Expert Review Committee Member

Susan Winks

Dr Susan Winks serves as Head of Research Operations and Business Development at the Holistic Drug Discovery and Development Centre (H3D) at the University of Cape Town in South Africa, where she manages a team supporting interdisciplinary drug discovery. Her role includes ensuring operational continuity and sustainable growth through long-term strategic planning, management of partnerships and stakeholders, fundraising and management of internal governance structures and portfolio oversight.

In 2019, Susan co-founded the non-profit H3D Foundation to attract, develop and retain skilled African scientists within innovative research and development, and to enable and unlock the potential for sustainable drug discovery and development across Africa. Through the H3D Foundation, she is leading the establishment of the Grand Challenges African Drug Discovery Accelerator network, which aims to expedite drug discovery for unmet medical needs.

Susan is also heading a pilot project to establish a process chemistry skills development hub in South Africa, working on cost-competitive optimisation of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) using flow reactor technology. This project aims to demonstrate the viability of flow reactor technology for cost competitive, greener API manufacturing in Africa.

Susan is also a member of the Therapeutics Development Coalition Scientific Advisory Group hosted by the International Pandemic Preparedness Secretariat (IPPS).