Australia’s national science agency, CSIRO, has announced Dr Debbie Eagles’ appointment to director of the Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness (ACDP).
CSIRO said Dr Eagles will lead its high-containment facility in Geelong, which helps protect Australia’s multi-billion-dollar livestock and aquaculture industries as well as its community from emerging infectious disease threats.
Before this, Dr Eagles was ACDP’s deputy director and played a pivotal role in CSIRO’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
CSIRO executive director of future industries Kirsten Rose said Dr Eagles has held science leadership roles at 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,” said Ms Rose.
“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.
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.