Professor Edward Holmes is an internationally renowned research scientist studying the evolution and emergence of infectious diseases, particularly the mechanisms by which pathogens cross species boundaries to emerge in humans. His work has provided key insights into the emergence of novel infections. He holds a NHMRC Australia Fellowship (the highest-ranked competitive biomedical fellowship in Australia and one of only six given in 2011, awarded to leading biomedical researchers of international status conducting research of major impact to Australia). Professor Holmes has studied the emergence and spread of avian influenza (bird flu) virus, dengue virus, HIV, hepatitis C virus, myxoma virus, RHDV (rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus) and Yersinia pestis (the plague bacterium). Of note are his major contributions to understanding the evolutionary and epidemiological dynamics of influenza, which have assisted in influenza virus strain prediction and vaccine deployment. He commented extensively to Australian and international media on the 2014-2015 Ebola virus outbreak in West Africa. His previous appointments include Verne M. Willaman Chair in the Life Sciences and Eberly College of Science Distinguished Senior Scholar (2007-2012) at Pennsylvania State University, USA, and Affiliate Member of the Fogarty International Centre (2005-2012), National Institutes of Health, USA. From 1999-2004 he was Fellow of New College, Oxford. Currently he is Member of The Center for Infection and Immunity, Columbia University, USA, and Guest Professor at the Chinese CDC, Beijing. Professor Holmes has an outstanding publication record as author of >400 peer-reviewed papers and two highly-regarded books. His publications have >35,000 citations (h-index of 100; i10-index of 346, see http://scholar.google.com.au/citations?user=Syrp1IMAAAAJ&hl=en).