Dr. Olivia Liu

ACT Director

Dr. Olivia Liu, Policy Officer in the Aquatic Biosecurity Risk Assessment unit within the Marine and Aquatic Biosecurity section of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF). I have been with the department for the past 8 years. I completed my bachelor’s degree in Animal and Veterinary Bioscience at the University of Sydney (USYD) in 2011 and my PhD on the ‘Transmission of ostreid herpesvirus1 in the Pacific oyster (Crassostrea gigas)’ at USYD in 2016. I am an expert in aquatic animal health management and biosecurity. I am passionate about improving Australia’s aquatic animal health systems nationally and protecting our aquatic animal industries and environments.

In my role, I have led the development and implementation of national strategic plans for aquatic animal health; organised and attended international workshops in Thailand to assist our neighbours in the Asia-Pacific region to improve their ability to detect aquatic animal diseases; and have contributed to the development of national biosecurity plan guidelines for aquatic animal industries, surveillance strategies and emergency responses for exotic aquatic animal diseases.

For me, science is about the people, and I am fortunate that my career has given me the opportunity to connect and work with many different people, including those in aquaculture and fisheries, government, the private sector, and academia.