John William Gibson Cairney (1959–2012) was an eminent Scottish–Australian mycologist and Director of the UWS Centre for Plants and the Environment.
[1][2] Cairney specialised in mycorrhizal biology and ecology, particularly of ericoid- and Ectomycorrhiza.
[3] Cairney contributed significantly to mycorrhizal research, publishing over 150 manuscripts and serving as the associate editor, editor or on the advisoral panel for numerous scientific journals including: New Phytologist, Plant and Soil, Mycological Research and the Journal of Soils and Sediments.
[3] The Australian ericoid mycorrhizal fungal genus Cairneyella is named in his honour.
[4]