Ideas@theHouse: February 2025

Ideas@theHouse

presented by

Her Excellency the Honourable Margaret Beazley AC KC
Governor of NSW

“Where Worlds Collide: Exploring the wild/domestic animal-human interface in One Health”

Sarah Britton
Director, One Health Unit
Australian Centre for Disease Control
Department of Health and Aged Care

Date: Thursday, 20 February 2025, 6.30 – 8.00 pm AEST
Venue: Face-to-face (by invitation for Society members) and live streaming from Government House Sydney
Registration: Information to follow
Entry: No charge
All are welcome to the live stream

Summary: The wild-domestic-human interface represents a critical juncture where interactions between wildlife, domestic animals, and humans create opportunities for pathogen spillover, threatening global health, biodiversity, and economies. This presentation explores the drivers of these interactions, including habitat encroachment, land-use changes, and human activities, and examines the risks and challenges posed by zoonotic diseases. Through the lens of the One Health approach, we highlight strategies for mitigating these risks, such as integrated surveillance, enhanced biosecurity, and cross-sector collaboration. By addressing the complexities of this interface, we aim to foster a deeper understanding of its role in safeguarding human, animal, and environmental health.

Sarah Britton Sarah is an experienced executive leader with 30 years of One Health and biosecurity experience across government, private, and not-for-profit sectors. She is the Director of One Health in the interim Australian CDC, the principal consultant of One Biosecurity Solutions, and a Non-Executive Director for Australian Eggs. She was the NSW Chief Veterinarian Officer leading multiple emergency responses, such as Japanese Encephalitis, and owned two veterinary practices in city and regional locations. Sarah is passionate about One Health and improving human, animal and ecosystem health.

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