Australia appoints Dr. Zoe Wainer as first head of new disease control agency set for 2026 launch.

The Albanese government has appointed Professor Zoe Wainer as the first director-general of the Australian Centre for Disease Control (ACDC), which will launch on January 1, 2026. Wainer, a medical doctor with extensive public health experience including leadership in Victoria’s health department and during the COVID-19 response, will begin her role on March 1, with Paul McCormack serving as acting director until then. The ACDC, based in Woden, ACT, aims to strengthen Australia’s pandemic preparedness, disease surveillance, and health security. The appointment was welcomed by the Australian Medical Association, which cited her scientific and clinical leadership as vital for the agency’s effectiveness.