Professor Zoe Wainer has been appointed as the first Director-General of the Australian Centre for Disease Control (CDC).
Professor Wainer brings more than two decades of leadership across government, healthcare, academia and global health.
She currently serves as Deputy Secretary for Community and Public Health in the Victorian Department of Health, where she leads one of the country's largest public health divisions. Her leadership portfolio spans communicable disease control, prevention, emergency management and public health networks.
Her work is focused on embedding scientific rigour, operational excellence, accountability and a culture of continuous improvement - experience central to building a trusted and effective Australian CDC.
Professor Wainer is also a doctor with a clinical background in cardiothoracic surgery and thoracic surgical oncology, and is a highly regarded academic and policy leader. She holds a PhD and Master of Public Health from the University of Melbourne; is an Enterprise Professor in the Melbourne School of Population and Global Health; and serves as a Principal Investigator with The George Institute for Global Health.
Professor Wainer will formally commence in the role on 1 March 2026. Until then, the CDC will be led by Mr Paul McCormack, who will serve as Acting Director-General to support the agency as it enters its first operational phase.
