Background

Aleesha has a background in vaccine-preventable disease surveillance and outbreak response. 

Before joining Burnet, Aleesha worked with the Vanuatu Ministry of Health in the Surveillance, Research and Emergency Response Unit. She led the development and implementation of Vanuatu’s inaugural vaccine safety surveillance system which launched in 2021.

Aleesha's interests are in epidemiology and disease surveillance. She is passionate about advancing public health in Vanuatu and the region.

Qualifications

• 2022–present: PGCert, Field Epidemiology, Fiji National University
• 2024: FETPNG, University of Newcastle
• 2020: BPH, University of Canberra, Australia

Positions

• 2024–present: Research Officer, Burnet Institute
• 2022–2023: Epidemic Intelligence Fellow, Field Epidemiology Fellowship Program, WHO Western Pacific Regional Office, Manila
• 2021–2024: Senior Vaccine safety surveillance officer, Vanuatu Ministry of Health

Awards

• 2023: Alumnus of the Year, Australian Awards Vanuatu
• 2021: Best presentation by an early career researcher, Vanuatu Health Research Symposium
• 2016: Scholarship, Australian Awards Vanuatu