Nicola Spurrier

Nicola Jane Spurrier PSM (born 9 December 1966) is an Australian paediatrician and public health physician who has been the Chief Public Health Officer of South Australia since August 2019.

Education Spurrier graduated with a Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery from the University of Adelaide in 1990. She has a Graduate Diploma in Epidemiology from the University of Newcastle (1997) and completed a PhD from Adelaide University in 1999, with a thesis titled Parental management of children's asthma:the role of psychosocial factors. In 2011, the university awarded her the status of associate professor and in April 2020, professor.

Spurrier has worked for SA Health for nearly thirty years, She became popular with the public and had a cocktail named after her at Adelaide bar 2KW. Despite her "cult following", she ruled out a move into politics.

Awards and recognition Spurrier was one of four nominees for 2021 South Australian of the Year. She was awarded a Public Service Medal in the 2021 Queen's Birthday Honours for outstanding public service to community health in South Australia.

In September 2022, a newly discovered species of bacteria was named Nicolia spurrieriana in recognition of Spurrier's work during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Personal life Spurrier has been married to David Spurrier, a physiotherapist, for thirty years and they have a daughter and two sons. Her mother, sister, and brother in law are all also doctors.

Selected publications Book

Articles