WOMEN IN HEALTH & WELLNESS Heidi Abrahamse DSTI NRF SARChI Chair: Laser Applications in Health | Director: Laser Research Centre, University of Johannesburg Heidi Abrahamse, distinguished professor, is a pioneer in health research and laser applications, serving as DSTI NRF SARChI Chair and Director of the Laser Research Centre at the University of Johannesburg. Her leadership at the Laser Research Centre, which includes six senior researchers, around 30 Master’s and PhD students, and 10 postdoctoral fellows, is a testament to her ability to manage a large team and lead complex projects. She holds a PhD in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from the University of the Witwatersrand and further honed her leadership skills at GIBS and Harvard Medical School’s Global Clinical Scholars Research Training Program. Her days are a combination of mentoring, strategic leadership, grant development, and presenting research internationally. She thrives on seeing emerging researchers grow in confidence, innovate boldly, and make meaningful contributions to science. Her work focuses on pioneering therapies that utilise photodynamic and photobiomodulation techniques, achieving breakthroughs in molecular pathways and the development of autologous stem cell grafts. Beyond the lab, Heidi finds joy in gardening, history, travel, and celebrating the growth of her students and children. She credits her perseverance and dedication to lessons from her mother and years of rigorous research. For Heidi, meaningful progress comes from patience, persistence, and nurturing potential in others. She embodies a rare combination of scientific brilliance and mentorship, creating ripples of impact that extend from the laboratory to communities, inspiring a new generation of researchers to pursue discovery with curiosity, courage, and a sense of purpose.
Azukile Nzuzo
Azukile Nzuzo is driving inclusion and innovation in South Africa’s public health sector as manager for assistive technology at the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI). A Chevening Scholar with an MSc in Innovation Management and Entrepreneurship from Kingston University, London, Azukile leads programmes that enable early identification of disabilities across five provinces. His work focuses on scaling dual sensory screening initiatives that integrate mobile health tools for hearing and vision testing — bringing vital diagnostics to communities that need them most. “I was inspired by the inequities I saw in health access,” he says. “I wanted to combine innovation, community action, and technology to make health care inclusive and locally relevant.” At CHAI, he forms strong partnerships with government, social enterprises, and local organisations, ensuring the effectiveness and sustainability of his interventions. A passionate marathon runner, Azukile, is on a mission to run 40 marathons in 40 countries before turning 40, using each run to raise awareness and funds for disability inclusion. Whether in health innovation or on the racecourse, he is driven by persistence and purpose. “Use your difference as your advantage,” he says — a mantra that defines both his leadership and his lifelong mission to build a more inclusive future.
QUALIFICATIONS
- MSc in Innovation Management and Entrepreneurship (Distinction), Kingston University, London (*Chevening Scholar)
- B.Tech in Biomedical Technology, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University
- National Diploma in Biomedical Technology, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University
- Certificate in Project Management, University of Cape Town
ACHIEVEMENTS
- Recipient of the Chevening Scholarship for academic excellence and leadership potential.
- Completed global marathons, including London, Paris, Prague, and Sydney.
- Leading assistive technology and early identification programmes across five provinces in South Africa.
