The third pillar of the CRE is a novel, cross-sectoral think-tank that provides a forum for collaboration between public health, health systems, emergency medicine, paramedics, defence, security, law enforcement, legal experts and ethicists, and it includes workshops, research on joint leadership of epidemics, identifying gaps in legislation surrounding bioterrorism, and research surrounding the international law and ethics of engineered pathogens. We also provide capacity building, skills development and mentoring for junior researchers, and encourage linkages between essential sectors in epidemic response. The Academy was initiated at a multi-sectorial stakeholder workshop in Canberra in May 2016. Please contact us if you would like to be involved and have access to events and mailing lists.