Catherine Bennett has a distinguished career in public health practice, research, academic governance and teaching. Catherine joined Deakin as Chair in Epidemiology in 2009 after eight years with the University of Melbourne as Deputy Chair of the Academic Programs Committee in the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, and Director of Population Health Practice in the Melbourne School of Population Health. Prior to that, Catherine worked with the New South Wales and Victorian State Governments in a variety of senior positions, including Olympic Public Health Coordinator for Northern Sydney. Catherine was also the founding Chair and President of the Council of Academic Public Health Institutions Australia.