Future Africa Welcomes Prof Wanda Markotter as Interim Director

Future Africa, the University of Pretoria (UP)’s pan-African platform, is pleased to announce the appointment of Professor Wanda Markotter as Interim Director, effective from 1 July 2024. Prof Markotter will lead the platform until a permanent director is appointed.

Prof Markotter brings extensive transdisciplinary research leadership experience to the role. She holds the Future Africa Research Chair: People, Health and Places (One Health), and is the Director of the Centre for Viral Zoonoses in UP’s Faculty of Health Sciences. Additionally, Prof Markotter occupies the Department of Science and Innovation-National Research Foundation South African Research Chair in Infectious Diseases of Animals (Zoonoses). Her interdisciplinary research programme focuses on bat pathogens, and predicting and preventing the risk of spillover.

In 2021, Prof Markotter was appointed as the Co-Chair of the One Health High-Level Expert Panel, which advises the World Health Organisation, the World Organisation for Animal Health, the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations, and the United Nations Environment Programme.

Prof Markotter’s appointment ensures the continuity of Future Africa’s growth and commitment to advancing transdisciplinary research and collaboration across Africa.

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Prof Wanda Markotter