Professor Jodie McVernon appointed Officer of the Order of Australia (AO)

The University of Melbourne’s Professor Jodie McVernon, an international leader in infectious disease modelling, has been appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) in the 2025 King's Birthday Honours, in recognition of her distinguished service to medical research, in the field of epidemiology and infection prevention, to tertiary education and to public health.

A clinician-scientist and Director of Doherty Epidemiology at the Doherty Institute since 2016, Professor McVernon has helped shape Australia’s response to some of the most pressing health challenges of our time – from H1N1 to COVID-19. Her expertise has underpinned national pandemic strategies, vaccine policies and global infectious disease control efforts. 

In 2014, she established the Modelling and Simulation Unit at the Melbourne School of Population and Global Health at the University of Melbourne, and led successive NHMRC Centres of Research Excellence in Infectious Diseases Modelling from 2015 to 2024  

For nearly two decades, her work has directly informed health policy through engagement with the Australian Government, the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) and the World Health Organization. She has served on a range of influential national and international advisory bodies, including the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee and is co-chair of the WHO Pandemic Hub Collaboratory Technical Advisory Group. 

Professor McVernon also holds the role of Associate Dean (Engagement and Partnerships) in the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences at the University of Melbourne.

The University of Melbourne’s Professor Sharon Lewin, Director of the Doherty Institute, said this award was a fitting recognition of Professor McVernon’s career-long commitment to public health.

“Jodie’s dedication, leadership and collaborative approach have had a lasting impact on public health in Australia and globally,” said Professor Lewin.

“We’re incredibly proud to see her work recognised at the highest level.”
 

Congratulations to all recipients of the 2025 King’s Birthday Honours. The complete list is available on the Governor-General's website.