{"id":1816,"date":"2026-05-28T12:44:34","date_gmt":"2026-05-28T12:44:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tbconference.co.za\/?page_id=1816"},"modified":"2026-05-28T13:24:02","modified_gmt":"2026-05-28T13:24:02","slug":"plenary-speakers-2","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/tbconference.co.za\/index.php\/plenary-speakers-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Plenary speakers"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-page\" data-elementor-id=\"1816\" class=\"elementor elementor-1816\" data-elementor-post-type=\"page\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fb95185 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"fb95185\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-efc18c3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"efc18c3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.23.0 - 05-08-2024 *\/\n.elementor-heading-title{padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title[class*=elementor-size-]>a{color:inherit;font-size:inherit;line-height:inherit}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-small{font-size:15px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-medium{font-size:19px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-large{font-size:29px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-xl{font-size:39px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-xxl{font-size:59px}<\/style><h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Plenary <br \/> Speakers<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d9e9267 elementor-widget-divider--separator-type-pattern elementor-widget-divider--no-spacing elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"d9e9267\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.23.0 - 05-08-2024 *\/\n.elementor-widget-divider{--divider-border-style:none;--divider-border-width:1px;--divider-color:#0c0d0e;--divider-icon-size:20px;--divider-element-spacing:10px;--divider-pattern-height:24px;--divider-pattern-size:20px;--divider-pattern-url:none;--divider-pattern-repeat:repeat-x}.elementor-widget-divider .elementor-divider{display:flex}.elementor-widget-divider .elementor-divider__text{font-size:15px;line-height:1;max-width:95%}.elementor-widget-divider .elementor-divider__element{margin:0 var(--divider-element-spacing);flex-shrink:0}.elementor-widget-divider .elementor-icon{font-size:var(--divider-icon-size)}.elementor-widget-divider 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.elementor-divider-separator{width:100%;min-height:var(--divider-pattern-height);-webkit-mask-size:var(--divider-pattern-size) 100%;mask-size:var(--divider-pattern-size) 100%;-webkit-mask-repeat:var(--divider-pattern-repeat);mask-repeat:var(--divider-pattern-repeat);background-color:var(--divider-color);-webkit-mask-image:var(--divider-pattern-url);mask-image:var(--divider-pattern-url)}.elementor-widget-divider--no-spacing{--divider-pattern-size:auto}.elementor-widget-divider--bg-round{--divider-pattern-repeat:round}.rtl .elementor-widget-divider .elementor-divider__text{direction:rtl}.e-con-inner>.elementor-widget-divider,.e-con>.elementor-widget-divider{width:var(--container-widget-width,100%);--flex-grow:var(--container-widget-flex-grow)}<\/style>\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\" style=\"--divider-pattern-url: url(&quot;data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns=&#039;http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg&#039; preserveAspectRatio=&#039;none&#039; overflow=&#039;visible&#039; height=&#039;100%&#039; viewBox=&#039;0 0 24 24&#039; fill=&#039;black&#039; stroke=&#039;none&#039;%3E%3Cpath d=&#039;M24,8v12H0V8H24z M24,4v1H0V4H24z&#039;\/%3E%3C\/svg%3E&quot;);\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a88ae6c e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"a88ae6c\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-87fd6e2 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"87fd6e2\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b4ea8bb elementor-invisible elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"b4ea8bb\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_animation&quot;:&quot;slideInLeft&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/tbconference.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/26.png\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-1819\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/tbconference.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/26.png 200w, https:\/\/tbconference.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/26-150x150.png 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2e64fc0 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"2e64fc0\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e474dcf elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"e474dcf\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Ald Nkosindiphile Xhakaza<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c8f9c70 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"c8f9c70\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.23.0 - 05-08-2024 *\/\n.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-stacked .elementor-drop-cap{background-color:#69727d;color:#fff}.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-framed .elementor-drop-cap{color:#69727d;border:3px solid;background-color:transparent}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap{margin-top:8px}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap-letter{width:1em;height:1em}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap{float:left;text-align:center;line-height:1;font-size:50px}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap-letter{display:inline-block}<\/style>\t\t\t\t<p>Alderman Nkosindiphile Doctor Xhakaza, the newly elected Executive Mayor of the City of Ekurhuleni, brings a wealth of experience and a strong leadership background to the role. Mayor Xhakaza was raised in the Lebeong Section of Thembisa, coming from humble beginnings. He pursued his education at Inxiweni Primary School and later at Masiqhakaze Secondary School.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f54a5fb e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"f54a5fb\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-159fa0b elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"159fa0b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>He holds a National Diploma in Cost and Management Accounting (Cum Laude) from Vaal University of Tech-nology and a Postgraduate Diploma in Public Management from Re-genesys. His career in public service began in 2011 as a PR Councillor in Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality, where he later became the Deputy Chief Whip for the ANC Caucus, contributing significantly to municipal affairs and service delivery.<br \/>Xhakaza has played a pivotal role on several crucial Section 79 commit-tees, including the Transport Planning and Provision Oversight and the Oversight Committee on the Mayor\u2019s Office and Legislature, where he monitored institutional and governance performance. As the Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) for Water and Energy, and subsequently for Finance, Economic Development, and ICT, Xhakaza steered strategic initiatives targeting critical infrastructure and financial health. His leader-ship contributed to significant milestones, such as receiving a Clean Audit Opinion for the 2019\/2020 financial year. More recently, in his roles as leader of Executive Business and MMC for Corporate and Shared Services and Service Delivery Coordination, Xhakaza has been dedicat-ed to driving operational enhancements, fostering economic expansion, and upholding clean governance. His efforts are consistently supported by a steadfast dedication to social justice and a commitment to excel-lence in service delivery.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-56c32a9 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"56c32a9\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fddac8e e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"fddac8e\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6a63e27 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"6a63e27\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Prof. Mosa Moshabela  <\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a5b8490 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"a5b8490\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Professor Mosa Moshabela is a Professor of Public Health and Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Research and Innovation at the University of KwaZu-lu-Natal, overseeing research strategy, ethics, innovation, entrepreneur-ship, and technology transfer across the university. He is an esteemed clinician scientist and a member of the Academy of Science of South Africa. He has received several honours, including the PHILA Annual Award (2022) and a Ministerial Special COVID-19 Award for science communication and public engagement.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-96bd83b e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"96bd83b\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c54832d elementor-invisible elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"c54832d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_animation&quot;:&quot;slideInRight&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/tbconference.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/25.png\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-1820\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/tbconference.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/25.png 200w, https:\/\/tbconference.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/25-150x150.png 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6b65794 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"6b65794\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e1cdf8f elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"e1cdf8f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>He chairs the National Research Foundation Governing Board and serves as Health Commissioner to the Premier of KwaZulu-Natal. His previous roles include board membership at the South African Medical Research Council and leadership positions within ASSAf. His research focuses on implementation science, improving access and quality of healthcare, particularly for HIV and TB in sub-Saharan Africa. He leads the QuEST Centre and contributes to several global advisory boards on health sys-tems and global health.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e6b7ebb e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"e6b7ebb\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-701bfd5 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"701bfd5\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-640f55c elementor-invisible elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"640f55c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_animation&quot;:&quot;slideInLeft&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/tbconference.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/1.png\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-1844\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/tbconference.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/1.png 200w, https:\/\/tbconference.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/1-150x150.png 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3f854f9 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"3f854f9\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d9b74c0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"d9b74c0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Dr Dennis Falzon<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3cf88f4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"3cf88f4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Dr Dennis Falzon works at the Department for HIV, Tuberculosis, Hepatitis and Sexually Transmitted Infections of the World Health Organization (WHO) in Geneva, Switzerland. Before joining WHO in 2008 he was a medical epidemiologist at the EuroTB surveillance project in France and earlier worked in public health in state and non-governmental sectors. Dr Falzon is involved in the development of guidance on TB screening and TB prevention; the integration of digital technologies and innovations in support of the End TB Strategy; country preparedness for new TB vaccines; and evidence gathering and dissemination.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e533827 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"e533827\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9bd9dec e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"9bd9dec\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ae8bd61 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"ae8bd61\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Prof. Kogie Naidoo<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-41063d6 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"41063d6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Prof Kogieleum Naidoo, MBChB, PhD (UKZN), is Deputy Director at CAPRISA and an Honorary Associate Professor at the University of KwaZulu-Natal. Her research on TB\u2013HIV integration has significantly influenced global policies and treatment strategies. Supported by leading international funders, she has authored over 200 peer-reviewed papers and contributed to major global health books. Her work has been recognized with several honours, including election to the African Academy of Sciences (2025), the Royal Society of South Africa (2023), and ASSAf (2022), the EDCTP Outstanding Female Scientist Award (2023), the SAMRC Silver Medal (2024), and the Union Scientific Prize (2013).<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e3bb4e5 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"e3bb4e5\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1d425af elementor-invisible elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"1d425af\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_animation&quot;:&quot;slideInRight&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/tbconference.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/2.png\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-1843\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/tbconference.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/2.png 200w, https:\/\/tbconference.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/2-150x150.png 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2ae3b39 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"2ae3b39\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8f80ed2 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"8f80ed2\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6ee53be elementor-invisible elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"6ee53be\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_animation&quot;:&quot;slideInLeft&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/tbconference.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/3.png\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-1842\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/tbconference.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/3.png 200w, https:\/\/tbconference.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/3-150x150.png 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1e8cc74 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"1e8cc74\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7f0a6d9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"7f0a6d9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Prof Grant Theron<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-498f345 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"498f345\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Grant is based in Cape Town, South Africa, where he leads a research group (CLIME) dedicated to pursuing practical and translatable solutions to end tuberculosis via Africa-centred excellence in training and research. CLIME\u2019s research uses diverse clinical and laboratory facilities and spans diagnostics, transmission, and the microbiome. This work has led to improvements in the standard-of-care for people affected by tuberculosis.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-491df5a e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"491df5a\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0b1edb7 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"0b1edb7\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c08f258 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"c08f258\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Ms. Ntswaki Mosia-Motaung<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1e753c8 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"1e753c8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>In 2009, shortly after moving from the Free State to Pretoria for work, the narrator began experiencing severe TB symptoms, including persis-tent coughing, night sweats, weight loss, chest pains, fatigue, and loss of appetite. Although initial sputum tests came back negative, a trusted healthcare professional in Bethlehem suspected TB and arranged further tests. X-rays later revealed holes in the lungs, confirming the diagnosis, and treatment with Rifafour was started. During treatment, the narrator developed severe shingles, which was managed with medication and traditional remedies, and successfully completed the full 9-month TB treatment course.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1b65788 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"1b65788\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-839aa17 elementor-invisible elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"839aa17\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_animation&quot;:&quot;slideInRight&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/tbconference.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/4.png\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-1841\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/tbconference.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/4.png 200w, https:\/\/tbconference.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/4-150x150.png 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-37fb209 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"37fb209\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ed99d24 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"ed99d24\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>n 2014, after relocating to Johannesburg, TB returned. This time the symptoms included fatigue, coughing, weight loss, and loss of appetite. The illness became so severe that the narrator could not get out of bed, prompting a caring landlord to contact their mother, who took them home for medical care. Sputum tests confirmed TB, and the narrator again completed a full 9-month course of treatment without complica-tions.<\/p><p><br \/>The narrator expresses gratitude for the healthcare professionals who supported them and hopes their story encourages others to screen for TB, start treatment early, complete the treatment course, and speak openly about TB. Their message is clear: TB is curable and manageable, and everyone has a role to play in helping South Africa achieve a TB-free future by 2030.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-30f7864 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"30f7864\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-af4c24c e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"af4c24c\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-83c0503 elementor-invisible elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"83c0503\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_animation&quot;:&quot;slideInLeft&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/tbconference.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/5.png\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-1840\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/tbconference.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/5.png 200w, https:\/\/tbconference.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/5-150x150.png 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-43b10d2 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"43b10d2\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a6b8eb3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"a6b8eb3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Dr. Pakishe Aaron Motsoaledi<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a72f777 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"a72f777\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Aaron Motsoaledi is a South African medical doctor, anti-apartheid activist, and senior African National Congress (ANC) politician. He currently serves as South Africa\u2019s Minister of Health, a position he resumed in June 2024.<\/p><p>Education &amp; Early Career<br \/>Motsoaledi studied medicine at the University of Natal, where he became in-volved in student politics and anti-apartheid activism. After qualifying as a doctor, he worked in rural hospitals and clinics in Limpopo.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3d74bfb e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"3d74bfb\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-280224b e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"280224b\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6b3310f elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"6b3310f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Prof Neil Martinson<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1e2cc1b elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"1e2cc1b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Neil Martinson heads the Perinatal HIV Research Unit (PHRU). He graduated as a physician from the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg. He has over 20 years of managerial, and research experience in HIV and TB. His research work includes: preventing TB and measuring its interactions with HIV; viral drug resistance selected by PMTCT programs; case finding for TB in HIV-infected pregnant women and household contacts of a TB case. He has undertaken four large studies of household contact tracing, using index cases of a variety of different types who either had TB disease or TB infection.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-939edeb e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"939edeb\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b656fd8 elementor-invisible elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"b656fd8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_animation&quot;:&quot;slideInRight&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/tbconference.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/6.png\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-1839\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/tbconference.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/6.png 200w, https:\/\/tbconference.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/6-150x150.png 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4950acd e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"4950acd\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9c95ef4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"9c95ef4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>He has published several studies assessing the value of active case finding using different methods of diagnosis. He has experience in design and implementation of both individually and cluster randomised trials and while he continues to conduct research in Soweto, he has also built a large research platform in Matlosana and Limpopo Province, both areas with and HIV\/TB problem in South Africa. His current research thrust is measuring reductions in mortality, morbidity and transmission of TB.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f10ce52 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"f10ce52\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c9473c2 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"c9473c2\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-445ab90 elementor-invisible elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"445ab90\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_animation&quot;:&quot;slideInLeft&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/tbconference.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/7.png\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-1838\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/tbconference.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/7.png 200w, https:\/\/tbconference.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/7-150x150.png 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e3316f2 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"e3316f2\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9829fc9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"9829fc9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Prof Ali Esmail<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9840ee3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"9840ee3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Prof Ali Esmail is a specialist physician and an interventional pulmonologist based at Groote Schuur Hospital in Cape Town, South Africa. He serves as the Deputy Head of the Centre for Lung Infection and Immunity at the University of Cape Town Lung Institute and is a Principal Investigator on several clinical trials focused on tuberculosis (TB) and related conditions across Africa. Prof Esmail has a PhD in TB diagnostics and is currently involved in several clinical trials evaluating novel TB vaccines. Prof Esmail is also a founding member for the charity \u2018Free-of-TB\u2019 which promotes the health, well-being and interests of patients with tuberculosis.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5a4fb79 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"5a4fb79\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1e95c5c e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"1e95c5c\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-dece123 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"dece123\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Mr Russell Rensburg <\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-142bf8a elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"142bf8a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Russell Rensburg is a health activist working towards equitable access to quality health care for rural communities and serves as the current RHAP director. He has over 15 years&#8217; experience working on strengthening health systems, with 8 of those spent managing technical assistance in Eastern Africa and South Africa. He has a strong interest in strengthening the responsive-ness of public finance allocation and governance processes towards advancing the fulfillment the right to healthcare to rural communities.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-53e48a1 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"53e48a1\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c5dd270 elementor-invisible elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"c5dd270\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_animation&quot;:&quot;slideInRight&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/tbconference.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/8.png\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-1837\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/tbconference.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/8.png 200w, https:\/\/tbconference.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/8-150x150.png 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5174c50 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"5174c50\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d26d14b elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"d26d14b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>He has served as a commissioner on the South Africa Lancet Commission for quality health systems as well on the ministerial task team tasked with the development of the National Human Resources for Health Strategy. He is a founding member of the Budget Justice Coalition and a member of the advisory panel of the Public Economics project at the Southern Centre for Inequality Studies @WITS<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f05add6 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"f05add6\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-abee7d9 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"abee7d9\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-81efbbc elementor-invisible elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"81efbbc\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_animation&quot;:&quot;slideInLeft&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/tbconference.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/9.png\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-1836\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/tbconference.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/9.png 200w, https:\/\/tbconference.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/9-150x150.png 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5a9e10f e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"5a9e10f\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b0ee7d7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"b0ee7d7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Prof Jason Farley<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f3edfd4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"f3edfd4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Jason Farley is an internationally recognized nurse scientist, infectious disease epidemiologist, and nurse practitioner at Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing. He is widely known for his work in HIV\/AIDS care, tuberculosis research, and public health innovation, particularly in South Africa and the United States.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b6bb690 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"b6bb690\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f5983e2 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"f5983e2\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f9c7a88 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"f9c7a88\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Prof Rubeshan Perumal<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-271237c elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"271237c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Dr. Perumal is a Consultant Physician and Fellow in Pulmonology and Critical Care at the University of Cape Town, where he pro-vides specialist respiratory and intensive care services, teaches medical students, and contributes to specialist training in internal medicine and critical care. He also participates in leadership of outreach and specialized clinics for complex drug-resistant tuberculosis. In addition, he is a Scientific Research Associate at CAPRISA, focusing on tuberculosis and HIV research and mentoring junior researchers and stu-dents.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-bc0ef6d e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"bc0ef6d\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b9ea3a4 elementor-invisible elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"b9ea3a4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_animation&quot;:&quot;slideInRight&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/tbconference.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/10.png\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-1835\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/tbconference.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/10.png 200w, https:\/\/tbconference.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/10-150x150.png 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7ec1652 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"7ec1652\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4fda7ab elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"4fda7ab\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>He holds an MBChB (University of KwaZulu-Natal, 2009), MPH (2012), and MMed (2016), and is a Fellow of the Colleges of Medicine South Africa. He is currently a PhD candidate at UKZN. His research fo-cuses on TB\/HIV epidemiology and health systems strengthening, with emphasis on integrated models of care for co-epidemics. He has presented widely at conferences and continues to build a grow-ing publication record in respiratory and infectious diseases.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b9a433b e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"b9a433b\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1d6064a e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"1d6064a\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c96caca elementor-invisible elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"c96caca\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_animation&quot;:&quot;slideInLeft&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/tbconference.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/11.png\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-1834\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/tbconference.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/11.png 200w, https:\/\/tbconference.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/11-150x150.png 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8e780c4 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"8e780c4\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6af642e elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"6af642e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Prof Max O Donnell<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9a1b6a7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"9a1b6a7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Dr. O\u2019Donnell\u2019s research focuses on global health, with particular emphasis on tubercu-losis (TB), HIV, and severe acute respiratory infections. His work is primarily based in South Africa and Uganda, with additional training and capacity-building activities in Ethiopia. He collaborates with leading insti-tutions including CAPRISA, the KwaZulu-Natal Research Institute for TB\/HIV (K-RITH), Albert Einstein College of Medicine, and the Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI).<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-23d6507 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"23d6507\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8933560 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"8933560\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>A major focus of his research is drug-resistant TB, especially the growing burden of multidrug-resistant and extensively drug-resistant TB in South Africa, where co-epidemics of TB and HIV are driving high incidence and mortality. He also studies acute respiratory infections, which remain a leading global cause of death, particularly in children, and investigates emerging viral respiratory threats with pandemic potential. His work aims to improve prevention, diagnosis, and treatment strategies while strengthening global health systems and research capacity in high-burden settings.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ce33510 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"ce33510\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-476fb4f e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"476fb4f\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6cd2377 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"6cd2377\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Prof Norbet Ndjeka<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d8e5059 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"d8e5059\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Prof. Norbert Ndjeka is the Chief Director: TB Control and Management at the National Department of Health as from the 1st of February 2022. He was the Director, Drug-Resistant TB, TB &amp; HIV at the National Department of Health in South Africa between May 2009 and January 2022. His vision is to strengthen the programmatic and clinical management of Drug-Resistant TB (DR-TB). Under his leadership, there has been a decline in the number of cases of DR -TB in South Africa and a remarkable improvement in the proportion of patients successfully treated for DR- TB.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ec4ce10 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"ec4ce10\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7279b74 elementor-invisible elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"7279b74\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_animation&quot;:&quot;slideInRight&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/tbconference.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/12.png\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-1833\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/tbconference.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/12.png 200w, https:\/\/tbconference.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/12-150x150.png 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-eb97d17 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"eb97d17\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a33d194 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"a33d194\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>He is a Specialist Family Physician with an interest in TB and HIV.<br \/>He is currently the Chairperson of the Afro-GLC (African Green Light Committee), a committee that advises WHO on how to manage drug-resistant tuberculosis. He is also the Chair of SADC END TB Committee. He recently received an Honorary Doctorate from UCT in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the fight against DR-TB locally and globally.<br \/>He has numerous peer-reviewed publications in various scientific journals.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6d60c5a e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"6d60c5a\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ec2f68f e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"ec2f68f\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c5beccb elementor-invisible elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"c5beccb\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_animation&quot;:&quot;slideInLeft&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/tbconference.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/13.png\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-1832\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/tbconference.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/13.png 200w, https:\/\/tbconference.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/13-150x150.png 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7573e4c e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"7573e4c\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-11caf31 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"11caf31\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Dr Anushka Naidoo (PhD)<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4b65de7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"4b65de7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Anushka Naidoo is a South African researcher and scientist known for her work in tuberculosis (TB), HIV, implementation science, and public health research.<\/p><p>Dr Naidoo has worked with several major public health and research institutions in South Africa and internationally. Her work focuses on im-proving healthcare delivery systems and patient outcomes in infectious diseases.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1ee8a18 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"1ee8a18\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e255eb5 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"e255eb5\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8988ba7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"8988ba7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Prof Violet Chihota<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a0e4fdf elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"a0e4fdf\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>She has previously worked as a Senior Scientific Officer at Foun-dation for Innovative New Diagnostics (FIND), Switzerland. She is also an Adjunct Associate Professor at the Department of Medi-cine in the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine and a Senior Researcher at University of Witwatersrand, School of Public Health.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-13248a0 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"13248a0\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f7af610 elementor-invisible elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"f7af610\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_animation&quot;:&quot;slideInRight&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/tbconference.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/14.png\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-1831\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/tbconference.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/14.png 200w, https:\/\/tbconference.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/14-150x150.png 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8d5106a e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"8d5106a\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b6e0ee3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"b6e0ee3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Prof Chihota holds a BSc Honours Biological Sciences from the University of Zimbabwe, an MSc Medical Microbiology from Lon-don School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, a PhD in Medical Biochemistry from Stellenbosch University and has training in Epidemiology and Statistics from the Johns Hopkins University. She has straddled both the basic science, epidemiology and im-plementation research fields.<\/p><p>Her work has focused on epidemiology of tuberculosis, evaluating tuberculosis diagnostic tools and strategies for improving health outcomes in people with TB in Southern Africa region. Her current interests include diagnosis and treatment of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) and resistance to TB infection. She is also a skilled manager of complex interventional implementation research projects having managed and worked with diverse teams at both Aurum Institute and FIND. Prof Chihota has published widely on HIV\/TB coinfection particularly focusing molecular epidemiology of drug sensitive- and resistant- TB, diagnosis, case finding and linkage to care.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-36a9584 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"36a9584\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e71d978 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"e71d978\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-513f6ec elementor-invisible elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"513f6ec\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_animation&quot;:&quot;slideInLeft&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/tbconference.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/15.png\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-1830\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/tbconference.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/15.png 200w, https:\/\/tbconference.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/15-150x150.png 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cd5dcdb e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"cd5dcdb\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f2b0ace elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"f2b0ace\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Braden van Breda<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9f53eac elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"9f53eac\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>MSc Eng. Mech (UCT), BEng Mechatronics (Stellenbosch)<br \/>After developing cardiac implants and equipment for specialist interventions, Braden co-founded AI Diagnostics to develop diagnostic solutions for the other end of the healthcare funnel, primary healthcare workers. AI Diagnostics&#8217; flagship product accurately detects tuberculosis by analyzing patients&#8217; lung sounds captured on their easy-to-use AI enabled stethoscope.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b24f28f e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"b24f28f\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d9ed498 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"d9ed498\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-166b684 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"166b684\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Dr Boitumelo Seepamore<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d94466b elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"d94466b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Boitumelo Seepamore is a lecturer at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. She is an experienced public health social worker and qualitative researcher working in the field of Drug-resistant TB and HIV. Her work in South Africa examines public health social work interventions, palliative care, psychosocial support, caregiving practices and adherence in vulnerable and stigmatised populations particularly in TB care. Boitumelo currently participates in a randomized control adherence intervention trial for people with DR-TB HIV in KwaZulu-Natal and works closely with other organisations and groups in public health.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2058d36 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"2058d36\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-620cb84 elementor-invisible elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"620cb84\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_animation&quot;:&quot;slideInRight&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/tbconference.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/0.png\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-1845\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/tbconference.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/0.png 200w, https:\/\/tbconference.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/0-150x150.png 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9257580 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"9257580\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b7b851f e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"b7b851f\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4a379aa elementor-invisible elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"4a379aa\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_animation&quot;:&quot;slideInLeft&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/tbconference.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/16.png\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-1829\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/tbconference.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/16.png 200w, https:\/\/tbconference.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/16-150x150.png 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ce0bb07 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"ce0bb07\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-dfda5c1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"dfda5c1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Dr Elias Ramarumo<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5956da7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"5956da7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Dr. Ndavheleseni Elias Ramarumo is the Director for Monitoring, Evaluation, Reporting and Learning (MERL) in the Global Fund Cluster at the National Department of Health, South Africa. With over 20 years of experience in public health and development, I lead national MERL systems for HIV\/TB programmes funded by the Global Fund. Driven by a strong commitment to global sustainable development, I thrive in collaborative, multidisciplinary environments and actively seeks partnerships that foster learning, innovation, and impact. My professional philosophy is captured in a guiding belief: \u201cWhen others say it cannot be done, I ask\u2014when can I start?\u201d<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-22f8a50 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"22f8a50\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-074d2a3 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"074d2a3\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-50b7591 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"50b7591\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Prof Khangelani Zuma<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6760024 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"6760024\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Prof Khangelani Zuma is Divisional Executive of Human and Social Capabilities and Head of Biosta-tistics at the Human Sciences Research Council in Pretoria. He is an experienced statistician with over 12 years of expertise in large-scale surveys and clinical trials, contributing to study conceptualisation, design, and implementation. His research interests include survey design, advanced statistical model-ling (including linear, non-linear, and hierarchical Bayesian models), correlated survival analysis, and epidemiological modelling of infectious diseases, particularly HIV incidence estimation and evaluation of intervention programmes.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-bc1a34d e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"bc1a34d\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-317f4c5 elementor-invisible elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"317f4c5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_animation&quot;:&quot;slideInRight&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/tbconference.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/17.png\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-1828\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/tbconference.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/17.png 200w, https:\/\/tbconference.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/17-150x150.png 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8aa8129 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"8aa8129\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ac9dbe2 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"ac9dbe2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>He has extensive teaching experience in statistics at undergraduate and postgraduate levels and has authored and co-authored peer-reviewed publications in HIV\/AIDS, sexually transmitted infections, migra-tion, and biostatistics. He regularly presents at na-tional and international conferences. He chairs the Ministerial Health Data Advisory and Coordinating Committee and serves on the Statistics Council of Statistics South Africa. He is also an Honorary As-sociate Professor in the School of Public Health, appointed in 2018.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3ebcd8c e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"3ebcd8c\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0ae45c0 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"0ae45c0\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fb6c134 elementor-invisible elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"fb6c134\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_animation&quot;:&quot;slideInLeft&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/tbconference.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/18.png\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-1827\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/tbconference.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/18.png 200w, https:\/\/tbconference.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/18-150x150.png 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-660d791 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"660d791\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-73775bf elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"73775bf\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Mr Nare Komape<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-835016e elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"835016e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>A professional nurse and Assistant Manager for communicable diseases at national level with the Department of Correctional Services, he plays a key role in communicable disease surveillance, prevention and control in correctional settings. His work includes policy development, strengthening infection prevention strategies and analysing epidemiological data to inform targeted interventions among high-risk populations. He holds a diploma in nursing science, B Cur ( ADM et Edu) Occ Health Nursing Science and diploma in Ophthalmology nursing science. Currently pursuing a Master in Public Health (Epidemiology and Biostatistics) at the University of Kwazulu &#8211; Natal. He is committed to advancing evidence based disease prevention. He also serves as Chairperson of the South African Society for Ophthalmic Nurse.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-81adfe5 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"81adfe5\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-627a7ae e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"627a7ae\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ed4011d elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"ed4011d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Mr. Solly Nduku<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-52ce8f6 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"52ce8f6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Solly Nduku is a South African public health professional known for his work in tuberculosis (TB), HIV programmes, and community health systems strengthening.<br \/>Career &amp; Contributions<br \/>Mr Nduku has been involved in public health and TB programme implementation initiatives in South Africa<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3c89ad8 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"3c89ad8\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-dd8361e elementor-invisible elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"dd8361e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_animation&quot;:&quot;slideInRight&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/tbconference.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/19.png\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-1826\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/tbconference.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/19.png 200w, https:\/\/tbconference.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/19-150x150.png 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4d27a6c e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"4d27a6c\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1fcb9d8 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"1fcb9d8\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3d481f2 elementor-invisible elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"3d481f2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_animation&quot;:&quot;slideInLeft&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/tbconference.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/20.png\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-1825\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/tbconference.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/20.png 200w, https:\/\/tbconference.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/20-150x150.png 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2bea17e e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"2bea17e\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ca32cd9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"ca32cd9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Dr Tshepo Sedibe<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a7e800e elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"a7e800e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Dr Tshepo Sedibe is a South African medical and occupa-tional health professional known for his leadership in workplace wellness, HIV\/AIDS management, mental health advocacy, and employee health programmes in the mining sector.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-81c5c8f e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"81c5c8f\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2415dbe elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"2415dbe\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Dr Sedibe is especially recognised for helping drive De Beers\u2019 pioneering HIV\/AIDS workplace programmes in Southern Africa. Under these initiatives, the company introduced free HIV testing, counselling, antiretroviral treatment, and support programmes for employees and their families. Reports indicate these interventions signifi-cantly reduced AIDS-related mortality among employees and improved HIV treatment outcomes.<\/p><p><br \/>He is based in Johannesburg and has represented De Beers in national and regional health initiatives involving gov-ernment, labour, and industry stakeholders.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c3b7540 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"c3b7540\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4645f12 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"4645f12\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-165fece elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"165fece\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Hon Kholiswa Vimbayo<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-210d372 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"210d372\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Kholiswa Vimbayo is a South African politician who has represented the African National Congress (ANC) in the Eastern Cape Provincial Legislature since 2019. Until 2019, she was the Mayor of Chris Hani District Municipality.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-85216c9 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"85216c9\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0526dec elementor-invisible elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"0526dec\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_animation&quot;:&quot;slideInRight&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/tbconference.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/21.png\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-1824\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/tbconference.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/21.png 200w, https:\/\/tbconference.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/21-150x150.png 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2165eb4 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"2165eb4\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d1ce170 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"d1ce170\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Vimbayo was formerly the Executive Mayor of Chris Hani[1][2] and the Regional Chairperson of the ANC&#8217;s branch in the area.[3] She lost the latter position at a regional party conference in August 2018, when Wongama Gela won election to the position, secur-ing 144 votes against Vimbayo&#8217;s 29.[3] The following year, in the 2019 general election, Vimbayo was elected to an ANC seat in the Eastern Cape Provin-cial Legislature, ranked 35th on the ANC&#8217;s provincial party list<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-96295a4 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"96295a4\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-34b34fc e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"34b34fc\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a612720 elementor-invisible elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"a612720\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_animation&quot;:&quot;slideInLeft&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/tbconference.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/22.png\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-1823\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/tbconference.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/22.png 200w, https:\/\/tbconference.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/22-150x150.png 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-228e952 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"228e952\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2ffd191 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"2ffd191\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Dr Thabo Mpotje<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5b17b06 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"5b17b06\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Dr Thabo Mpotje Is an immunologist and Senior Research Scientist with expertise in the pathophysiology and immunobiology of infectious diseases, with a particular focus on host immune responses that drive disease progression and tissue pathology. I am currently affiliated with the Africa Health Research Institute (AHRI) in South Africa and hold a joint affiliation with the School of Life &amp; Medical Sciences at University College London.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7660749 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"7660749\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fe01a04 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"fe01a04\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>I obtained my PhD in Medicine, specialising in Clinical Sciences and Immunology, from the University of Cape Town, where I also completed my MSc in the same field. My research integrates cellular immunology, translational science, and experimental models to identify host factors that influence disease outcomes and to uncover novel targets for host-directed therapies.<\/p><p>My work has contributed to advancing the understanding of immune-mediated pathology in infectious diseases, including tuberculosis and schistosomiasis. I have authored over 17 peer-reviewed publications in internationally recognised journals such as EMBO Molecular Medicine, Mucosal Immunology, Frontiers in Immunology, and the Journal of Experimental Medicine. My research has been supported by competitive funding, including awards from the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC), as well as support linked to Wellcome Trust and Bill &amp; Melinda Gates Foundation initiatives.<\/p><p>In addition to my research, I am actively involved in postgraduate supervision and mentorship, having co-supervised MSc and PhD students and supported the development of emerging researchers. I contribute to teaching through guest lectures in advanced immunology and interdisciplinary programmes, and I serve the scientific community as a reviewer for funding bodies and international conferences.<\/p><p>My research vision centres on advancing host-directed therapeutic strategies and developing translational immunology platforms to address major health challenges in South Africa and globally, including infectious diseases, respiratory patholog<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-73ad656 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"73ad656\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-19fcd11 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"19fcd11\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8dee1c0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"8dee1c0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Dr Gloria Maimela<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e265ecd elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"e265ecd\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Dr Gloria Maimela is a South African public health researcher and medical scientist known for her contributions to health systems strengthening, implementation science, and community-based healthcare research. Her work focuses on improving access to quality healthcare services, particularly in underserved and rural communities in South Africa. Dr Maimela has been actively involved in research addressing non-communicable diseases, HIV\/AIDS, tuberculosis, and integrated healthcare delivery models. She has collaborated with academic institutions, government departments, and research organizations to develop evidence-based strategies that support effective healthcare interventions and policy development. Throughout her career, she has contributed to several peer-reviewed publications and public health initiatives aimed at enhancing patient care, disease prevention, and health outcomes. Her research and leadership continue to play an important role in advancing equitable healthcare systems and strengthening public health practice in South Africa and across the African continent<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e411227 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"e411227\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ef7d643 elementor-invisible elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"ef7d643\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_animation&quot;:&quot;slideInRight&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/tbconference.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/23.png\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-1822\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/tbconference.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/23.png 200w, https:\/\/tbconference.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/23-150x150.png 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c52217e e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"c52217e\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-de28c56 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"de28c56\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4b73382 elementor-invisible elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"4b73382\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_animation&quot;:&quot;slideInLeft&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/tbconference.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/24.png\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-1821\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/tbconference.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/24.png 200w, https:\/\/tbconference.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/24-150x150.png 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-595593d e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"595593d\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e741a0b elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"e741a0b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">His Excellency Paul Mashatile<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6a05622 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"6a05622\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Paul Mashatile is a South African politician and senior leader of the African National Congress (ANC) who currently serves as the Deputy President of the Republic of South Africa. Born in Gauteng, he became politically active during the anti-apartheid struggle and played a significant role in youth and community mobilization during South Africa\u2019s liberation movement. Over the years, he has held several important leadership positions, including Premier of Gauteng Province, Minister of Arts and Culture, and Treasurer-General of the ANC. Known for his experience in governance and public administration, Mashatile has contributed to policy development, economic transformation, and social development initiatives within the country. As Deputy President, he supports national government programmes aimed at strengthening economic growth, job creation, infrastructure development, and regional cooperation across Africa. His leadership continues to influence South Africa\u2019s political landscape and democratic governance through public service and national development efforts.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Plenary Speakers Ald Nkosindiphile Xhakaza Alderman Nkosindiphile Doctor Xhakaza, the newly elected Executive Mayor of the City of Ekurhuleni, brings a wealth of experience and a strong leadership background to the role. Mayor Xhakaza was raised in the Lebeong Section of Thembisa, coming from humble beginnings. He pursued his education at Inxiweni Primary School and [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"elementor_header_footer","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-1816","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/tbconference.co.za\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1816","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/tbconference.co.za\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/tbconference.co.za\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tbconference.co.za\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tbconference.co.za\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1816"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/tbconference.co.za\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1816\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1852,"href":"https:\/\/tbconference.co.za\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1816\/revisions\/1852"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/tbconference.co.za\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1816"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}