Aleesha Kalulu
Research Officer
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
- 2025: Crockett-Murphy Travel Award
- 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
Current projects
Vanuatu Research and Climate Change Agenda
This project will support Vanuatu to develop a research agenda that maximises public health impact and drives health equity.
Triple Elimination Toolkit for Pacific island countries
The Triple Elimination Toolkit project aims to help Pacific island countries meet elimination targets for HIV, syphilis and hepatitis B.
Improving disease outbreak response time in the Pacific: 7-1-7 tool testing
We're working with partners to see how the 7-1-7 approach can help track and respond to disease outbreaks in the Pacific.
