Dr Allison Crook
Dr Allison Crook has dedicated almost 30 years to animal health and biosecurity, driving positive outcomes for industry, the environment, communities and government. Widely recognised for her analytical and strategic thinking, Dr Crook is highly respected by government and industry partners as a trusted leader in emergency management, daily operations and for championing positive change.
She started her public service career in 1997 as a veterinary officer with the Queensland Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries. Early achievements include leading national programs to monitor and reduce chemical residues in animal products and establishing the department’s first detector dog team.
In 2001 Dr Crook travelled to the United Kingdom as a representative of the Queensland Government where she assisted in the response to the devastating foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) outbreak in Wales. In September 2002 she led the Queensland component of Exercise Minotaur designed to test Australia’s national arrangements for managing post-border aspects of an FMD outbreak.
Dr Crook was appointed Director, Animal Biosecurity and Welfare, Biosecurity Queensland in 2008. As part of this role, she also held the position of Chief Inspector of Stock, coordinating a team of policy officers working across animal biosecurity, animal welfare and animal ethics. She was instrumental in supporting the team that controlled and then eradicated equine influenza in Queensland, helping Australia become one of the few countries in the world to have successfully eradicated the disease.
In June 2014 she was appointed General Manager Animal Biosecurity and Welfare, Biosecurity Queensland, which also includes the role of Chief Veterinary Officer.
In 2019 the Australian Chief Veterinary Officer invited Dr Crook to be a member of the Australian delegation at the 87th World Animal Health Organisation General Session in Paris. This is testament to her professionalism and commitment to animal health and biosecurity at a national and international level.
Dr Crook is an outstanding advocate for continuous improvement in the biosecurity system and affecting change at a state and national level. This is demonstrated through her work on national approaches to managing significant emergency animal diseases, including FMD and Hendra virus.
Throughout her career, Dr Crook has energetically led and contributed to animal, aquatic and plant biosecurity emergency responses at a state, national and international level. She actively promotes response preparedness and has led or been involved in exercises that aim to enhance the national biosecurity system.
Dr Crook is a progressive and considered thinker. She is always looking ahead and scanning to evaluate biosecurity risks. For example, she implemented a proactive approach to address the spread of African swine fever (ASF) in Europe and Asia. This included the launch of an extensive communication campaign and development of a nationally implemented ASF guide for veterinarians to raise awareness among government and industry stakeholders.
Dr Crook is now leading the Queensland Government’s high pathogenicity avian influenza (HPAI) preparedness agenda through a One Health approach. HPAI is a significant threat to Australia’s poultry industry, wildlife and environment, so preparedness is a national priority.
Through her leadership, Queensland has maintained a strong presence on high-level national forums and committees focused on biosecurity and animal welfare. Dr Crook represents Queensland on the national Animal Health Committee, including chairing several specialised task groups. She has chaired the national Animal Welfare Task Group since 2020.
Dr Crook has represented the state and territory agriculture authorities on the SAFEMEAT Partners group for many years. The group plays a crucial role in ensuring Australia has robust meat safety and livestock traceability systems in place.
Dr Crook was honoured with a Public Service Medal at the 2024 Australia Day Awards for outstanding public service during COVID-19 to animal welfare and the protection of biosecurity in Queensland.
Demonstrating exemplary leadership and unwavering commitment, she has made a profound and nationally significant contribution to Australia’s biosecurity – an achievement worthy of recognition.
Watch a video about their work
Introduction
This is the accessible text transcript of the 2025 Australian Biosecurity Awards winner video featuring Dr Allison Crook.
Transcript
Hello, I’m Allison Crook, Queensland Chief Veterinary Officer and recipient of the 2025 Dr David Banks Biosecurity Lifetime Achievement Award.
Thank you for this incredible honour.
I am deeply humbled to receive this recognition, and I want to take a moment to reflect on what biosecurity truly means to me.
Biosecurity is far more than a profession or a job. It’s a responsibility, a commitment and a way of being.
It’s about protecting the health of our animals, our environment, our industries and our communities.
It’s about safeguarding the balance that sustains us, ensuring that the systems we rely on today remain strong, resilient and ready to support future generations.
Biosecurity requires us to stay one step ahead, to anticipate risks before they become crises, and to act decisively to protect, when we need to.
Throughout my career, I’ve been privileged to work alongside passionate, skilled and dedicated individuals. People who share a common biosecurity purpose.
Together, we’ve faced challenges ranging from disease outbreaks to emerging threats and through collaboration, innovation and sheer determination, we have found solutions that make a real difference.
Biosecurity is about partnerships.
It is about recognising that no one person, organisation or sector can tackle these challenges alone.
It requires collaboration across all levels – between government, industry, researchers and community.
I am profoundly grateful to have had the opportunity to contribute to something so meaningful, and I look forward to continuing this important work in the years to come.
Thank you.
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