A/Prof Meru Sheel is a global health researcher and epidemiologist, and leads research on infectious diseases, immunisation and health emergencies.

She holds a PhD in vaccinology and an MPhil in Applied Epidemiology. Meru has worked in the Asia-Pacific region for over 10 years including having responded to international emergencies in Fiji, Dominica, Rohingya Crisis in Cox’s Bazar Bangladesh, Tonga and Papua New Guinea.

In 2019, she was awarded a Westpac Research Fellowship (2019-2022) to conduct operational research in health emergencies in the context of infectious diseases and global health security. She is a founding steering committee member of the Australian Regional Immunisation Alliance and the WHO Roadmap for Public Health Workforce. In 2019, Meru was recognised as the Science and Medicine winner for 40 Under 40 Most Influential Asian-Australians. In 2020, she was awarded the ANU Vice Chancellor’s Awards for Impact and Engagement.

Meru is a passionate science communicator & an advocate for gender and diversity in leadership roles.