Prof. Helen Rees is included in Africa Health 20 because she represents a form of influence that is both scientific and policy-shaping. As Founder and Executive Director of Wits RHI, she leads one of South Africa’s most important research and implementation institutions, with work spanning HIV, tuberculosis, reproductive health, and vaccines.
Her influence is not simply academic. It lives in policy, public health strategy, and the institutions that translate evidence into action. In 2025, her continued relevance was underscored by her receipt of the WHO Dr LEE Jong-wook Memorial Prize for Public Health, recognizing her sustained contribution to public health leadership, vaccine research, outbreak response, and health equity.
Influence Areas
Vaccines; Reproductive Health; HIV; Public Health Policy
