Overview

Tim Portas graduated from the University of Sydney in 1996 and worked in mixed private practice for two and a half years before being employed as the veterinarian at Werribee Open Range Zoo. He subsequently worked for the Taronga Conservation Society Australia and Australia Zoo before starting his own business providing contract and consultancy services in the field of zoological and conservation medicine within Australia and internationally. He has completed a research-based Master of Veterinary Science on the reproductive evaluation of captive rhinoceroses and is a Diplomate of the American College of Zoological Medicine. He has worked exclusively with captive and free-ranging wildlife for the past 17 years. His professional interests include marsupial medicine, reptile and amphibian medicine, anaesthesia of free-ranging wildlife, veterinary aspects of reintroduction biology and medicine and anaesthesia of mega-vertebrates

Richard Burchell completed a Bachelor of Science degree with an honours year at Rhodes University, and then completed a degree in veterinary science at the University of Pretoria in South Africa. He then spent a two years in private practice before enrolling in a residency programme in a private referral practice. He moved to the University of Pretoria as a Lecturer in Small Animal Medicine in 2012. During his time there, he completed a small animal medicine residency through the European College of Veterinary Internal Medicine, and is recognised as a small animal medicine specialist by the European Board of Veterinary Specialisation. Richard spent 8 years working in academia before moving into private practice, and is now based at North Coast Specialist and Referral Centre on the Sunshine Coast. He has a passion for teaching and clinical work and his research interests are in endocrinology. Richard was recognised for his clinical teaching by being awarded the “clinician of the year “ award twice during the three years he worked at the University of Pretoria. Richard has been invited to speak at many CPD events in South Africa, New Zealand, Malaysia and Australia and has presented at veterinary congresses in 4 different countries. Richard has authored 3 textbook chapters and has 20 peer reviewed publications in the veterinary literature.

I am a wildlife disease ecologist with an interest in the dynamics and drivers of infectious disease, particularly in bats. Coming from a veterinary background, it was the interesting viruses that brought me to bats, but I'm increasingly fascinated by the ecology of the bats themselves and the complex interactions between broad environmental and climatic changes, ecology and disease. Our bat1health project (bat1health.org) aims to understand the root drivers of bat viral dynamics across 4 continents and to identify ways in which we can preempt and prevent spillover, particularly through sustainable ecological solutions. My current research also recognises the complexity of multi-host-multi-pathogen communities. I'm interested in how Hendra virus, the most widely studied bat virus in Australia, exists within a diverse community of viruses in Australian flying-foxes. By examining this well know bat viral system in a broader context, I hope to provide insight into both Hendra virus dynamics and bat virus spillover in general. Background: My MSc was based at the Royal Veterinary College and Institute of Zoology, London, and involved a research project on the risk of importing amphibian chytridiomycosis into the UK. I completed my PhD at the University of Cambridge in 2012, and investigated the population genetics and epidemiology of henipaviruses and lyssaviruses in African fruit bats. I've been based in Australia again since 2013 and am investigating Hendra- and other virus dynamics in Australian flying foxes through US-based funding and an ARC DECRA Fellowship.

Jason graduated from Queensland University in 1988 and spent three years in mixed and small animal practice before undertaking a residency in small animal surgery at the University of Sydney. Jason has a Master of Veterinary Clinical Studies degree awarded for investigations into the pathophysiology of canine gdv. He has worked as a faculty surgeon at the University of Sydney and Washington State University in the USA. He is a fellow of the Australian College of Veterinary Scientists and a registered specialist in small animal surgery. With over fifteen years of experience in managing difficult and complex cases, his interests lie in all aspects of soft tissue, orthopaedic and neurosurgery.

I hold a Bachelors (Hons) degree in Biological Sciences from KNUST, Ghana (2011); and Master’s degree in Biology from Aarhus University, Denmark (2014). I completed my Doctoral degree in 2018 from Deakin University Australia. I recently joined School of Chemistry and Molecular Bioscience as a Senior Research Associate, working on developing a rapid vaccine pipeline for viral epidemics. I am also an Affiliated Research Academic at Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology. I am passionate about research that focuses on infectious diseases. Over the past few years, I have been working on one of the neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) known as Buruli ulcer (BU). The disease which is also known as Bairnsdale/Daintree ulcer is caused by Mycobacterium ulcerans, and has been reported in West Africa and Australia (Victoria and Queensland). BU is a debilitating necrotic subcutaneous disease and usually affects the limbs. Left untreated, it could lead to contracture deformity and amputation. The exact mode of transmission is unclear. My PhD which was conducted in Geelong (an endemic region) in Victoria, sought to develop a serology-based tool for M. ulcerans infection. I am a self-motivated individual. My university training has equipped me with highly relevant skills in many research areas in Life Sciences. I am keen on collaborating with researchers and industry partners on the development of vaccines, cell-mediated and serology-based screening methods for infectious diseases, especially those in mycobacteria.