Dr Drew spent more than 30 years working with various UK agricultural bodies ensuring the UK's preparedness and laboratory response to incursions of exotic disease affecting animals and humans.
His most recent role was Lead Scientist for Animal & Zoonotic Viral Diseases at the Animal and Plant Health Agency laboratories at Weybridge in the UK. In this position he led teams of scientists and veterinarians in delivering a diverse portfolio of research and surveillance for different stakeholders in the animal and human health arena.
CSIRO Executive Director for Digital, National Facilities and Collections Dr Dave Williams said Dr Drew’s wealth of experience in public sector research and innovation would be a great benefit to AAHL and CSIRO.
"Dr Drew is an active advocate of international cooperation, with a strong and established network across Asia, which will be invaluable experience for creating new opportunities for collaboration and partnership for researchers and government here in Australia," Dr Williams said.
Dr Drew said his past experience would equip him for this role at the Australian Animal Health Laboratory.
"My background in leading research and surveillance on behalf of the UK to ensure preparedness, agility and innovative approaches to detection and response should be a great benefit for Australian agriculture," Dr Drew said.
"I've worked closely with scientists at AAHL on a number of occasions in the past and I’m really looking forward to leading them in a new era of greater innovation and international engagement.
"Working in true partnership and collaboration between academia and industry is essential if we are to meet the formidable challenges of food safety and security in the coming years."
Dr Drew will commence with CSIRO in September 2018 and will be based in Geelong, Victoria.
The Australian Animal Health Laboratory (AAHL) helps protect Australia's multi-billion dollar livestock and aquaculture industries, and the general public, from emerging infectious disease threats.
It is a high-containment facility designed to allow scientific research into the most dangerous infectious agents in the world.
