Dr Debbie Eagles is the Director of CSIRO’s Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness (ACDP), where she oversees Australia’s high containment national biosecurity facility in Geelong, Victoria. ACDP plays a critical role in protecting Australia’s multi billion dollar livestock and aquaculture industries and in safeguarding the community from emerging infectious disease threats.

Debbie has made significant contributions to national and international responses to major animal and zoonotic disease incidents, including during the COVID 19 pandemic. Her leadership experience includes leading science strategy and facility operations, crisis responses, and large multidisciplinary teams working at the interface of science, policy and public good. She is a strong advocate for modern biosecurity systems, integration of science into policy decision making and public communication of science.

Debbie has extensive experience working across Australia and the Asia Pacific region and is internationally recognised for her expertise in animal health and biosecurity. She is a World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) Reference Laboratory expert for bluetongue virus and a WOAH and Australian qualified expert on the United Nations Secretary General’s Mechanism roster for investigating alleged use of chemical, biological or toxin weapons. Debbie has been at ACDP for 18 years, serving in a range of different positions this time. Prior to this she was a private practice veterinarian.