Archives: Speakers

Dr. Sherris has over 30 years’ experience in translational medicine involving basic research, pharmaceutics and diagnostics. Dr. Sherris has been a successful serial entrepreneur developing biotechnology companies from the ground up, devising corporate strategy, enacting programs and carrying companies through funding and acquisition. Dr. Sherris prides himself as a “roll up your sleeves” CEO, entrepreneur, business development officer, drug developer and scientist, not simply a delegator. Dr. Sherris has worked with venture capital companies, investment banks and angel investors where he has advised and raised well over $100 million for biotech companies. Dr. Sherris has been employed by pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies to manage external (academic groups and contract research organizations) and internal (directly manage, augment and expand internal scientific programs) research and development. Dr. Sherris has been a frequently invited guest speaker at biopharmaceutical business and scientific conferences, a published author and holder of patents in a wide range of therapeutic areas including oncology, ophthalmology, dermatology, neurology, gene therapy and infectious disease. Dr. Sherris has held positions of increasing responsibility in public and private companies. Dr. Sherris has developed drugs from the bench to the clinic, partnered technologies to pharmaceutical companies and raised capital for companies at the triple digit million dollar levels.

Barbara is an analyst focused on the energy transition for the GlobalData Energy team. She has 8+ years of experience across different sectors in sustainable project development and energy transition policy implementation, including in the Ministry of Public Works and Services of Mexico City. Barbara had led the development of public policies strategies towards decarbonization for private and public sectors including topics like transmission, renewable strategies, power generation, infrastructure, and policy making.

Teodora Toteva is a Director, Business Development, Clean Technologies at Montréal International, the economic development agency for Greater Montreal. Her role is to promote the competitive and international environment of Greater Montreal’s clean technologies sector by attracting foreign direct investments and supporting the set up and expansion of foreign companies in the region.

Fluent in four languages and holder of a Bachelor of Business Administration focused on Marketing and International Business from HEC Montréal, Teodora is a well-skilled professional with a demonstrated history of working in the international trade and development industry. Prior to joining Montréal International in 2017, Teodora worked at Air Liquide, a French multinational in the industrial gases sector where she had the chance to be involved in strategic projects in North America, notably in Houston, TX. As a tech enthusiast, she has previously worked at different startups and is still actively involved in Montreal’s startup community.

Lizzy specialises in the topics of behavioural science and insurance innovation. She spent 7 years in Swiss Re’s Behavioural Research Unit experimenting with applying concepts of unconscious bias to customer interactions with L&H insurers. She now sits in the client relationship team for UK & Irish insurance clients leading on product innovation and delivery of Swiss Re’s Solutions. These cover topics such as automation, analytics and customer wellbeing. She has a PhD in psychology as well as 10 years Global insurance experience.

Brian MacNamara is a Senior Product Manager at Teckro, with over 15 years experience in start-ups and SMEs bringing digital solutions to customers in the healthcare & communications industries. Teckro’s mission is to modernize and simplify clinical trials, and are currently working with most of the top pharma companies to fast track the shift to digital first clinical trials.