peculiar species that thrive in wet, shady environments, including ferns, lichens, and fungi. Through her work, Emily has also developed a keen interest in bryophytes – small non-vascular plants such as mosses, liverworts, and hornworts – which she believes are often overlooked and undervalued.

Emily believes in the profound impact of the natural environment on mental wellbeing, and is also an advocate for accessible, affordable and quality education for all people at all stages of life. Her own academic journey – initially rooted in music performance and theory – reflects her diverse interests and dedication to lifelong learning, with the pursuit of a Bachelor of Science part-time as a mature age student.

Her career path has been influenced by a love of science, nature, and history, nurtured by the guidance and inspiration of teachers and botanists encountered along the way.