Archives: Speakers

Angela Clayton-Lea is CEO of Cancer Trials Ireland (CTI), with over 22 years’ experience in healthcare. She began her career as a Research Radiation Therapist, progressing to senior management roles in radiotherapy and operations management. In 2019, Angela joined TUH, where she led the Peri-Operative Directorate before being appointed Chief Operating Officer in 2022. She is passionate about expanding cancer clinical trials in Ireland, collaborating with investigators, international research groups, and industry to increase patient access to innovative treatments. Angela holds a BSc (Hons) from TCD, a Diploma in Finance from UCD, and an MBA from the University of Cumbria.

Yvette Henry brings over 12 years of leadership experience in project management and clinical operational strategy, with a strong foundation in both academia and the pharma/biotech industries. She has focused primarily on early-phase clinical development in oncology, where she has successfully led global cross-functional teams and navigated complex stakeholder environments to deliver R&D strategic goals and clinical trial execution. Yvette holds a PhD in Bone Metabolism and is a certified PRINCE2 Agile Project Management Practitioner.

Yvette is a world champion sprinter and brings together the two worlds that are, Project leadership & delivery with the Athlete Mindset, in small, medium and large pharma/biotech. Also known as ‘The Project Runner’, Yvette applies a high-performance, results-driven mindset to her professional career, and leads by equipping teams with resilience and agility, while inspiring them to overcome challenges and achieve excellence.

Emma Kinloch is the CEO and co-founder of Salivary Gland Cancer UK.  Focussed on pushing forwards research, providing reliable information and support for all those treating, researching and living with salivary gland cancers.

Emma is a passionate about involvement of the patient voice at all stages of cancer research.  She is a non-executive Director of the Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma Foundation, acts as a Patient Advisor to the EURACAN rare head and neck cancer domain and is a member of CRUK’s Experimental Cancer Medicine Centre Strategy Board.

Emma recently completed a Professional Doctorate in Occupational Health Psychology.

Gail Kemp is Director and Head of the Clinical Development Centre (CDC) UK at Novo Nordisk. She leads all UK clinical trial activities across the Novo Nordisk portfolio, working closely with global R&D teams, UK industry bodies, and healthcare partners. Gail has 25 years’ experience in clinical development spanning all phases and multiple therapy areas, particularly in cardiovascular and metabolic diseases.

Facilitating connections and working with global industry leaders, parliamentarians and key opinion leaders to pioneer globally consistent best practices standards for clinical research.

Leading the Quality and Process optimisation of Clinical Operations, alongside the strategic planning and data-driven development of oncology clinical trial pipelines, their experience spans trial management, clinical monitoring, pharmacovigilance and medical writing, gained across both UK Biotech and Global Pharmaceutical organisations. Committed to advancing risk-based strategies, scalable and efficient operations, and GCP compliance through thoughtful innovation.

Dr Gaia Kiru is Head of Operations and Partnerships at ICTU-Global, part of the Imperial Clinical Trials Unit (ICTU) at Imperial College London, where she leads strategic collaboration with industry to design and deliver high-impact, clinically relevant, clinical trials and studies. With 20 years’ experience across industry, the NHS, and academia, she works at the intersection of sponsors, CROs, academic partners and NHS sites to strengthen trial delivery models and improve alignment between strategy and execution across diverse settings and therapeutic areas.