Congratulations to Prof Andrea Rother on her appointment to the United Nations Global Chemicals Framework Bureau

^{Susan Wilburn (right) handing over to Prof Andrea Rother (left)}

Professor Andrea Rother, Head of the Division of Environmental Health at UCT’s School of Public Health, was recently appointed to the Bureau of the United Nations Global Framework on Chemicals – For a Planet Free of Harm from Chemicals and Waste (GFC). Her appointment took place during the first Open-Ended Working Group meeting of the GFC, held in Punta del Este, Uruguay, from 24-27 June 2025. The Bureau is a key body in shaping global policy and action to manage and prevent risks associated with chemicals and waste.

The GFC, adopted in September 2023 at the Fifth International Conference on Chemicals Management (ICCM5), establishes the foundational elements for using chemicals safely and sustainably, maximising their benefits while minimising their harm and promoting alternatives. The GFC succeeds the Strategic Approach to International Chemcials Management (SAICM), a process in which Prof Rother was actively involved for 22 years. This included the negotiations leading to the GFC’s adoption. She plays a key role in elevating the health sector's priorities and provides strategic support to African delegates throughout the negotiation process. This contribution is especially important given the continued underrepresentation of health perspectives, as most national focal points appointed by governments are from Ministries of Environment rather than Ministries of Health.

Professor Rother has been appointed as the ‘Health Sector Civil Society’ representative on the Bureau, representing both the University of Cape Town and the World Federation of Public Health Associations (WFPHA). She succeeds Susan Wilburn of Health Care Without Harm, who was in this position for 10 years. This appointment recognises Professor Rother’s global leadership in chemical risk management and environmental health, as well as her longstanding commitment to advancing public health policy and capacity building, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).

The International Conference of the GFC is supported by a Bureau that plays a central advisory role to the GFC President and Secretariat on the conduct of the Conference’s business and that of its subsidiary bodies. The Bureau includes representation from government representatives for regions, and intergovernmental and non-governmental organisations (chemicalsframework.org/page/bureau).

Professor Rother’s involvement in international policy processes—and now her appointment to the GFC Bureau—has significantly enriched the quality and relevance of her teaching, particularly in the Professional Master’s in Chemical Risk Management (MCRM) programme, which she convenes. Her participation ensures that students benefit from real-time insights into global chemical governance and policy negotiations. It has also expanded the programme’s access to a global network of experts who contribute to curriculum development, guest lectures, and resource sharing, keeping the MCRM at the forefront of current practice and knowledge in the field.

Several graduates and current students of the MCRM programme actively participated in the recent negotiations and discussions in Uruguay, representing UCT with distinction and making meaningful contributions to the process.

Professor Rother’s appointment is a prestigious recognition that brings honour to UCT and the South African public health community. It ensures that local expertise from an LMIC perspective informs global decision-making on reducing chemical health risks, advancing environmental justice, and upholding human rights.

To learn more about the GFC, click on: Global Framework on Chemicals | UNEP - UN Environment Programme