International sequence-screening standards must work for every region – not only those with mature infrastructures. When young scientists, emerging economies, and local labs are part of the design process, we build systems that are more inclusive, more resilient, and ultimately more secure.

Keletso Masisi is a life scientist and PhD candidate at the Botswana International University of Science & Technology (BIUST), with a strong foundation in applied microbiology and biotechnology. Her training also entail bioinformatics inclusive of DNA sequence analysis, variant calling, recombinant DNA technologies and environmental AMR surveillance. As a Youth Fellow with the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA), she contributed to youth-driven recommendations for the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC). She continues to address emerging risks from synthetic biology, dual-use research, and AI-enabled biological threat creation hence helping elevate the voice of emerging scientists in international disarmament discussions.

Keletso is trained in ISO 31000 risk-management frameworks and incorporates these principles into the design of biosafety and biosecurity training, risk-awareness content and capacity-building initiatives. She has collaborated nationally with the Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Weapons Management Authority to co-develop youth-focused biosecurity awareness initiatives and has supported AI-informed approaches to risk communication. She was also nominated to the Biorisk Management Trainer Development Program (NICD/Sandia), reflecting her growing leadership in regional biorisk capacity development.

Her technical and engagement work includes founding Botswana’s inaugural student biosafety training programme and leading student-driven COVID-19 response and public-health awareness initiatives. Keletso brings a unique perspective that bridges laboratory science, policy engagement and community-level biosecurity capacity development across the region and the global health-security ecosystem.