| Kerry Chant | |
| Office: | Chief Health Officer of New South Wales |
| Term Start: | 2008 |
| Deputy: | Jeremy McAnulty Marianne Gale |
| Predecessor: | Greg Stewart |
| Nationality: | Australian |
| Profession: | Public health officer |
| Alma Mater: | University of New South Wales |
| Premier: | Morris Iemma Nathan Rees Kristina Keneally Barry O'Farrell Mike Baird Gladys Berejiklian Dominic Perrottet Chris Minns |
Kerry Gai Chant is a public health physician who has been the chief health officer of New South Wales, Australia, since 2008. She gained prominence during the COVID-19 pandemic providing regular public health advice for New South Wales, a contribution for which she was named the state's Woman of the Year in March 2021.[1]
Chant grew up in Punchbowl, New South Wales.[2] She attended the Danebank Anglican School for Girls, graduating in 1980.[3] Chant worked in retail jobs and a pharmacy before studying medicine.[4] She attended the University of New South Wales where she completed a Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery in 1987, a Master in Health Administration in 1991 and a Master of Public Health in 1995.[5]
Chant has been with the New South Wales Health Department since 1991 working in the areas of virus infections, communicable diseases prevention and control and Indigenous health.[6] She is currently the Deputy Secretary, Population and Public Health and Chief Health Officer.[7] Prior to this, Chant was Director, Public Health Unit in Sydney South West Area Health Service; Director, Health Protection and Deputy Chief Health Officer. In 2013, she was threatened for advocating fluoridation of the water supply in the City of Lismore.[8] During the state's response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Chant often appeared alongside premier Gladys Berejiklian when providing health updates and advice to the public.[9]