Archives: Speakers

My leadership strength lies at the intersection of my love of health sciences and a passion for technology. Pushing the boundaries of innovation and leveraging deep industry knowledge, I harness digital advancements and technology’s diverse potential to address industry challenges and provide cutting-edge solutions. Shaping the future of life sciences with forward-thinking strategies and a commitment to excellence, I lead digital transformation strategies which accelerate clinical trials, optimize operational process and elevate the patient and user experience. Through collaboration, fostering synergies between stakeholders and building high performing teams, I champion the integration of AI, data science and advanced technologies to drive adoption for meaningful, sustainable change.

A 20-year technology career within healthcare and life sciences has given me a unique collection of experience, background, networks and knowledge. I use it to lead the adoption, process optimization, and infrastructure development necessary for sustainable innovation, scale and growth.

Key expertise:

• Proven digital innovation and transformation leader whose competencies traverse geographies, resource limits and technical maturity to deliver novel solutions that enable fast, precise decision-making, enhance quality, maximize efficiency, and improve patient safety
• People leadership and mentoring with a unique ability to build diverse, motivated and high performing teams across stakeholder groups and business teams, aligning competing objectives to deliver quality results
• In-depth knowledge of the R&D value chain from the perspectives of Sponsors, Academia, CROs, Vendors, and Patients
• Data governance covering acquisition, transformation, ingestion, standards, interoperability, visualisation and ALCOA++ landscapes and architecture
• Validation and compliance specialist, adept at navigating the regulatory and ethical landscape governing quality, security, privacy, technology and data integrity
• Recognised industry expert, a sought-after conference speaker/facilitator, and active member of global industry initiatives (Vulcan, IMI, TUFTS, EHR2Sponsor)
• Robust operational competencies including contract negotiation and language, governance, risk management, sales, marketing, operations, lecturing, training in addition to exceptional business acumen and communication skills

Blanka is an Associate Director within Precision Medicine Scientific Operations at GSK with over ten years of experience in research spanning from clinical site to sponsor roles, and expertise in biosample operations. She leads operational aspects of trials with a focus on innovation and excellence, successfully managing complex clinical studies while ensuring compliance and participant protection. Herf passion lies in ethical research and strategic improvements for operational efficiency.

Catherine Mela is Executive Director, Head of Precision Medicine Operations, within GSK. In her role, Catherine is accountable for leading the Scientific Operations and Data Operations teams, driving the execution of precision medicine project strategies with efficiency and quality.

Catherine has gained broad experience in laboratory and bio-sample operations, while leading sampling and laboratory operations teams in AstraZeneca and Roche.

Prior to working in pharma, Catherine’s background was in Clinical research within the NHS.  She holds a PhD from Imperial College on ‘The impact of treatment strategies on immune responses in HIV-1 infection’.  Catherine is a fellow of the institute of leadership and is passionate about professional development, mentorship and creating a supportive environment for individuals within her teams.

Dr Rebecca Clark is a Partner at Fylde Coast Clinical Research at Layton Medical Centre, a dedicated commercial trials centre in Blackpool. She is a highly experienced trialist with over 70 Phase II/III clinical trials conducted over the last 13 years, with multiple studies as Chief Investigator in the therapy areas of vaccines, obesity medicine, cardiovascular medicine, asthma and diabetes. She holds a number of senior leadership roles including co-clinical lead for the UK Vaccine Innovation Pathway, a UK clinical trials accelerator.

Fylde Coast Clinical Research at Layton Medical Centre recruits amongst the highest number of commercial participants across the NHS in England and was in the top 1% of NHS recruiting sites when compared with all 637 sites across both primary and secondary care in 22/23. Study participant retention rates exceeded 99%. Her site regularly achieves UK FPV and she is renowned for accelerated set up and recruitment timelines, experience she is now bringing to her role in the UK VIP.

Fylde Coast Clinical Research currently holds contracts with Eli Lilly, Moderna, Astra Zeneca, Roche, Amgen, Merck, Novo Nordisk and GSK, with whom they are members of the PEER preferred site network.

Dr Clark continues to be recognised nationally for her excellence in clinical trial delivery, being a former recipient of the Gold Award for Clinical Site of the Year at the Pharmatimes International Clinical Researcher of the Year.

An experienced executive leader within the pharmaceutical industry with a clear focus on and passion for developing high performing cross-functional teams who work without barriers. Highly inclusive yet decisive, adaptable and with a track record of high quality delivery whilst motivating and inspiring the teams around me.

A GMC registered, NHS trained medical doctor with pharmaceutical industry experience across a broad range of therapeutic areas working with both pre-launch and in-market products in the UK and Europe. Known for being commercially astute and a strong cross-functional worker with 10 years of management experience up to a team size of 120 striving always to create a rewarding, high energy environment for my teams.