Food security, healthy animals and people our focus: new Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences Dean

Acclaimed virologist and academic John Fazakerley has today commenced his role as Dean of the University of Melbourne Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences.

Professor Fazakerley, whose appointment was announced in February, joins the University from the UK, where he was most recently the Director and CEO of respected virology research institute The Pirbright Institute.

He will be the second Dean of the Faculty, which was established in 2014, and takes over from Acting Dean Brian Leury.

Professor Fazakerley said it was a privilege and an honour to be leading the Faculty, which has a long and distinguished history of teaching and research.

“The Faculty has many strengths, highlights and achievements to be proud of, including strong student enrolments in the new Bachelor of Agriculture,” Professor Fazackerley said.

“Food security, healthy animals and healthy people are grand challenges for the future and our Faculty is well-placed to continue to make significant contributions to these at a regional, national and global level.”

A strong advocate of scientific research, Professor Fazakerley is an internationally renowned virologist who specialises in understanding processes underlying animal and human virus diseases.

He has more than 35 years’ combined experience as a director, academic and researcher.

“I am excited and optimistic about the future prospects of this Faculty and have seen much to be proud of and much that has been initiated to best equip us for the future,” Professor Fazakerley said.

“The Faculty has expert, able and dedicated staff, excellent and highly involved students and strong support from the central University for our needs at all three of our main campuses.”

Later this month, Professor Fazakerley will give presentations and hold meet-and-greets with staff and students at the Werribee, Parkville and Dookie campuses.