Biography

Dr Walwyn is the Chief Commercialization Officer of iThemba Pharmaceuticals. He was previously Chief Executive Officer of Arvir Technologies which was a start-up biotechnology company established in order to research new antiretrovirals for the treatment of HIV/AIDS (based on African Traditional Medicines), and to develop new process technology for the local manufacture of antiretroviral active pharmaceutical ingredients.

He has a BSc in Chemical Engineering from the University of Cape Town, and a PhD in bio-organic chemistry from Cambridge University.  Dr Walwyn also holds an extra-ordinary professor position at the University of Pretoria within the School of Engineering and Technology Management.  He has published widely in the area of research management, research policy and innovation policy and in 2008 prepared the country report on South Africa’s national system of innovation for the OECD.  Until recently he sat on the Board of Pelchem, and was a member of the Medicines Control Council.