Professor Jo-Ann Passmore who serves on the LEA-WH Advisory Board is Director of the Women’s Health Program at the Centre for Epidemic Response and Innovation, Stellenbosch University in South Africa, and an internationally recognised leader in women’s reproductive health research. Her work centres on genital inflammation, microbiomes, and epithelial barrier function in shaping STI and reproductive risk. She founded VMRC4Africa (www.vmrc4africa.org) and co-developed GIFT (www.gift-africa.org.za), advancing African-led, equitable innovations for women’s health, and is a Calestous Juma Scientific Leadership Fellow.