CSIRO has appointed its new Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness Director.

Dr Debbie Eagles has been picked for the role after an extensive international search and recruitment process.

Dr Eagles will lead CSIRO’s high-containment facility in Geelong, Victoria, which helps protect Australia’s multi-billion-dollar livestock and aquaculture industries and the community from emerging infectious disease threats.  

Prior to this, Dr Eagles was ACDP’s Deputy Director, and played a pivotal role in CSIRO’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Executive Director, Future Industries, Ms Kirsten Rose, said Dr Eagles has held science leadership roles in CSIRO for many years, and has already helped guide and shape the future direction of ACDP.  

“Our ACDP facility is an integral part of Australia’s biosecurity infrastructure and is vital in ensuring we can continue to protect and prepare Australia from biothreats and emerging infectious and zoonotic diseases,” Ms Rose said. 

“Dr Eagles has an impressive track record and is well placed to continue to lead the work required to elevate ACDP further and keep us supporting Australia well into the future.” 

Dr Eagles is a veterinary epidemiologist with a background in vector-borne diseases and brings experience in animal health and biosecurity preparedness in Australia and the Asia Pacific region.

She is internationally renowned as a World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) Reference Laboratory Expert on Bluetongue Virus, and is a WOAH and Australian Qualified Expert on the UN Secretary-General Mechanism’s Roster for investigations of Alleged Use of Chemical, Biological or Toxin Weapons. 

Before Dr Eagles was ACDP’s Deputy Director, she spent three years as Research Director for CSIRO’s Diagnosis, Surveillance and Response Program, following eight years in the Veterinary Diagnostic Team. 

Dr Eagles will commence in the role effective immediately.