John William James graduated BA from the University of Queensland in 1956 and was employed as a Research Fellow in the Department of Animal Husbandry at the University for six years. In 1962 John began his association with the University of New South Wales when he was appointed Lecturer in the School of Wool Technology. There followed a long and productive teaching and research career, with significant developments in genetic theory and its application to breeding programs in the sheep and other animal industries in Australia and internationally. Through his endeavours, John was promoted to Senior Lecturer in 1970 and Associate Professor in 1978. In recognition of his outstanding research contributions John was awarded a DSc by the University of New South Wales in 1973. John retired from the University of New South Wales but continues with research, lecturing and consulting activities.
John James has had a long and distinguished career as the leading quantitative geneticist in animal breeding in Australia and has gained an enviable international reputation. He developed the theory behind efficient design of breeding programs and population structures. As well as achieving breakthroughs in genetic theory, John has been closely involved with their practical application in industry. His theoretical research has had a wide impact, with the original paper by James and McBride (1958) and other later papers on the spread of genes, now being quoted more than ever, especially by conservation geneticists developing "new" methods, which are directly derived from John's early work on pedigree analysis. His few papers on inheritance of threshold traits in human genetics also continue to have an impact. This prolific research career has resulted in publication of more than 100 papers in refereed scientific journals and in excess of 50 conference papers.
John has had an enormous impact through training students, researchers, consultants, advisors and breeders. This has been in formal undergraduate, MSc (13) and PhD (24) programs, invited specialist short courses in West Germany, Norway, Netherlands and Indonesia, as well as several in Australia. John has advised countless other undergraduate and post graduate students on statistical methods for the analysis and presentation of their research data. John has travelled extensively with sabbaticals in Scotland (twice), Norway, France and Germany, and has been an invited and keynote speaker/convener at several international Conferences.
The inaugural Helen Newton Turner medal for contributions to animal breeding in Australia was awarded to John in 1994 - a singular honour. John was President of AAABG (1984-85) and almost single-handedly organised the Fifth Conference in Sydney, including editing the Proceedings. He has been a member of the Editorial Boards of the international journals, Genetics, Selection & Evolution and Animal Science and is sought after as a reviewer of genetics research organisations.
Laurie Piper once summed John up by saying that there are many people from whom we can obtain an answer to a question on animal quantitative genetics. However, if you want THE answer, then you automatically go to John. In recognition of his worthy contributions to research, education and industry leadership in the area of animal breeding and genetics in Australia and internationally, the Committee of the Association for the Advancement of Animal Breeding and Genetics is pleased to award John William James, Fellowship of the Association.