The Director-General of WHO, Dr J.W. Lee, together with Lisa Véron's close family, friends and colleagues, celebrated her life and work during a tree planting ceremony in the grounds of WHO's headquarters on 8 November.
Lisa, who was based in Geneva for more than two years, died in January 2005 while working for the Stop TB Department in WHO's Africa regional office in Zimbabwe. Two men are being held in custody in Harare, and are awaiting trial.
At the ceremony, a young magnolia tree was dedicated to Lisa's memory. Her husband, Martin Brunner, spoke about the beauty and simplicity of the magnolia flower as a symbol of her special qualities. Dr Lee, who was Lisa's former Stop TB Department Director, paid tribute by recalling her professionalism and dedication to TB control .