Dr Unesu Ushewokunze-Obatolu

Dr Unesu Ushewokunze-Obatolu is a Zimbabwean veterinary surgeon with specialisation in veterinary public health, epidemiology, and preventive veterinary medicine.  She earned degrees from the University of Nairobi, the University of California at Davis, and holds a PhD from the University of Zimbabwe. Her published research focused on endemic and emerging health issues of ruminant animals.

Her working experience spanning 38 years initially focused on laboratory-based animal disease confirmatory diagnostics, related laboratory quality management systems and epidemiological research on contemporary local animal health problems. In later years, she became more involved in the management of surveillance systems, risk analysis, regulatory control of notifiable transboundary animal and zoonotic diseases and pests. She has also contributed to shaping animal health and production policies, strategies, and regulatory frameworks.

Dr Unesu is the former Chief Director of Veterinary Services in the Ministry of Agriculture of Zimbabwe. She was one of the founders of the Biotechnology Trust of Zimbabwe, and chaired the Biotechnology Association of the country. She also served as Zimbabwe’s delegate to the WOAH in the last six years of her public service career, where she was involved in the articulation of the Africa position on Animal Health Standards at WOAH Annual General Sessions.

Now retired, she gives her time as a certified WOAH Performance of Veterinary Services expert and has served on a number of statutory and non-statutory governance Boards.  She is a founder member of the Zimbabwe Academy of Sciences, has chaired the National Biotechnology Authority, the Agricultural Research Council and presently chairs the Harare-based Board of Trustees of the Women’s University in Africa.

She joined the GALVmed Board in 2024 as a member of the Technical and Scientific Committee, becoming appointed to the Board of Trustees in September 2025.