Heather Zar MBBCh, FRCPaeds, FRCP, ATSF, FAPSR, MD, PhD

Professor Heather Zar is currently the Chair of the Department of Paediatrics and Child Health at UCT and her work with TB, pneumonia, asthma and HIV/AIDS-related lung disease has contributed to changing global and World Health Organisation guidelines. A leading global expert in these areas, she has published over 300 scientific articles and has been given the highest rating, A-1 from the National Research Foundation. She has key international roles including serving as the immediate Past-President of the Pan African Thoracic Society, of the Forum International Respiratory Societies, on the NCD Taskforce for Essential Drugs for Children and as an advisor to the World Health Organization.

She was recently awarded the 2018 L’Oreal-UNESCO Women in Science Laureate for Africa and the Arab States, which is presented annually to five women scientists globally, one from each continent. In addition, the University of Cape Town recently awarded her the 2018 Alan Pifer award for socially responsive research.