A new era for the BIA as it announces new Chair and appointments to the Board plus key new hires
Following the BIA Annual General Meeting, the Association has announced its next Chair and members who have been elected to its Board of Directors. The AGM took place on Tuesday 19th October and the new board members were voted for by the BIA’s membership in the weeks leading up to the meeting.
Dr Ruth McKernan CBE, the current Chair of the Association, has completed her term and the Board voted for the next Chair to be Dan Mahony of Evotec during the last Board meeting and his appointment was announced at the AGM. He will begin the role in the New Year and has been on the BIA board for five years.
The members who will join the BIA Board from 1st January 2022 for a three-year term are:
Corporate Board Members:
- Lisa Anson of Redx Pharma (re-elected)
- Charlotte Casebourne of Theolytics (re-elected)
- Nicole Farmer of Sanofi Genzyme (elected)
- Oliver Hardick of Cytiva (re-elected)
Other Board Member:
- Peter Finan of Epidarex Capital (elected)
Ruth McKernan, Chair of the BIA Board said: “This year we’ve had another extremely impressive range of candidates from across the membership standing for election and I would like to thank them all for their commitment to supporting the BIA. My congratulations to those voted on to the Board and I would really encourage those who were not elected this time to consider standing again in the future. Dan is the ideal person to take on the chairmanship, we have worked together for the last three years on the Board and the executive committee, and his commitment to the BIA is exemplary.
Dan Mahony incoming Chair of the BIA board said: “The UK biotech and life sciences sector is going through a golden age, with record levels of investment, novel innovative products reaching patients and the sector now having an unprecedented profile through its tremendous response to the COVID-19 pandemic. I look forward to working with Steve, the BIA team and my new and longstanding fellow board members, to ensure the association and the members continues to reach even greater heights.
The BIA staff has also grown with the addition of a new Marketing function. The appointments include Alina O’Keeffe as the new Head of Marketing and Membership Communications and Erica Hollingsworth who has joined as the Marketing and Communications Executive. Both these appointments will enable the Association to better deploy its messages and communications across the industry and to its members.
Three new starters have also been recruited into the Policy and Public Affairs team, Linda Bedenik, Emma Lawrence and Rosie Lindup all join the Association and will provide significant expertise and delivery in one of the key areas for the BIA.
Michael McGivern has also been promoted to Head of Membership and he will take the lead in all matters of member recruitment and retention across the Association.
Steve Bates OBE, Chief Executive of the BioIndustry Association said: “The new Board appointments highlight the diversity, capability and talent we have in the BIA membership. I am looking forward to working with the Board and utilising their expertise as we take on the various challenges facing our industry.
“I am also really excited about our internal appointments and the quality of our new staff members. Our expanded marketing function will enable us to do more and communicate the fantastic work our members and the Association to wider audiences. I am confident that together we can ensure our member companies continue to grow and be successful.”
ENDS
- For more information on the BIA Board, please follow this link
- Emma Lawrence will be Secretariat for the Genomics Advisory Committee
- Rosie Lindup will be Secretariat for the Rare Disease Industry Group and the Cell and Gene Advisory Committee
- Linda Bedenik will be Secretariat for the Engineering Biology Advisory Committee and the Intellectual Property Advisory Committee
About the BIA
Established over 25 years ago at the infancy of biotechnology, the BioIndustry Association (BIA) is the trade association for innovative life sciences in the UK. Our goal is to secure the UK's position as a global hub and as the best location for innovative research and commercialisation, enabling our world-leading research base to deliver healthcare solutions that can truly make a difference to people's lives.