120 people came together on 13th March 2025 for Western Australia’s inaugural Biosecurity Careers and Networking Event. They heard expert insights from Dr Brenton von Takach, Tracey Vinnicombe and Johann van der Merwe, who shared their diverse experiences on biosecurity career opportunities, challenges and innovations spanning research, fieldwork, government, and industry.
Speakers stressed the importance of:
– building strong connections and trust within the community;
– sharing ‘two-way science’ with traditional owners and pastoralists;
– building capacity and knowledge through education programs;
– bringing everyone into the role of identifying biosecurity threats (instilling a passion in others to get involved by showing them the benefits); and
– focusing on speed, agility, and flexibility in future biosecurity practices.
Many thanks to our event partners Murdoch University’s Harry Butler Institute and the WA Agricultural Research Collaboration.
Group photo below – Guest speakers and members of the Biosecurity Council of Western Australia.
Front row (L to R): Prof. Shashi Sharma, Dr Kelly Pearce, Dr Melissa Thomas, Tracey Vinnicombe, Dr Tracey Sullivan, Justin Bellanger.
Back row (L to R): Johann Van Der Merwe, Brenton von Takach, Prof. Owen Nevin
