Communicable Diseases & Immunisation Conference 2025
'Future directions for immunisation and communicable disease control: embracing ideas, innovations and improvements'
Tuesday 10 to Thursday 12 June 2025 | Adelaide Convention Centre, Kaurna Country/Adelaide, SA
#CDIC2025
2025 FEERY ORATION
About The Feery Oration
The Feery Oration is proudly sponsored by CSL Seqirus. This is the 16th Oration to be delivered in honour of Dr Brian Feery, a most distinguished scientist who has made a major contribution to and passion for immunisation and public health in Australia. Throughout his career Dr Feery worked tirelessly in vaccine research, which included at CSL in the areas of preventable diseases of children, influenza vaccine, the development of Q Fever vaccine and studies into smallpox vaccine. His other key appointments included: Senior Associate in the Melbourne University Department of Medicine; Member of the research committee of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners; and he was also the director of the WHO Influenza Reference Centre from 1974-1978. He championed the promotion of immunisation in Australia through education and the development of immunisation policy until his retirement in 1990.
Sponsored by:
2025 Feery Orator
Professor Helen Marshall AM
Professor of Vaccinology, The University of Adelaide
Professor Marshall AM is a clinician researcher and NHMRC Investigator Fellow. She is a Consultant and Professor in Vaccinology at the Adelaide Medical School and the inaugural Clinical Research Director, Women’s and Children’s Health Network. She has previously been a member of the ATAGI, which advises the Federal Minister of Health on immunisation for the National Immunisation Program. Prof Marshall has published over 290 peer-reviewed papers in international journals and received > $60 million in grant funding. She was awarded the SA Science Award for Excellence in Research Collaboration in 2019 and a Member of the Order of Australia in 2022. She is a Fellow of the Academy of Health and Medical Sciences and the 2023 South Australian Scientist of the Year. She was the 2022 SA Australian of the Year and SA Woman of the Year. In 2022 she was awarded Member of the Order of Australia. Prof Marshall leads the NHMRC funded NEIS CRE: Centre of Research Excellence in Neisseria disease control.
2025 Feery Oration Presentation
'Vaccinology - A road less travelled'
My career in vaccinology emerged from several serendipitous events. A focus on meningococcal disease and its prevention through immunisation led to Landmark studies with ground-breaking discoveries and public health benefits in Australia and internationally. Our determination that one vaccine could protect against two closely related bacteria that cause clinically different diseases, is the first opportunity to drive down gonorrhoea globally. The culmination of this work has led to leadership of a NHMRC funded Centre of Research Excellence in Neisseria Disease Control. The NEIS CRE aims to determine the most effective and cost-effective immunisation program to protect against meningococcal B disease and gonorrhoea with one vaccine. A priority for the NEIS CRE investigator team is to deliver the evidence for a national immunisation program for First Nations young people, to Close the Gap.