Board of Directors

Bill Burns is Chair of the Board for Vestergaard. Mr. Burns has more than 40 years of industry experience, including 23 years at Roche Pharmaceuticals, culminating in his tenure as chief executive officer from 2001 to 2009. During his time with Roche, Mr. Burns had significant involvement in the privatization of Genentech, the integration of Boehringer Mannheim and the negotiations that resulted in Roche becoming a majority owner of Chugai in Japan.  Over the past decade, Mr. Burns has held numerous non-executive board positions including F. Hoffmann La Roche, Chugai Pharmaceuticals, Genentech, Shire PLC and Biotie. Mr. Burns was a Governor on the board of Wellcome Trust from 2016-2020 and continues as a trustee of the Institute of Cancer Research, London. Mr. Burns currently serves as the non-executive chair of the board of directors for both Vestergaard Holdings and Molecular Partners, and the non-executive vice chair of Mesoblast. Mr. Burns is a member of the Novo Holdings Advisory Group and of HealthCare Royalty Partners, and a member of the Scientific Advisory Board of the Center for Integrated Oncology of the Universities of Cologne/Bonn/Aachen/Dusseldorf.  Mr. Burns holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, Scotland. He is based in Basel, Switzerland.

Michael Francis brings over three decades of leadership experience with companies like DreamWorks Studios and Target Corporation. Recognised as one of the world's top marketers, his expertise spans marketing, communications and brand development.

Michael is also CEO and Founder of Farview Associates, a strategic investment and consulting firm focused on brand creation and retail activation that works with high-profile clients to drive impactful business solutions.

He is also committed to social causes as evidenced through his support for organisations such as the Smithsonian Institution and St Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Ido Leffler is a highly successful entrepreneur and advisor celebrated for his transformative programs and initiatives that aim to make the world a better place for everybody. He's co-founded several companies, each with a unique social mission, including Yoobi, Yes To Inc, Cheeky, Brandless and Beach House Group.

Ido's expertise in entrepreneurship and brand-building is evident in his co-authorship of Get Big Fast and Do More Good: Start Your Business, Make It Huge and Change the World. He remains a sought-after investor, board member and advisor for various startups and established companies. He has also served on the board of directors for Spark New Zealand. 

Ido is recognised among the top 50 Achieving Australians outside of Australia by the Australian Unlimited, and he ranks as one of the most creative people in business by Fast Company.

Dr Peter Piot is a physician, microbiologist and a leading figure in global infectious disease control. He is known for his research on Ebola and Aids, and in 1976 he co-discovered the Ebola virus and was part of the team that investigated the first ever recorded epidemic in Zaire that same year.

Peter has contributed greatly to science’s understanding of HIV infection in Africa. He played a key role in ensuring access to life-saving antiretroviral drugs in low- and middle-income countries while Executive Director of UNAIDS and Under Secretary General of the United Nations.

A former Director of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Peter has received numerous awards, was a 2014 TIME Person of the Year, and has authored over 600 scientific articles and 17 books, including his memoir No Time to Lose.

Josette Sheeran, a global economic and humanitarian leader, has made significant strides in food security and humanitarian aid. Her roles as President and CEO of the Asia Society, United Nations Special Representative in Haiti, Vice Chair of the World Economic Forum and Executive Director of the United Nations World Food Program, have had a profound impact on global efforts to combat hunger and support sustainable development.

Josette has been recognised for her achievements and contributions, including being named by Forbes as the world’s 30th most powerful woman in 2011 and being included in Foreign Policy’s top 100 global ‘Twitterati’.

She has served as the President and Director of Canoo Inc, a company that produces electric vehicles, and was the founding trustee of the McCain Institute for International Leadership.

The visionary innovator behind Vestergaard, LifeStraw® and aerospace company Sceye, Mikkel Vestergaard Frandsen exemplifies humanitarian entrepreneurship. His commitment to solving global health issues and creating a sustainable future aligns seamlessly with the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Under his leadership, Vestergaard has developed groundbreaking products like PermaNet®, a renowned long-lasting insecticidal net with multiple variations tailored for insecticide-resistant areas. His pioneering efforts have also been instrumental in establishing Sceye on the market, which focuses on high-altitude platform stations for environmental monitoring and communication services.

Mikkel's dedication to impactful innovation has earned him prestigious positions on the boards of Roll Back Malaria and the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), and his accolades include The Economist’s Social and Economic Innovation Award. His drive to integrate humanitarian values with entrepreneurial endeavours has propelled Vestergaard to the forefront of global health solutions and set new standards for sustainable and ethical business practices worldwide.