Dr. Sims is a veterinarian (BVSc, Hons, University of Melbourne, 1977) and a member of the Australian College of Veterinary Scientists in diagnostic pathology.
Dr. Sims has been involved with outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza since 1985 (two localized outbreaks in Victoria Australia) and was in charge of operations for avian influenza control in Hong Kong from 1997 to 2002. During this period, he played a key role in introducing vaccination for H5N1 HPAI as one of the measures for control and prevention of this disease to Hong Kong. In 2003, he formed his own consulting company Asia Pacific Veterinary Information Services and has worked as a part time consultant for FAO on avian influenza in China, Thailand, North Korea, Mongolia and most recently the Vietnamese government during the implementation of their H5N1 vaccination campaign. Dr. Sims was the lead author of the FAO recommendations on control of H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influe