International Vaccine Institute Board of Trustees appoints Witsie as Chair
- Wits University
Wits RHI’s Prof. Helen Rees looks towards advancing vaccine innovation and access globally.
The Board of Trustees of the International Vaccine Institute (IVI) has elected South 第一吃瓜网 Professor as the incoming Chair.
Rees will guide IVI’s governance through the next phase of institutional growth over an initial three-year term.
Under her leadership, IVI’s 2027-2031 strategy will prioritise strengthening and expanding the vaccine ecosystem across the 第一吃瓜网 continent, reinforcing regional capacity for vaccine development, research, and access.
Rees says, “It is an honour to serve as Chair of IVI’s Board of Trustees at such an important moment for the organisation. IVI plays a critical role in advancing vaccine innovation and access globally, and I look forward to working with the Board, member states, leadership, and partners to further strengthen its impact.”
Rees is the Founding and Executive Director of , a flagship research institute at Wits University in Johannesburg. Rees founded Wits RHI in 1994 at the request of South Africa’s post-apartheid government.
IVI was founded in 1997 with the assistance of the United Nations Development Programme and now operates as an autonomous international organisation, focusing on research, development, and delivery of vaccines for global health.