Biography

Dr Johannes Ahrendts is Gavi’s Director of Strategy, Policy & Foresight. He brings to this role more than 15 years of leadership experience in global health, with a focus on strategy, policy, grant management and organisational effectiveness.

Johannes leads the Strategy, Policy & Foresight Department that designs Gavi’s five-year strategies, policies and funding mechanisms. It works with other Gavi teams on key programmatic initiatives to accelerate strategy delivery. The department also drives Gavi’s foresight work, ensuring the Vaccine Alliance remains fit for purpose over the long term, as the global health ecosystem evolves. His previous roles at Gavi include overseeing the funding process for Gavi-eligible countries and corporate performance management.

Prior to joining Gavi in 2015, Johannes held various roles in the health sector and management consulting. He was a project leader at Boston Consulting Group (BCG), where he worked with healthcare leaders worldwide on strategy and organisational transformations. He spent significant time working and living in the African region, including with the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI) and during his medical training. A physician by background, he began his clinical career as a neurologist at Charité University Hospital in Berlin, Germany.

Johannes holds a doctorate from the University of Freiburg in Germany and has authored several publications in neuroscience. He received his medical education in Germany, the United Kingdom and Australia.