John Oakeshott is an evolutionary biologist whose multidisciplinary studies on latitudinal clines in Drosophila enzyme polymorphisms, the molecular basis of insecticide resistance in blowflies and the degradation of persistent organic pollutants by bacteria have provided important new insights into the molecular basis of adaptation. He has published over 130 papers in international refereed journals, for over 3350 citations and an H factor of 34. John has also applied his science to the broader benefit of society, for example through sustained service to the regulation of Australia's gene technology and the international commercialisation of a novel enzyme-based pesticide bioremediation technology.