Judith Gay West AO is an Australian scientist currently working as an Executive Director of the Australian National Botanic Gardens. West holds a doctor of philosophy by thesis on "A taxonomic revision of Dodonaea in Australia". She completed her PhD in 1981 from the University of Adelaide, South Australia.
West completed her Bachelor of Science in 1970 with majors in Botany and Zoology from the University of Sydney, New South Wales. She completed her Bachelor of Science with first class honours in Botany in 1972, also from the University of Sydney.
West has been pivotal in raising the profile of Australian plant systematics through her ongoing participation on multiple national and international associations and committees.
West's research centres on plant systematics of Australian plants, in particular morphological and breeding system evidence in combination with molecular data. West is proactive in sharing her research so as to incorporate the knowledge into interactive identification packages of nationally significant groups, including eucalypts, legumes, grevilleas, orchids and tropical rainforest plants.