Dr Henry Aitchison joined Avimune as a consulting veterinarian in 1997 after spending two years as “in house” veterinarian for an integrated poultry production company. In 2005 he became a director of the company. He served as Avimune CEO between 2010 and 2012.

Dr Aitchison’s earlier career was spent at the Onderstepoort Foot and Mouth disease laboratory first as a veterinary technologist and later as a senior veterinary technologist involved with Foot and Mouth disease vaccine development. After completing his veterinary degree he continued his career at the Onderstepoort Biological Products virus vaccine development laboratory for 3 years, finishing as head of the unit. During this period he developed a new Lumpy Skin Disease vaccine, a Dove Pox vaccine and a new cloned multivalent Bluetongue virus vaccine that was developed for use in Israel.

Dr Aitchison obtained his Diploma in Veterinary Technology in 1980, his BVSc in 1992 and his BVSc (Hons) in 1994. He completed a middle management leadership course in 1994.

Dr Aitchison consults to clients in South and Southern Africa.