Tessa Knox

Dr Tessa Knox is a public health specialist with extensive global experience in research, policy and strategy development, communications, and capacity building. Her areas of expertise include vector surveillance and control (especially for dengue and malaria), outbreak and natural disaster preparedness and response, risk communications, community engagement and advocacy. She has worked extensively in Asia, Africa, Europe, the Americas and the Pacific, as staff with the World Health Organization and in academic, private sector and local government institutions as well as providing consultant support to United Nations and other agencies.

Dr Knox completed a PhD in Tropical Public Health (Entomology) at the Queensland Institute of Medical Research in Australia and the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology in Vietnam on Optimizing surveillance for Aedes vectors. She was a Postdoctoral Scholar at the University of California (Davis), where she worked on a decision support system for dengue through the Innovative Vector Control Consortium. She then joined Vestergaard for 6 years based in Nairobi with global responsibilities to develop and test innovative vector control tools. She then worked for the WHO Global Malaria Programme in Geneva for 5 years, where she conceptualised and developed the Malaria Threats Map and coordinated the Global Vector Control Response (2017-2030), amongst other initiatives.

Seeking to expand her skills, Dr Knox shifted to Port Vila to work as WHO Malaria and Other Vector Borne and Parasitic Diseases Advisor to the Vanuatu Ministry of Health for 4 years. She contributed well beyond her core duties, supporting the National Incident Management Team as Information Management co-Lead for COVID-19 and cyclone preparedness and response, assisting with risk communications and community engagement, and initiating revision of the Public Health Act. She was a key member of the Health Technical Advisory Group, where she helped to consolidate evidence and draft policy on COVID-19. She also coordinated the Vanuatu Health Research Symposium and the inaugural International Women's Day Health Symposium, and conceptualised and helped to establish the Pacific Vector Network. In 2023, Dr Knox completed a Master of Health Communication at the University of Sydney and undertook a placement in the Strategic Communications Branch at Queensland Health. 

Dr Knox is currently co-lead of the Pacific Mosquito Strengthening for Impact (PacMOSSI) consortium managed by James Cook University, which aims to enhance local capacity and capability for vector surveillance and control in Pacific Island Countries and areas. She recently coordinated the Training of trainers for safe and effective residual spraying against vectors of dengue, chikungunya and Zika and co-developed the PacMOSSI Mentoring Program. She has also worked as a consultant supporting the WHO Global Malaria Programme to improve guidance on vector control and insecticide resistance management. This has included revision and expansion of the WHO guidelines for malaria, operational guidance on indoor residual spraying and documenting country experiences in surveillance and control of Anopheles stephensi. She led the 2023 Solomon Islands Mid-Term Malaria Program Review and in 2024 was selected as Co-lead of the Roll Back Malaria Vector Control Working Group for Implementing the Global Vector Control Response.

Dr Knox is a technically-driven, passionate and energetic team player accustomed to operating efficiently and effectively in challenging and diverse settings. She is passionate about opportunities to contribute to policy and strategy development, capacity building and communications for health security and emergency response, particularly to address vector-borne diseases.

In addition to research publications (listed below), Dr Knox was a lead author (*) or major contributor for: 

• WHO Global vector control response 2017–2030 [strategy document and WHA resolution]*
• PacMOSSI Website [www.pacmossi.org]*
• PacMOSSI Communication strategy and toolkit [strategic plan]*
• PacMOSSI Participant handbook: Insecticide resistance monitoring in Aedes vectors in the Pacific [learner guide]*
• PacMOSSI SOP for testing insecticide resistance with WHO tube tests [implementation guidance]
• PacMOSSI Vector control needs assessments 2021 and 2024 [comprehensive surveys]
• WHO Guidelines for malaria [new and revised recommendations]
• WHO Quality of conduct and interpretation of insecticide susceptibility of mosquitoes to new insecticides for vector control [meeting report]
• WHO 20th Vector Control Advisory Group [meeting report]*
• WHO Handbook for malaria in humanitarian emergencies [implementation guidance]
• WHO Norms, standards and processes underpinning development of WHO recommendations on vector control [revised guidance]
• Solomon Islands mid-term malaria programme review 2023 [program review]*
• WHO An. stephensi surveillance and control: country experiences [planning and implementation guidance]
• WHO Partners convening: a regional response to the invasion of Anopheles stephensi in Africa. Meeting report, 8–10 March 2023 [meeting report]
• WHO Operational manual on indoor residual spraying: control of vectors of malaria, Aedes-borne diseases, Chagas disease, leishmaniases and lymphatic filariasis [planning and implementation guidance]*
• Residual spraying against Aedes vectors in the Pacific: Training-of-Trainers Manual, Field Handbook, and Presentations Book [planning and implementation guidance]*
• Vanuatu Health research symposium 2021, 2022
• Vanuatu Health research symposium website [www.moh.gov.vu/healthsymposium/]*
• Vanuatu Health sector strategy for safe Border re-opening [strategy document]*
• Vanuatu Monkeypox health sector preparedness and response plan [strategy document]
• WHO Manual for monitoring insecticide resistance in mosquito vectors and selecting appropriate interventions [strategy document]
• WHO Framework for national Aedes vector surveillance and control plans in the Pacific [planning and implementation guidance]*
• Manual for surveillance and control of Aedes vectors in the Pacific [planning and implementation guidance]
• Vanuatu Health sector preparedness for quarantine-free travel [strategy document]*
• Vanuatu Ministry of Health Strategic plan for malaria elimination: 2021-2026 [strategy]
• Vanuatu COVID-19 Health sector preparedness and response plan [strategy]
• Vanuatu COVID-19 website [www.covid19.gov.vu]*
• Successful elimination of malaria from Tafea province [case study]*
• Solomon Islands Malaria programme review 2018 [program review]*
• WHO Global report on insecticide resistance in malaria vectors: 2010 – 2016 [report]*
• WHO Status and trends of insecticide resistance  in malaria vectors: key points and Q&A [short communication]*
• WHO National malaria programme review – Viet Nam: April 2018 [report]
• WHO Malaria Threats Map [www.who.int/malaria/maps/threats/]*
• WHO Global vector control response 2017–2030: A strategic approach to tackle vector-borne diseases [advocacy brochure]*
• WHO Health topics: vector Control [webpage; www.who.int/vector-control]*
• WHO Framework for a national vector control needs assessment [implementation guidance]*
• WHO Framework for a national plan for monitoring and management of insecticide resistance in malaria vectors [implementation guidance]*
• WHO Malaria vector control policy recommendations and their applicability to product evaluation [implementation guidance]
• WHO The evaluation process for vector control products [implementation guidance]
• WHO Conditions for deployment of mosquito nets treated with a pyrethroid and piperonyl butoxide [implementation guidance]
• WHO Recommendations for achieving universal coverage with long-lasting insecticidal nets in malaria control [implementation guidance - updated]
• WHO World malaria reports 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 [status reports]