Archives: Speakers

Nacho has built his career in the automotive and mobility industry, holding key roles in sales, fleet, and business development at companies such as Ford Motor Company and PepsiCo. As Founder and COO of Flexivan, part of the Flexicar Group, he focuses on delivering flexible vehicle renting and mobility solutions for companies and private clients. With a strong background in commercial strategy and operations, he brings a pragmatic approach to innovation and sustainable mobility.

Clinical Research Leader with extensive experience overseeing pharmaceutical trials within oncological, central nervous system, rare disease, and infectious disease therapies, leveraging an intuitive blend of interpersonal skills to maintain cross-functional collaboration across internal and external stakeholders.
Knowledgeable and respectful team player adept at building trust and mutual respect among vendors
and team members to ensure quality execution. Highly motivated clinical operations specialist
employing dedication, work ethic, flexibility, and an unwavering drive to improve patient lives through
research trials.

Marilyn Kludt, Senior Project Director, Oncology, at Premier Research is highly experienced in clinical development within the CRO, pharmaceutical, and biotech environments. Her emphasis is in Global Project Management, Strategic Alliances, Functional Service Provisioning, and Global Clinical Operations. Marilyn has experience in Phases I-IV across extensive therapeutic areas with the most recent 12 years focused on early phase international programs in oncology and haematology. Her unique experience includes FIH, Head and Neck TIL infusion, CAR T-cell therapy, and Richter’s Transformation.

Experienced more than 20+ years in clinical operations and clinical development. Demonstrated history in variety of companies including large pharma, start-up and CRO industries. Experienced in a variety of therapy areas including oncology (solid and hematological), neurology, HIV and respiratory. Line and matrix team management in programs from first time in human (FTIH) to phase III in a variety of populations (patient, pediatric, healthy volunteer) and study designs. Experienced in providing leadership and support within multiple collaborative teams to effectively led programs to successful submissions in multiple new investigational drugs and medical device.

Strategic-focused business development manager representing Evotec to the New England area. Evotec provides unique and highly-efficient drug discovery and development options, with unparalleled expertise and experience.

Before joining Evotec, as a program manager, I coordinated the successful preclinical development of eight drug candidates through regulatory submissions worldwide. Having established the program management function at Navitor Pharmaceuticals, I coordinated Navitor’s first clinical trial while simultaneously supporting the company’s portfolio of nonclinical candidates.

Before Navitor, I managed the development of a gene therapy candidate in the rare disease space into phase 1/2 clinical development. Simultaneously, I managed the preclinical development of the company’s second major asset. My previous experience includes the development of simultaneous small molecule programs utilizing a combination of in-house and outsourced resources.

Prior to being a Sr. Program Manager I acquired over 12 years of scientific experience dating back to undergraduate college. Five years of this experience was as a member of the discovery and development group at Idenix Pharmaceuticals with the final years split between program management and drug discovery responsibilities.

In May of 2012, I graduated with a Master of Liberal Arts degree from Harvard University. In fulfillment of this degree, I completed a graduate thesis on the subject of organizational communication.

Pharma professional with 25 years of hands-on and oversight experience in strategic sourcing and contracting, vendor selection (RFP process), process development and standardization, with an emphasis on clinical trial outsourcing.

Amanda Fierro, Project Manager, Oncology, at Premier Research is leading cross-functional teams to support the planning and launch of clinical trials. She ensures the on-time delivery of key study milestones by working closely with internal teams, sponsors, and vendors. Amanda brings expertise in clinical project management and imaging. She previously served as a Clinical Project Manager at an imaging vendor, and she is committed to fostering strong collaboration across all stakeholders to drive successful study outcomes.

With over 25 years of progressive experience in clinical operations, project management, and medical affairs, Liza Micioni brings a deep understanding of the clinical development lifecycle. Her expertise spans early- to late-phase clinical trials across a broad spectrum of therapeutic areas, including rare diseases, CNS disorders including pain management, and immunology. Liza consistently demonstrates the ability to translate complex scientific and regulatory requirements into actionable strategies that drive operational excellence and accelerate timelines.

Throughout her career, Liza has successfully led global cross-functional teams, managed multimillion-dollar clinical programs, and built high-performing clinical operations departments from the ground up. She is known for her collaborative leadership style, strategic foresight, and unwavering commitment to quality and compliance. Her ability to foster strong partnerships with investigators, CROs, vendors, and internal stakeholders has been instrumental in delivering multiple clinical trials on time and within budget.

Liza is passionate about advancing innovation in clinical research by embracing emerging technologies and championing patient-centric solutions that improve trial accessibility, efficiency, and overall impact. She is a strong advocate for continuous improvement and operational agility, consistently seeking new ways to elevate patient engagement and optimize outcomes. Her work is driven by a deep sense of purpose: to contribute meaningfully to the development of life-changing therapies that improve the lives of patients.

As the Corporate Global Head of Accessibility at Merck & Co., Inc., Dr. Stephen Framil has been an ardent advocate and practitioner of equitable access across the range of human experience: including the built environment, food sustainability, education, performing arts, and the digital landscape. With over 30 years of executive leadership in business strategy and innovation, policy and governance, procedure and operations, and portfolio management expertise, Steve continues to lead and champion accessibility in multinational corporations, non-profit education, and the performing arts. Steve resides in the Greater Philadelphia area with his wife Natalia, children Aren and Sasha, cats Mila and Jana, and dog Benji. Steve maintains an active music career as the founding Executive & Music Director of Camerata Philadelphia and the Port City Music Festival (Wilmington NC). To make this all happen as a CRC Survivor (2024 NED), Steve energizes through marathons and triathlons, and is a 3X Ironman (2022, 2024, 2025)—why be bad at one sport, when you can be bad at three!