Dr. Catherine Bennett

Professor Bennett’s career in applied biostatistics and epidemiology cuts across health, university and government sectors, including working on outbreak preparedness and response with NSW Health and the Australian Government.

After working as Olympic Public Health Coordinator for Northern Sydney in 2000, Catherine returned to academia and was Associate Professor in Epidemiology and Director of Population Health Practice with the Melbourne School of Population and Global Health before taking up the inaugural Chair in Epidemiology at Deakin in late 2009. Her research focusses on community transmission of infectious diseases, and Catherine is involved in a range of COVID-19 projects, including global analyses of excess deaths, public health risk communication, contact tracing methods and COVID-safe protocols.

Catherine has been a leading public analyst during the COVID-19 response, keynote speaker, and advisor to industry, governments, and institutions globally. Catherine is on the scientific advisory committees for Impact Biotech Healthcare and Res App Health. In 2022, Catherine’s research contributions were recognised with the conferral of the title Alfred Deakin Professor, the highest honour the University can bestow.