Growing up on a remote cattle station near Charters Towers in North Queensland, I saw firsthand the challenges of distance, isolation, and limited access to veterinary and medical services. Those experiences shaped my belief that innovation should reach the people and animals who need it most, rather than expecting them to come to it.
My journey has taken me far beyond the Australian outback. As a veterinarian and bush pilot, I've worked across some of the world's most remote environments. From Indigenous communities in Arnhem Land and the Central Deserts, to wildlife conservation projects in Africa, horse expeditions across Mongolia and Patagonia, livestock systems in Central Asia, and emergency disease responses in northern Australia. Along the way, I witnessed the devastating impact of delayed diagnosis on veterinarians, animals, and communities. Contracting leptospirosis myself while working with cattle in the Kimberley reinforced how urgently we need better frontline diagnostic tools to support timely, objective decision-making.
Today, I am the founder of Bush Labs, where I am developing portable molecular diagnostic platforms and workflows that bring disease testing directly to the coalface. My work focuses on diseases affecting Australia's agricultural industries, companion animals, and wildlife, while embracing the principles of One Health. By working alongside veterinarians, researchers, government agencies, and international collaborators, I endeavour to make rapid, accurate diagnostics more accessible for all Australians and strengthen Australia's preparedness for emerging disease threats.
The Churchill Fellowship represents an opportunity to learn from world-leading experts and bring that knowledge home to build stronger diagnostic capability for Australia. I hope my work will help ensure that whether an animal health worker is based in Cape York, the Kimberley, or Sydney, they have access to rapid, reliable, and robust diagnostic tools that improve animal health, protect livelihoods, and strengthen our nation's biosecurity.
Project
The Saskia Beer Churchill Fellowship to develop a field-based diagnostic, surveillance, and biosecurity response model for remote Australia
Campbell Costello
Contact Fellow
This contact form allows you to contact a Fellow about their Fellowship research. It’s a great opportunity for you to find out more about their findings and make connections. Please note, that only messages related to these purposes will be shared with a Fellow.