Archives: Speakers

A competently skilled, flexible, dependable, hard-working, conscientious and ambitious clinical research professional with a solid employment history (including 10 years clinical trial management experience).
Hands-on responsibility for the leadership and conduct of clinical trials either through fully in-sourced, fully outsourced or hybrid operational model. Management and execution of Phase I-IV oncology and immuno-oncology clinical trials including the direction, planning, execution and interpretation of clinical trials under ICH/Good Clinical Practices.
Experience within Biotechs, Pharma, CRO and University Investigator led research studies in Phase I – IV trials.
Possess a thorough understanding of cross-functional clinical processes including data management, drug safety and regulatory affairs and have demonstrated the ability to lead a cross-functional team in a matrix environment.
Assists in the development and implementation of strategy, policies and procedures. Manage aspects of external vendor contracts including CRO.

Therapeutic areas worked in including Oncology, Infectious disease, Neurology, Vaccines, Cardiovascular, Diabetes and Dermatology.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office programs, a number of clinical trial management, safety database and document repository systems with the ability to pick up new skills and learn quickly.
Specialties: Clinical Trial Management, Data Management, study start up, ethics and regulatory submission, Trial Master File & Investigator site File maintenance.

• With over 30 years of experience in the contract research organization (CRO) industry, Ximena Valenzuela is a seasoned leader responsible for defining and executing account strategies in close partnership with Commercial teams. She excels in building and leading high-performing cross-functional teams, fostering a culture of accountability and operational excellence. Valenzuela is known for cultivating strong client relationships, ensuring delivery excellence across the portfolio, and driving strategic project execution. Her performance metrics include account revenue growth, new business generation, delivery timeliness and quality, financial forecasting accuracy, project margin optimization, and overall client satisfaction. The Therapeutic Area Expertise includes
  Oncology, Infectious Diseases, Cardiovascular, Neurology (Stroke), Gastroenterology, Rheumatology, Rare Diseases, Gene Therapy, and Ophthalmology. Valenzuela holds a Master of Science in Biochemistry and is based in Miami, Florida.

Krishna Bheenick has over 20+ years of insurance experience across Africa, UK, Europe and Asia.

He is currently Managing Director for Africa Specialty Risks (ASR) in Mauritius and also heads the ASR Captive Solutions team, providing turnkey solutions to organisations that want to setup Captives. that He Prior to joining ASR, Krishna was Senior Manager in Swan General’s Group Finance team in Mauritius, where he was responsible for capital management, business performance, governance, financial reporting, and controls of general and life insurance. A well established business partner and adviser with a strong commercial capability to achieve sustainable profitable growth, Krishna also held senior finance roles at XLCatlin (UK) and Munich Re of Africa and Mauritius.

Born in Mauritius and educated in the UK, Krishna is a Qualified Chartered Accountant and holds a BSc in Computer Science with Business and Management from the University of Manchester. Krishna is fluent in English and French.

Managing Director of:

• Guardrisk International Ltd PCC (Professional Reinsurer).
• Guardrisk Insurance Company Mauritius Ltd PCC (External Insurer).
• Guardrisk Life International Ltd PCC (External Insurer).
• Guardrisk Insurance Management Ltd in Mauritius (Insurance Manager).
• 26 years’ experience in the Financial Services Industry in Mauritius.
• 23 years’ experience in the International Cell Captive Insurance industry.
• Independent Non-Executive Director of Cell Insurance Company Ltd in Zimbabwe
• Chairman of Finance Committee of Cell Insurance Company Ltd in Zimbabwe.
• Member of the FSC’s Insurance Committee in Mauritius.
• Member of ACCA UK.

Vasish holds an Engineering Degree from NIT, India, an MBA from University of Hull, UK and other professional certifications from World Bank, ICAO and Harvard Mentor. As Secretary General of the Insurers Association of Mauritius, Vasish is a member of various national and technical committees namely:

• Financial Services Consultative Council
• Technical Committee on Insurance and Pension
• National Task Force on AML/CFT
• National Road Safety Council
• Building Control Advisory Council
• National Health Accounts Committee
• Finance Sectoral Committee of the Human Resource Development Council

Vasish is currently also serving as Board/Council Member of the following organisations:

• Employees Welfare Fund where he is also the Chairperson of the Project Monitoring Committee
• Business Mauritius
• Secretary of the Africa Network of Insurers Association (ANIA), an AIO Body

In the past, Vasish has served as Board/Council Member of the following organisations :

• Mauritius Deposit Insurance Co. Ltd
• Board/Council Member of the University of Mauritius where he was also the Chairperson of the Budget and Infrastructure Committee
• Board member of the Financial Services Institute of Mauritius

He has also served as:

• UNDP National Consultant for Mauritius
• World Bank Country Officer for Mauritius and Seychelles
• Lead Consultant, Senior Manager and Executive Director of various key institutions in UK, Africa and India.

Ákos Tarcsay is Product Manager at Turbine, where he leads the development of innovative digital tools for cancer drug discovery. He holds a PhD in Chemical Engineering from Budapest University of Technology and Economics and brings deep experience from roles at Chemaxon and Gedeon Richter. Ákos specializes in translating scientific and customer needs into actionable product features for AI-driven platforms.