Staff Profiles

• Dr Joy Becker
  Lecturer Aquatic Animal Health & Production
• Dr Katrina Bosward
  Lecturer in Pathbiology
• Dr Michelle Dennis
  Senior Lecturer in Veterinary Pathology
• Dr Robert Dixon
  Senior Lecturer in Veterinary Clinical Sciences
  Sub Dean for Animal Welfare, Faculty of Veterinary Science
• Dr David Emery
  Principal Research Fellow
• Dr Peter Groves
  Senior Lecturer in Poultry Health
• Dr Alison Gunn
  Lecturer, Ruminant Health
• Dr Trish Holyoake
  Senior Lecturer, Intensive Animal Industries
• Associate Professor John House
  Director Bovine Clinical Services
• Mr Matt Landos
  Lecturer, Aquatic Animal Health & Production
• Dr Jan Šlapeta
  Lecturer in Veterinary Parasitology
• Dr Jenny-Ann Toribio
  Lecturer in Epidemiology
  Academic Supervisor - Veterinary Public Health/ Veterinary Public Health Management Program
• Ms Meg Vost
  Veterinary Public Health Management Program
• Professor Michael Ward
  Chair Veterinary Public Health & Food Safety
• Professor Richard Whittington
  Chair Farm Animal and Veterinary Public Health Management
• Associate Professor Peter Windsor
  Ruminant Health & Production

Lecturer, Aquatic Animal Health & Production

Qualifications:
1999 BSc (Hons Zoology)
2004 PhD (Fish Health)

Career History:
2004 - 2005 Atlantic Veterinary College
2005 - 2007 University of Tasmania
2007 - present University of Sydney

Professional Distinctions:
2005 Governor General of Canada Academic Gold Medal

Research Interests:
Joy holds a Bachelor of Science in Zoology from the University of Western Ontario (Canada) and a Doctor of Philosophy in Fish Health from the Atlantic Veterinary College (Canada). Prior to joining the faculty at the University of Sydney, Joy completed Post Doctoral Fellowships in aquatic animal health at the University of Tasmania and the Atlantic Veterinary College. Her research interest pertains to the pathobiology (including aspects of disease transmission, control strategies and epidemiology) of pathogens affecting the commercial culture of aquatic species, specializing in salmonids. Joy has extensive academic training in fish physiology and health, epidemiology and biostatistics. Previously, her research has centred on protozoan parasites of farmed salmon and since joining the team at Camden, Joy has been researching viral pathogens and their impact on farmed and wild fish health.
Joy is currently involved in research collaboration with the NSW Department of Primary Industries and the Murray Darling Basin Commission investigating the epidemiology and susceptibility of native fish to EHN virus, an OIE listed pathogen with the potential to significantly affect native populations of fish in the Murray system. Joy is the Unit Co-ordinator for the Aquaculture unit of study (AVBS 4009) and is involved in teaching aquaculture health and production in both the Bachelors of Animal and Veterinary Bioscience and Veterinary Science programs.

Lecturer in Pathbiology

Qualifications:
1990 BSc (Vet)
1991 BVSc
1995 PhD

Career History:
1991 – 1995 Veterinary practice
1995 – present The University of Sydney

Research Interests:
Following the completion of a BSc(Vet) in 1990 and BVSc in 1991 at the University of Sydney, Katrina worked in mixed and small animal veterinary practice. Katrina returned to the University of Sydney in 1995 to undertake a PhD in collaboration with CSIRO, Animal Production entitled “Eosinophils and Interleukin 5 in Sheep”. On completion of her PhD, Katrina commenced training in Clinical and Anatomical Veterinary Pathology at the University Veterinary Centre, Camden earning a Graduate Diploma in Clinical Studies. She has been employed as Lecturer in Veterinary Pathology in the Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Sydney since 2002 where she is a member of the Farm Animal Health group working on the Pathogenesis of Ovine Johnes Disease in sheep. Other research interests include wound healing in mulesed sheep; snake envenomation in dogs; feline chronic renal disease; and immunohistochemical studies of tumours in cats and dogs.

Senior Lecturer in Veterinary Pathology

Qualifications:
2002 DVM
2005 DACVP
2007 PhD

Career History:
2002 - 2007 Colorado State University
2007 - present The University of Sydney

Research Interests:
Michelle received a DVM from Purdue University in 2002. She completed a residency training program in anatomic pathology at Colorado State University and became a diplomat of the American College of Veterinary Pathology in 2005. Her dissertation in veterinary pathology and epidemiology, which focused on surveillance and diagnosis of transmissible spongiform encephalopathies of domestic animals, was accomplished at Colorado State University in 2007 while working closely with the United States Department of Agriculture - Centers for Epidemiology and Animal Health. These works included developing a national surveillance plan for bovine spongiform encephalopathy, examining the effects of sampling conditions on accuracy of tests for chronic wasting disease, and an evaluation of a rectal biopsy immunohistochemistry test for antemortem scrapie diagnosis. Her current research addresses the pathogenesis of bovine and ovine paratuberculosis, ovine footrot, and infectious diseases of fish. She is particularly interested in the host responses associated with extra-intestinal infection of Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis infection in cattle and sheep, and in the progression of lesions of bovine and ovine paratuberculosis as related to other clinically assessable host responses to infection. Other research interests have included mortality of long-distance racing sled dogs, causes of canine tongue disease, and description of new syndromes of domestic animals recognized through a university diagnostic service. She has a special interest in post-graduate veterinary pathology training programs.

Senior Lecturer in Veterinary Clinical Sciences
Sub Dean for Animal Welfare, Faculty of Veterinary Science

Academic Qualifications:
1973 BSc(Vet)(Hons)
1974 BVSc (Hons)
1982 PhD

Career History:
1974 - 1975 Australian Department of Agriculture
1975 - 1977 The University of Sydney
1978 - 1982 Massey University NZ
1982 - 1983 Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, NZ
1983 - present The University of Sydney

Research interests:
Robert graduated with a BSc(Vet) degree in 1973 in which he studied the emerging field of retroviruses, before completing his BVSc degree in 1974. He worked in the Australian Department of Agriculture in the current equivalent of the Australian Quarantine Inspection Service. He then took a clinical appointment back at the University of Sydney Rural Veterinary Centre at Camden as a Clinical Pathologist. In 1977, he was appointed Cancer Research Fellow at the Faculty of Veterinary Science, Massey University, New Zealand, to further pursue his research love of retroviruses. In 1980 he was appointed Junior Lecturer in Clinical Microbiology before he received his PhD in 1982 for examining ovine lymphoma for retroviruses. He then moved to the New Zealand Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries Laboratory Service as Veterinary Investigation Officer before taking up an academic appointment at the University of Sydney in 1983.

Robert has had extensive teaching experience with interests in animal virology, immunology and toxicology and animal welfare. His research career has involved a range of viruses of animal and human health importance. These include animal retroviruses, human and animal hepadnaviruses, human and animal pestiviruses, orbiviruses, circoviruses and picornaviruses. Robert has researched the application of novel genetically engineered vaccines. He has also worked on production animal toxicology research programs. As Subdean for Animal Welfare in the Faculty, Robert is developing new research projects in animal welfare, a key issue for the future of production animals. He is project leader of an ARC funded study into the health and welfare of dogs in remote Indigenous communities. This program also involves a novel education program. The transmission of diseases from dogs to humans is a significant component of the health burden that Aboriginal people bear. An adjunct program is examining the impact of education on dogs on human (public) health. Finally, animal welfare extension into China is being developed through seminars and research, with the ultimate aim of establishing an animal welfare curriculum to undergraduate students at Shanxi Agricultural University.

Principal Research Fellow

Academic Qualifications:
1973 BSc(Vet) (Hons)
1974 BVSc (Hons 1)
1978 PhD

Career History:
1978 – 1981 ILRAD, Kenya
1981 – 1984 CSIRO Animal Health
1985 – 1986 ILRAD, Kenya
1984 – 2001 CSIRO Animal Health and Production
2001 – 2002 Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Animal Biosecurity
2002 – present The University of Sydney


Research Interests:
David graduated from Sydney and has devoted 25 years to ruminant mucosal immunity, disease pathogenesis and vaccination for exotic and endemic infectious diseases and gastrointestinal nematodes, with several periods in Africa. He defined cell-mediated cytotoxicity for protective immunity against Theileria parva (East Coast fever), determed protective epitopes on Dichelobacter nodosus pili (ovine footrot) and characterised leucocidins of Fusobacterium necrophorum (foot abscess). He led the first project team developing recombinant vaccines for worm parasites of sheep, produced and trialled several protective antigens and identified allergic (Th2) responses as the protective mechanism in natural infections. David also has experience with biosecurity, import/export quarantine, animal health policy formulation, negotiation and operations. At Biosecurity Australia, David developed import risk analyses for importation of wool and fibres as well as zoo Bovidae and was responsible for trade negotiations for market access of live ruminants exported from Australia to northern Asia.

David’s current research interests are mucosal immunobiology of infectious and parasitic disease. He was appointed in 2004 to lead the “Host Resistance to Internal Parasites” subprogram in the Sheep Genomics Program (SGP), funded by Meat & Livestock Australia and Australian Wool Innovation. In this consultancy role, he coordinates research projects involving discovery and characterisation of genes responsible for worm resistance in sheep, develops research initiatives, reports and interfaces directly with senior staff in rural industry research and producer bodies.

Senior Lecturer in Poultry Health

Qualifications:
1977 BVSc (Hons)
1991 MACVSc (Epidemiology)
2000 PhD

Career History:
1977 – 1979 Veterinary practice (small animals, horses)
1980 – 1981 Pfizer Agricare
1981 – 1985 Elanco Products Company
1985 – 1987 Ingham's Enterprises
1987 – 2003 Baiada Poultry Pty Ltd
2003 – present Zootechny Pty Ltd

Professional Distinctions:
President Australian Veterinary Poultry Association 1994; president-elect
2005.
Director, Board Member and member of the Research and Development Committee of the Australian Poultry CRC (2003 - present)

Research Interests:
After graduation from the University of Sydney Peter worked in small animal and equine veterinary practice before joining Pfizer Agricare as a Veterinary Research Officer. Peter continued to work in the commercial environment with poultry research, veterinary and technical services managerial roles with Elanco Products, Ingham’s Enterprises and Baiada Poultry. Currently Peter is Director of Zootechny Pty Ltd and consultant in poultry health. Peter completed his PhD at the University of Sydney in 2000 with a project on the epidemiology of the broiler ascites syndrome.

Peter’s research interests include epidemiological approaches to poultry disease management, with particular interests in broiler ascites syndrome, coccidiosis, Mareks' disease and Salmonella. Peter is currently part of a Poultry CRC research team studying Marek's Disease in broilers. This project has lead to a better understanding of MD virus epidemiology and has introduced a real time PCR test to detect MDV in poultry dust. Peter is currently pursuing studies on the effects of an inactivated tri-valent salmonella vaccine in broiler breeders aimed at decreasing the overall prevalence of Salmonella on poultry meat.

Lecturer, Ruminant Health

Qualifications:
1988 BVSc
1996 MACVSc (Dairy Cattle Medicine)
1998 MVS

Career History:
1988-1994 General Practice
1994-1997 University of Melbourne
1998-2002 General practice and veterinary consultancy
2006-present University of Sydney

Professional Distinctions
2002 President Australian Cattle Veterinarians
2003 Australian College of Veterinary Scientists/Australian Cattle Veterinarians "Bovine Practitionerof the Year"
2006 Australian Veterinary Association Meritorious Service Award
2006 Awarded a Belle Bruce Reid Medal for Outstanding Women in Veterinary Science Graduates

Research Interests:
Alison graduated from the University of Bristol in 1988 and after starting her career in mixed practice soon developed an interest in cattle. She came out to Australia in 1990 for a working holiday and has not worked in the UK since. In 1994 she was appointed the University of Melbourne dairy cattle tutor at Maffra, Victoria and completed her MVS in 1997. Alison has worked in practice in every state of Australia and has a wide range of experience in the many aspects of Australian dairy and beef production systems. She has developed many on-farm herd health and disease control programs. After completing her MVS she continued to carry out practice based research and extension into bovine infectious diseases, with a specific emphasis on epidemiology and disease control.

Alison joined the University of Sydney in 2006 as a lecturer in ruminant health. She has a diverse range of research interests including prevention and treatment of calf scours, epidemiology of bovine abortion, prevention and control of pink eye, epidemiology and management of mastitis and the aetiology of bovine infertility.

Senior Lecturer, Intensive Animal Industries

Qualifications:
1987 BVSc
1992 PhD

Career History:
1988 – 1989 Veterinary Practice
1989 - 1993 University of Melbourne
1993 – 1994 University of Minnesota, USA
1994 - 1997 University of Melbourne/Victorian Dept of Agriculture
1997-2004 QAF Meat Industries
2004 - present The University of Sydney

Professional Distinctions:
2004 President of the Australian Pig Veterinarians
2006 Vice-President Australian Pig Veterinarians
2006 Awarded a Belle Bruce Reid Medal for Outstanding Women Veterinary Science Graduates

Research Interests:
Trish discovered her passion for pigs after graduating from the University of Melbourne in 1988. Originally from Adelaide, Trish spent her first year in practice with small animals but after 12 months moved to Bendigo to start a PhD in the “Epidemiology of proliferative enteritis in pigs”. In 1993, upon completion of her PhD, she conducted post-doctoral work with the Swine Medicine Group at the University of Minneosta, USA. After returning to Australia in 1994, she spent four years working partly for the University of Melbourne as course-coordinator-Pig Health and Production, and partly for the Victorian Department of Agriculture as Pig Specialist Veterinarian. From there she was seconded to QAF Meat Industries. QAF is the largest pig producer in Australasia, producing about 1 million pigs each year. She took up the position of Senior Lecturer Intensive Animal Industries with the University of Sydney in 2004.

Trish’s current research interests include biosecurity for the Australian pork industry, improving the performance of gilts and their progeny, epidemiology and immunology of Lawsonia intracellularis infections in pigs, reducing pregnancy loss during seasonal infertility.

Director Bovine Clinical Services

Qualifications:
1984 BSc
1986 BVMS (Hons)
1994 Dip ACVIM
1997 PhD

Career History:
1987 - 1989 Veterinary practice
1989 - 2002 University of California, Davis
2002 – present University of Sydney.

Professional Distinctions:
1994 Ray Bankowski Memorial Scholarship, graduate research award.
1995 Jastro Shields Research Scholarship

Research Interests:
John completed his BVSc degree at Murdoch University, Western Australia in 1986 and after two years in private practice relocated to the University of California, Davis, where he held positions of Resident, Large Animal Medicine, Lecturer and finally, Clinical Associate Professor. He was appointed as Associate Professor in Bovine Health at the University of Sydney in 2002.

John’s research efforts have focused on disease control and enhancing farm productivity through the conduct of epidemiological studies and the development of diagnostic tests and vaccines. Much of this work has been directed at prevention of salmonellosis in intensive ruminant production systems. Current projects include the evaluation of DNA adenine methylase attenuated salmonella vaccines in cattle, a national survey of bovine pink eye in Australia looking at the types and virulence attributes of isolates from around the country, epidemiological studies of environmental mastitis pathogens on NSW dairy farms, and a study evaluating different approaches to assisted reproduction in dairy cattle.

Lecturer, Aquatic Animal Health & Production

Qualifications:
1995 BVSc (Hons)
2002 MACVSc (Aquatic)

Career History:
1995 Veterinary Practice
2000 NSW Department of Primary Industries
2005 - 2006 The University of Sydney

Research Interests:
Matt worked in mixed private veterinary practice in northern NSW and the United Kingdom for five years after graduating from The University of Sydney in 1995. He worked on herd health programs for dairy farms and some companion animals. He took up a position with NSW Fisheries within the Aquatic Animal Health Unit where he was involved in providing extension support to the growing aquaculture industry in NSW, policy advice to Fisheries Management and running a diagnostic laboratory for fish diseases. He undertook a five year research project to determine the best practice for health management of intensive pond-based silver perch aquaculture which involved intensive investigation of a new mass mortality event termed winter disease. Matt also delivered a range of fish health workshops to industry and government research staff and more recently has been involved with the barramundi recirculation aquaculture industry trying to define causes and identify mitigation measures for disease-related losses in fingerlings and grow-out fish.

Matt joined the Farm Animal Health Group in 2005 as a Research Associate to complete project work on two FRDC projects to scope the future national need for aquatic animal health education and a national aquatic animal diagnostic network with proficiency and accreditation standards. He also delivers lectures and practical classes in aquatic animal health.

Lecturer in Veterinary Parasitology

Qualification:
1999 MVDr
2002 PhD

Career History:
1993 - 2001 University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, Czech Republic
2001 - 2003 Wadsworth Center, National Institute of Health & NY State Department of Health, Albany, New York, USA
2003 - 2005 Université Paris-Sud, Orsay, France
2005 - 2007 Institute for Biotechnology of Infectious Diseases (IBID), University of Technology, Sydney
2007 - present Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Sydney

Research interests:
Jan has a broad understanding of the biology of parasites of both medical and veterinary importance, as well as the diseases caused by them. He has a strong research profile in parasitology, gained from his experience in several research laboratories. He was awarded a Fogarty International Fellowship to pursue his career at the NIH in the USA. Following his time in the USA, he accepted a postdoctoral research fellowship at the CNRS in France before taking up a research fellowship at the University of Technology in Sydney. Jan joined the Parasitology team in the Faculty in 2007. Jan specialises in the molecular identification and the evolution of protozoan parasites. His diagnostic techniques and biodiversity studies have received worldwide acceptance. He has a particular interest in applications of molecular biology towards elucidating the unique properties of parasites of medical and veterinary importance.

Lecturer in Epidemiology
Academic Supervisor - Veterinary Public Health/ Veterinary Public Health Management Program

Qualifications
1989 BVSc (Hons 1)
2000 PhD
2003 Graduate Certificate in Higher Education

Research Interests:
Jenny-Ann completed a BVSc at the University of Queensland in 1989 and worked predominately in companion animal practice including 2 years with the RSPCA in New South Wales. In 1994 she commenced a PhD at the University of Queensland on smallholder pig systems in the Philippines – a project funded by the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR). On completion she provided input as a consultant to two ACIAR projects in the Philippines prior to commencing her appointment at the University of Sydney.

Jenny-Ann’s research interests are varied and currently include the epidemiology of ovine Johne’s disease, surveillance systems for the extensive beef industry and for peri-urban pig producers in Australia, the improvement of smallholder shrimp systems in Indonesia, and evaluation of avian influenza and classical swine fever disease risk posed by animal movements in Indonesia. Jenny-Ann has considerable experience working in south-east Asia and contributes to ACIAR-funded projects related to smallholder poultry, pig and shrimp systems in Indonesia.

Jenny-Ann had a key role in the establishment of postgraduate coursework offerings in Veterinary Public Health Management and Veterinary Public Heath in this faculty and is the Academic Supervisor for the VPH/VPHMgt program. This program offers technical and managerial units that are delivered via an online classroom and some short residentials. Her research interests now extend to innovative approaches to training in veterinary epidemiology at undergraduate and postgraduate levels.

Learner Support and Research Projects Coordinator
Veterinary Public Health Management Program

Qualifications:
1997 BA
2004 MIPH

Career History:
1998 Tony Stone Images, London
1998 – 1999 University of London, Faculty of Medicine
1999 Refugee Legal Centre, London
2000 – present University of Sydney
2005 Part-time Volunteer, AUSTCARE

Description:
After graduating with a BA in human geography from the University of Wollongong, Meg travelled to London, where she worked at the University of London and for the Refugee Legal Centre. She started working at the University of Sydney in the Centre for English Teaching in 2000 and moved to the Faculty of Veterinary Science in 2001. Meg is passionate about social and public health issues and undertook a Master of International Public Health in 2002. After graduation, Meg commenced in a volunteer position at AUSTCARE (Australians Caring for Refugees) and in 2005 began to work for the Veterinary Public Health Management program.

Meg coordinates student recruitment and support as well as marketing and student orientation in the Veterinary Public Health Management program. She coordinates research projects for Master of Veterinary Public Health Management students and acts as the primary contact for student advice on research, and unit of study selection for career progression. Meg is progressively moving into new areas as she learns more about the program.

Chair Veterinary Public Health & Food Safety

Qualifications:
1986 BVSc (Hons)
1992 MSc & MPVM
1995 PhD

Career History:
1987 - 2000 Queensland Department of Primary Industries
2000 - 2004 Veterinary Pathobiology, Purdue University
2004 - 2007 Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, Texas A&M University
2008 – present Sydney University

Professional Distinctions:
1997 Ian Clunies Ross Award, Australian College of Veterinary Scientists
Fellow, Epidemiology, Australian College of Veterinary Scientists

Research interests:
Michael left Australia in July, 2000, to take up a position at the Purdue University Veterinary School and settled in West Lafayette, Indiana. Having always wanted to work in academia – for both the research and teaching opportunities - and with few academic positions in epidemiology and public health at the Australian veterinary schools, Michael moved to the U.S. In 2004, he moved to the Texas A&M University Veterinary School. This is a large University that is also well known for engineering and agriculture in the “heart of Texas”. Deciding to return to Australia was not a difficult decision as Michael had previously studied epidemiology at the University of California (Davis), and then returned to work for the Queensland Department of Primary Industries.
Michael’s real passion is in epidemiological analytical methods and veterinary public health and applying new and interesting statistics and modelling methods. However, veterinary public health strikes a deeper chord in him as it involves using a range of techniques (often not very sophisticated) that can best help our society by reducing the impact of disease on both animal and human populations. He finds that as the disciplines public health is based on (including epidemiology and biostatistics) become more sophisticated, taking the methods available and applying them appropriately and with effect is a big challenge. The field is so enormous in its breadth, ranging from economics and risk assessment to modelling and spatial methods, that it’s virtually impossible to be an expert in all of these emerging sub-disciplines. He feels that veterinary public health students not only need to take advantage of the opportunity to learn as many of the different tools that are available as possible, but to read and think about their chosen discipline: improving human health by improving animal health, whilst ensuring sustainability with high welfare standards in a cost-effective way.

Chair Farm Animal and Veterinary Public Health Management

Qualifications:
1980 BVSc (Hons 1, University Medal)
1987 MACVSc
1994 PhD

Career History:
1980 - 1983 Veterinary practice
1984 - 2002 NSW Agriculture
2002 - present The University of Sydney

Professional Distinctions:
Ian Clunies Ross Award 2002, Australian College of Veterinary Scientists for contributions to veterinary research
Specialist registration in Veterinary Pathobiology

Research Interests:
Richard graduated with a BVSc from The University of Sydney and spent several years in small and mixed animal practice on the NSW south coast and in the United Kingdom before undergoing training with NSW Agriculture in Veterinary Pathology. Following five years as a diagnostic pathologist Richard commenced full time research at the Veterinary Research Station, Glenfield and Elizabeth Macarthur Agricultural Institute, working mainly in microbiology, virology and immunology of economically significant diseases of sheep and fish, and completed a PhD on the immunology of Dichelobacter nodosus infection in sheep at the University of Sydney.

Richard currently leads research on the pathobiology of Mycobacterium paratuberculosis, the cause of Johne's disease in ruminants, and infectious diseases of finfish and wildlife including the platypus. There is increasing research activity in biosecurity, import risk analysis for aquatic animal health, and the impact of viral infections on conservation of threatened aquatic finfish species. Studies involve epidemiology, vaccine development for D.nodosus infection in sheep, functional analysis and molecular studies of viruses and bacteria, immune responses and pathology in individual animals and animal populations. Better understanding of host-pathogen interactions will lead to development of improved diagnostic tests, vaccines and other disease control strategies. This research is conducted at Camden in newly built infectious diseases laboratories and involves a large and dynamic group of young scientists, post graduate students and support staff. Richard teaches in veterinary public health, microbiology, pathology and ruminant and aquatic animal health, and Chairs the new post graduate coursework program in Veterinary Public Health Management.

Ruminant Health & Production

Qualifications:
1977 BVSc(Hons)
1988 PhD
2005 Grad Cert Higher Ed
2007 DVSc

Career History:
1977 – 1980 NSW Department of Agriculture
1980 – 1981 Cornell University
1981 – 1982 San Diego Zoo
1983 – 1998 NSW Department of Agriculture
1998 – 1999 FAO, Philippines
1999 – 2002 NSW Agriculture
2002 – present The University of Sydney


Professional Distinctions:
1980 - Australian-American Educational Foundation Fulbright Overseas Study Award
Registration as a Specialist Veterinarian in Pathobiology in 1988

Research interests:
Raised in Wagga, Peter graduated with a BVSc from the University of Sydney in 1977, commencing his career with NSW Agriculture at Wollongbar Regional Veterinary Laboratory. His interest in diagnostic pathology led to a Fulbright Award to undertake Residencies in Pathology at Cornell University and the San Diego Zoo, returning to the Veterinary Research Station at Glenfield, NSW in 1983 where he completed his PhD on ruminant neuropathology in 1987, identifying new inherited disorders in livestock including citrullinaemia of Holstein-Friesians and maple syrup urine disease and myoclonus of Herefords, disorders exploited as animal models of human inborn errors of metabolism. Peter was Officer in Charge of the Regional Veterinary Laboratory at Glenfield then Elizabeth Macarthur Agricultural Institute until 1990 when he transferred to the Grafton Agricultural Research Station, managing animal health surveillance, regulatory and extension programs for the NSW north-coast region. He commenced research on bovine abortion, resulting in isolation of Neospora caninum and development of an Australian serological test. In 1998, he undertook a 19-month appointment to the FMD eradication program with the FAO in Naga City in the Philippines, returning to NSW Agriculture at Goulburn in 2000 and transferring to Elizabeth Macarthur Agricultural Institute in 2001 to manage ovine Johne’s disease vaccination research leading to registration of Gudair® vaccine. He rejoined the Faculty on April 1st 2002.

Peter’s current research interests include applied field-based projects on ruminant health and production problems, including paratuberculosis, neosporosis, reproductive, neurological and genetic diseases, and use of analgesia for improving animal welfare. He also has international projects with ACIAR on improving cattle health and husbandry in Cambodia and Laos.