John Piispanen

As a ‘Buddy’ for the Education and Professional Development Theme, I work closely with Dr Greg Jackson from the Department of Health and A/Prof Coral Gartner from the University of Queensland.  It has been exciting watching the developments of the Master of Environmental Health Sciences program which will provide a tremendous opportunity for health professionals to compliment and build upon their existing skill sets.  I look forward to continuing involvement with QAEHS and providing input into further professional development opportunities.

John is an Environmental Health Officer and the Director of the Metro North Public Health Unit with Queensland Health in Brisbane.  The Public Health Unit comprises over 50 multi-disciplinary health practitioners including physicians, nurses, environmental health officers, epidemiologists, business support staff and an entomologist who seek to safeguard the community from potential harm or illness caused by exposure to hazards, disease or harmful practices.

John has over 33 years environmental health and public health experience with Queensland Health throughout Queensland and has a Masters in Public Health. John has also undertaken environmental health,  food safety and auditing consultancies and undertaken numerous contracts in the Solomon Islands and worked in Sierra Leone as part of the Ebola response. John is also a member of the Australian Medical Assistance Team (AUSMAT) and deployed internationally.