Aleesha Kalulu
Research Officer
Working groups
Background
Aleesha is an early career public health researcher with experience in infectious disease surveillance, outbreak preparedness and applied research in Pacific Island settings, particularly Vanuatu.
Her work focuses on strengthening surveillance systems and supporting the use of data to inform public health decision-making. Much of her current work centres on the triple elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV, syphilis and hepatitis B, where she supports surveillance, program implementation and the use of routine data to track progress and guide planning.
Before joining Burnet, Aleesha worked with the National Surveillance and Research Unit at the Vanuatu Ministry of Health. During this time, she led the development and implementation of the vaccine safety surveillance and vaccine-preventable disease reporting systems, while also contributing to broader surveillance and outbreak response activities.
Qualifications
- 2024–present: MSc, Epidemiology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
- 2022–2024: PGCert, Field Epidemiology, Fiji National University, Fiji
- 2024: FETPNG, University of Newcastle, Australia
- 2020: BPH, University of Canberra, Australia
Positions
- 2024–present: Research Officer, Burnet Institute
- 2022–2023: Epidemic Intelligence Fellow, Field Epidemiology Fellowship Program, WHO Western Pacific Regional Office, Manila
- 2021–2024: Senior Vaccine safety surveillance officer, Vanuatu Ministry of Health
Awards
- 2025: Crockett‐Murphy Travel Award
- 2024: Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarship
- 2023: Alumnus of the Year, Australian Awards Vanuatu
- 2021: Best presentation by an early career researcher, Vanuatu Health Research Symposium
- 2016: Scholarship, Australian Awards Vanuatu
Burnet publications
Rapid cross-sectional impact assessment of an earthquake on the continuity of antenatal care for pregnant women living with hepatitis B in Vanuatu
Dialogues in Health
Leila Bell et al
Protektem pikinini blong yu trial: protocol for a single arm field trial to assess the effectiveness of treating-all pregnant women with hepatitis B infection with tenofovir prophylaxis to prevent mother-to-child transmission in Vanuatu, 2024–2025
BMC Public Health
Leila Bell et al
Past projects
Triple Elimination Toolkit for Pacific island countries
The Triple Elimination Toolkit project aims to help Pacific island countries meet elimination targets for HIV, syphilis and hepatitis B.
Vanuatu Research and Climate Change Agenda
This project will support Vanuatu to develop a research agenda that maximises public health impact and drives health equity.
News and features
How Vanuatu is strengthening outbreak response with 7-1-7
How Burnet supported Vanuatu to embed the 7-1-7 approach, strengthening disease surveillance, outbreak response and national health security.
Special focus on Thailand in Burnet Travel Awards
Funds totalling $140,000 have been shared among 22 Burnet Institute Travel Award winners for 2025, including a new and special award, the Princess Srinagarindra PhD Scholarship.