Archives: Speakers

Experienced R&D Director with deep passion for the flavour industry and broad experiences across several multinational companies including Sensient, Kerry and now McCormick Flavour Division. Driven by a dynamic, inspired, entrepreneurial, disruptive, trusting, collaborative, purposeful, excellence-obsessed approach to spark the R&D engine for Business value creation and Company’s growth.

Richard Graham, founder of Mirador Therapeutics and TruTechnologies, is a seasoned leader with extensive experience in business operations, corporate strategy, fundraising, scientific research, and therapeutics development. He excels at aligning corporate strategy with scientific expertise and building partnerships with executives, board members, and investors.

A proven leader in global team management, Rick has successfully driven large-scale R&D programs from concept to completion, consistently achieving ambitious milestones. His work has advanced therapeutics through late-stage development, contributing to the approvals of Erivedge™, Kadcyla™, Kyprolis™, Perjeta™, and Yupelri™.

Alyson Nicks serves as one of two Investigations Branch Supervisory Consumer Safety Officers at the Otay Mesa Port of Entry in the Division of Southwest Imports. She currently serves in the Public Health Service Commissioned Corps in the Pharmacy Category.

Alyson joined the FDA in 2020 as a Consumer Safety Officer at the Otay Mesa Port of Entry. Prior to her FDA career, she worked as a Clinical Pharmacist at the Gallup Indian Health Service and Albuquerque Indian Health Center, where she also served as Pharmacy Residency Director and Acting Facilities Director.

She earned both her Doctor of Pharmacy degree and Bachelor of Science degree from Wilkes University. In her current role, Alyson oversees FDA import operations for Team 7 at the Otay Mesa Port of Entry.

I believe sustainable success is about developing emotionally intelligent resilient leaders who combine a growth mindset with an unwavering commitment to human-centered technology.

Here is what I am doing with my time now:
✍️ Finishing my book, “AI Uncomplicated,”
🎤 Speaking: Responsible AI and Future of Work
👩🏻‍🏫 Teaching, guest lecturing,
🏛️ Developing Higher Ed. courses & curriculum

Experience:
25+ years in healthcare, business, and consulting + PhD in health informatics from UNT.

Distinguished scientist and global life sciences business leader with strong record of bringing multiple drugs to market and patients

• Led successful $1.2B acquisition and transition of Ardea Biosciences into AstraZeneca

• Achieved FDA and EMA approval of Zurampic, the first novel MOA for the treatment of gout
in over 50 years

• Led successful commercial licensing of Zurampic and Duzallo to Ironwood Pharmaceuticals and
Grunenthal

• Transformed the AstraZeneca/BMS Diabetes global development and commercial collaboration, and
established Onglyza, Kombiglyze XR and Komboglyze as key growth drivers in the AZ portfolio

• Designed and implemented multiple innovative delivery and partnership models including an
industry leading approach to delivery of outsourced clinical work through development of strategic
partnerships with CROs

• Designed and implemented multiple strategic re-organizations, led major global change
management, whilst delivering improved efficiencies and productivity

Associate Director, Development Business Operations with over 15 years of experience in drafting, reviewing, and negotiating contractual and legal documents within the CRO/Pharmaceutical/Clinical Site environment, for both CROs and for sponsors. I am highly competent and knowledgeable at managing internal and external budgets, including site budgets, cash flow analysis, and revenue recognition through developing a range of cash positive payment schedules. My knowledge in proposal, contract, and budget development has been invaluable in the critical assessment of the multiple aspects of vendor proposals and contracts and in the selection of US and Ex-US vendors including in the evaluation of bid defences.

My experience in tracking and analysing internal and external metrics have helped ensure contractual timelines are met and critical study related milestones are achieved. My proven leadership qualities comprise global line management and project management which are evident through development, advancement and implementation of global contracting processes, template management, and document review processes designed to create efficiencies and ensure client and sponsor satisfaction.

My clinical research experience is supported through my degree in pharmacology which provides essential theoretical knowledge in a number of scientific research fields actively involved in clinical research trials.

A dynamic business leader with over 20 years of commercial experience at both biopharma and vendor companies. Strong scientific background with pharma/biotech clinical development and CRO/CDMO full-service phase I-IV sales experience and a deep understanding of drug development. Prolific networker with global contacts and a track record of negotiating and closing deals.