Professor Shisana is a professional with extensive research, management, policy development, fundraising, multilateral and networking skills spanning over 30 years. Experience gained in the USA, South Africa and Switzerland. She is an honorary Professor at the University of Cape Town Psychiatry & Mental Health Department.She graduated with a Doctor of Science degree at Johns Hopkins University, School of Public Health. Her main area of expertise is the epidemiology and risk factors of HIV where she served as Principal Investigator for the population-based survey. She also conducts research on improving access to health care in a form of national health insurance (universal health coverage), where she served as a leader of a Task Team to develop policy on such a plan. In addition, she was Chair of the South Africa BRICS Think Tank, incubating it on behalf of South Africa. She was the CEO of the Human Sciences Research Council for 10 years (the first woman to head it). She is now the President and CEO of Evidence Based Solutions, a privately held policy, research, and ICT firm. Prior to this she served as Executive Director of Social Aspects of HIV/AIDS and Health at the same organization. She served on many national and international scientific committees and advisory boards, such as the US Institute of Medicine’s Committee on Methodological Challenges in HIV Prevention Trials, the Emory University Global Health Institute Advisory Board, the South African National AIDS Council and the Nelson Mandela’s 46664 campaign, and was chair of the Ministerial Advisor on National Health Insurance Committee. She is currently the local chair of the 2016 Global AIDS Conference to be held in Durban, South Africa. She is also chair of the World Social Science Forum 2015 also to be held in Durban.