ITM announces new chair and vice chair

Members of the Board of Governors of the Institute of Tropical Medicine (ITM) elected Jo Bury, founder and ex-managing director of the Flemish Institute of Biotechnology (VIB), as its new president. He succeeds provincial governor Cathy Berx. Interim chair Herwig Leirs returns to his position as vice chair.

ITM is very pleased to call on the expertise, experience and network of this duo to further strengthen its mission in global health, research, education and capacity building. The new president officially took up his new mandate from 1 January. In close consultation and with a strong Board of Governors, he intends to assist ITM's general management.

Jo Bury: "Over the past 25 years, I have built up management experience at academic institutions and managed a research centre with world-class ambitions, both in basic research and in its economic and societal valorisation. That I can apply this knowledge and experience as chairman to further advance the internationally respected ITM, fills me with excitement. I look forward to contributing to the scientific excellence and societal relevance of the institute with an inspiring and supportive Board of Governors."

Following the expiry of the mandate of the previous chair, Cathy Berx, in June 2022, the then vice-chair, Herwig Leirs, temporarily took over. With the appointment of Jo Bury as chair, Herwig can resume his role as vice-chair.

Herwig Leirs: "Thanks to my expertise as a researcher (in population biology and epidemiology, among other fields) and years of experience as vice-chair of ITM’s Board of Governors, I am well acquainted with the institute, the people in key positions and I have a thorough knowledge of the current affairs. Combined with chairing the Board of Governors of the University of Antwerp, I have an understanding of the parallels as well as differences between ITM and the universities, and can further promote contacts between the institute and the University of Antwerp."

In summer 2022, the ITM Board welcomed several new members following the expiry of a number of mandates. Together with the remaining members, they elected the new chair and vice-chair on 19 December 2022. ITM presents the full composition of the current Board of Governors on the new website.