Associate Professor Bernie Bissett is a physiotherapist with more than 20 years’ experience in ICU and acute care physiotherapy. Having worked as a clinician in Sydney, London and Canberra, Bernie completed her PhD focused on the use of inspiratory muscle training to enhance recovery for ventilator-dependent patients in ICU. She is also a world-leader in research about early mobilisation of critically ill patients, and focuses on patient-centred outcomes. In the past 6 months, Bernie has presented as a keynote speaker at international conferences in New Zealand, Spain and Kuwait. 

Bernie is currently leading the multidisciplinary research in the Canberra Long COVID clinic, where inspiratory muscle training is a cornerstone of treating dyspnoea and improving exercise tolerance. Bernie maintains a Visiting Academic position with Canberra Health Services, and is the Discipline Lead for Physiotherapy at the University of Canberra. Recognised in 2022 with the Tall Poppy Award for research communication, Bernie remains passionate about clinical research and improving patients’ recovery through exercise. Bernie is deeply proud to be a home-grown Canberra researcher and is now continuing the journey through mentoring clinicians and research students who will continue to change the world by measuring things that matter to patients.