Olive 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 President and CEO of Evidence Based Solutions based in Cape Town. She is an honorary Professor in the Department of Psychiatry & Mental Health with specific staff privileges at the University of Cape Town (UCT) . She graduated with a Doctor of Science degree at Johns Hopkins University. Her main area of expertise is the epidemiology and risk factors of HIV, where she was the founder and Principal Investigator for four waves of the population-based HIV survey (2002-2012). She also conducts research on improving access to health care in a form of National Health Insurance (universal health coverage). She is a part-time special advisor of the South African President focusing on Social Policy, which includes health, education, disability, and gender-based violence. She is also supporting the Ministry of Health to develop the National Health Insurance legislation, plan, and funding strategies, service provision, and concomitant quality improvement of the health system. In addition, she was the Chair of the South African BRICS Think Tank, incubating it on behalf of South Africa and developed draft health indicators. She served for ten years as CEO of the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC), the first woman to head it. 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, African Health Research Institute, 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 for five years.
