Professor Paul Kelly is currently the Chief Medical Officer, Head of Interim Australian Centre for Disease Control at the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care and an Adjunct Professor at the Australian National University. A public health physician and epidemiologist by training, Professor Kelly first joined the Department in March 2019 as the Chief Medical Adviser, Health Products Regulation Group. Professor Kelly was the key medical advisor to the Australian Government during the COVID-19 pandemic and has since advised the Irish Government and the Gulf Centre for Disease Control on health protection and pandemic preparedness.

Professor Kelly has previously worked in research, health systems development, post-graduate teaching and as a health service executive at local, state and national levels in Australia, Malawi, Indonesia, East Timor and the UK.

Professor Kelly has over 35 years research experience and has published over 200 journal articles, book chapters and public health guidelines. He has supervised or mentored many trainees and post-graduate students and delivered lectures, workshops, seminars and conference talks in Australia and internationally.