GALVmed is pleased to announce Dr Johan Dreesen as the new Chair of its Board of Trustees. Johan takes over from Dr Isabelle Dieuzy-Labaye who retired as Chair on 15 September 2026.
Johan has decades of experience working in the animal health sector serving in various commercial roles, and in business operations for leading Animal Health companies such as Pfizer Animal Health and Zoetis. Before joining the industry, he worked in mixed veterinary practices in Belgium and France.
His recent activity has been on running a commercial Animal Health Consultancy with a focus on Start-Ups, Animal Health Pharmaceuticals and NGOs. He is also a member of the Advisory Council to Kela Pharma, and a Veterinary Expert at the Court of Justice in Brussels.
Johan joined GALVmed’s Board in March 2023 and is currently a member of the Impact, Monitoring and Evaluation Advisory Committee, the Human Resources Committee and Nominations Committee.
Johan is stepping into this role at a time when GALVmed is starting to work on a strategy for GALVmed Beyond 2030, progressing funder diversification and considering future business models to ensure GALVmed adapts to its changing environment.
“I am honoured to take on the role of Chair at such an important and dynamic moment for GALVmed. Our mission remains clear: enabling our partners to reach millions of smallholder farmers across Sub‑Saharan Africa with reliable, accessible animal‑health solutions. It is exciting to see the early signs of success of VITAL 2, a major implementation program focused on increasing access to ruminant vaccination, that runs across several focus markets until 2030. At the same time, we are working closely with our stakeholders to shape the next phase of GALVmed’s impact—strengthening livelihoods and resilience in a rapidly evolving animal‑health environment.” said Johan.
GALVmed’s Chief Executive Officer, Dr Lois Muraguri said:
“We are very pleased to have Johan as our new Board Chair. Johan brings a level of experience and leadership that will support GALVmed as we embark on implementing our strategy for Beyond 2030 aligning our work on addressing animal health challenges facing small-scale livestock producers. We will draw on Johan’s valuable insight in helping to continue to shape our organisation and mission.”
Dr Muraguri added, “We would also like to thank Isabelle for her outstanding contribution to GALVmed over the past eight years, including four years as Chair. Her extensive experience in the animal health sector, thoughtful leadership and commitment to GALVmed’s mission have been invaluable. She has helped strengthen the organisation, deepen our relationships with key stakeholders and position GALVmed well for the next phase of its journey. We are very grateful for her support and wish her every happiness in the next chapter.
