Prof Wim de Villiers joins the Centre for Epidemic Response and Innovation (CERI) as Chief Strategic Officer
Press in the link here or the image above to read the press release.
Stellenbosch, 21 April 2025, Professor Wim de Villiers, who recently stepped down as Rector and Vice Chancellor, will be continuing his journey with the institution in a new capacity as Fundraising and Strategic Projects Lead on Medical Science at Stellenbosch University (SU).
The role will involve managing targeted fundraising initiatives and developing strategic partnerships with both local and international stakeholders to ensure sustainability and global growth.
Prof de Villers will work with leading academics and executives at the Centre for Epidemic Response and Innovation (CERI) and the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences (FMHS) to turbocharge the development of medical science and innovation in Africa.
It was under Prof de Villers that Stellenbosch constructed the multi-billion Biomedical Research Institute. He will now join the teams of Prof Tulio de Oliveira and Prof Elmi Muller, Dean of FMHS, to fundraise and provide strategic guidance to the development of research and training programs on medical sciences that impact lives.
“I’m excited to join the dynamic teams at FMHS and CERI to support fundraising and other strategic initiatives that will advance and ensure sustainability of their educational and scientific activities. Throughout my career, I have gained valuable experience and established important connections that I can leverage in this new position,” says De Villiers, whose focus on fundraising helped SU raise over R3 billion during his tenure as Rector and Vice Chancellor.
Prof Tulio de Oliveira comment: “We have managed to create one of the most impactful programs on epidemic response in the world at Stellenbosch University. So, as we expand our program in the time of reduced global health funding, we decided to hire Prof de Villers, which to the best of my knowledge, is one of the best ever fundraiser, academic leader and medical professionals that South Africa has produced.”
FMHS Dean, Prof Elmi Muller, expressed enthusiasm about De Villiers’ new role at the faculty. “His vast experience and knowledge will be invaluable to us, and I look forward to collaborating with Prof De Villiers on many projects within our faculty,” says Muller.
The role will involve managing targeted fundraising initiatives and developing strategic partnerships with both local and international stakeholders to ensure sustainability and global growth of FMHS and CERI projects.
SU’s Senior Director: Development and Alumni Relations, Ms Karen Bruns, says De Villiers’ appointment to this role comes at precisely the right time. “His contribution as a globally respected clinician and seasoned academic leader arrives at a pivotal moment for advancing health sciences and innovation in South Africa. He brings invaluable experience in strategic partnership-building and fundraising, which will significantly strengthen the ambitions of both FMHS and CERI. I look forward to working with him.”
Prof de Villers further comment “I am delighted to continuing in a leadership position in my alma mater in this new role that will help advance the FHMS and CERI in their mission to improve healthcare across Africa and beyond,” says De Villiers, who obtained his medical degree from the FMHS in Stellenbosch in 1983. He subsequently specialised in gastroenterology and built an illustrious career in medicine and healthcare leadership in the United States and South Africa before becoming Rector and Vice Chancellor at SU in 2015.
This news piece was published in the gem, April 2025
Click on the image above to read the gem, genomics, epidemics & microbes Vol 8 Issue 4, April 2025, or scan the qrcode.
News date: 2025-04-21
Links:
https://krisp.org.za/manuscripts/WimdeVilliersCSO_CERI_2025.pdf
