Malebona Precious Matsoso

Precious is the former Director-General of the National Department of Health and previously served as the World Health Organization’s Director of Public Health Innovation and Intellectual Property. She led the Medicines Control Council for six years and has contributed to numerous national and international advisory bodies these include her leadership roles as Chair of the WHO Executive Board, member of the UN High-Level Panel on Access to Health Technologies, Chair of the Independent Oversight and Advisory Committee for the WHO Health Emergencies Programme, and member of the Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response.

She is currently the Director of the Health Regulatory Science Platform at the Wits Health Consortium and was an Honorary Lecturer in the Department of Pharmacy and Pharmacology at the University of the Witwatersrand. She is a member of the Interim Executive Committee of the College for Africa Regulatory Science Professionals (CARSP). She was Co‑Chair of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Body for the Pandemic Agreement and Co‑Chair of the G20 Health Working Group.

She was appointed Adjunct Professor at Sunway University in Malaysia. Her recognitions include the South African MRC Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award, the UNITAR 2025 Best Negotiator Award, inclusion in Nature’s 10 and the Time 100 (Health) for 2026, and the Forum Galien Afrique Award. She also received commendation from the WHO Director-General for her leadership in the Pandemic Treaty process.