Bernoth, Eva-Mara

Dr Bernoth graduated in veterinary medicine from the Hannover School of Veterinary Medicine in 1984, and gained her Doctor Medicinae Veterinariae for a thesis on fish furunculosis in 1986. She moved to Australia in 1994 to work as a Senior Research Scientist at the Australian Animal Health laboratory, and in 1998 gained the position as Manager for the Aquatic Animal Health Unit, Office of the Chief Veterinary Officer Australian Government Department of Agriculture Fisheries & Forestry. In 2005 Dr Bernoth was promoted to the Level of Senior Principal Research Scientist.

Dr Bernoth is recognized internationally for her work in aquatic animal health. One of her most notable achievements was being appointed as a member of the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) Aquatic Animal Health Standards commission in 2000 – the first female to be given membership to any OIE Commission. Further, in 2003 Dr Bernoth was elected as President of this Commission, and again re-elected in June 2006. Again, Dr Bernoth is the first female in history to be President of an OIE Commission.

In August 2006, Dr Bernoth was promoted to acting Australian Deputy Chief Veterinary Officer. Other positions currently held include Vice Chair of the Network of Aquaculture Centres in Asia-Pacific-Asia Regional Advisory Group on Aquatic Animal Health; and Australia’s National Coordinator for continued implementation of the Asia Regional Technical Guidelines on Health Management for the Responsible Movement of Live Aquatic Animals.

Dr Bernoth has published 67 articles, edited/co-edited 2 books, and has been formally recognized for her exceptional work in driving significant improvements in national and international aquatic animal health, after leading the Aquatic Animal Health Subprogram of the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation – comprising over 50 R&D projects.