Associate Professor Julie Bennett is based in the Department of Public Health, University of Otago, Wellington, New Zealand. She has a wide range of public health research interests, with a particular focus on infectious diseases, indoor air quality, housing and health. Her research activities currently have a strong focus on group A streptococcal infections, acute rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease. Julie is the lead researcher of SCIP RHD, a Trans-Tasman collaboration trialing subcutaneous infusions of benzathine penicillin for prevention of rheumatic heart disease. Julie is a member of Pū Manawa (Rheumatic fever network Aotearoa New Zealand) and the World Health Organization ARF and RHD guideline development group.