Catherine Bennett
BSc(Hons) MAppEpid PhD GAICD
Chair in Epidemiology,
School of Health and Social Development
Trained in epidemiology and population genetics, Professor Bennett’s career cuts across university and government sectors. Catherine worked on outbreak control with NSW Health before being Olympic Public Health Coordinator for Northern Sydney in 2000. She then returned to academia at the University of Melbourne, followed by Deakin University as inaugural Chair in Epidemiology. Catherine’s research includes a longitudinal cohort study of household transmission of superbugs like MRSA, and COVID-19 studies including asymptomatic case profiling, excess deaths, contact tracing methods and COVID-safe protocols. Catherine is a leading public expert and commentator in the pandemic and advisor to governments, industry and institutions and across the globe.
In 2008 she was awarded the David White Award for Excellence in Teaching from the University of Melbourne, and an Australian Award for University Teaching from the Australian Learning & Teaching Council – the Award for Teaching Excellence (Biological Sciences, Health and Related Studies).