Archives: Speakers

Jack Funchion is the VP, Global Financial Services at Digital Realty. Jack and his team work with the world’s leading banks, asset managers, hedge funds, financial exchanges, market data providers and insurers. Jack has extensive experience in the financial services industry starting in data centre operations for three major Wall Street brokerages, then transitioning to management consulting focused on data centre issues, and for the last 18 years at Digital Realty. 

Guy Bentley is the director of consumer freedom at Reason Foundation. Bentley’s research focuses on the taxation and regulation of nicotine, gambling, alcohol, and food. Bentley’s work has been featured in The Washington Post, USA Today, The New York Post, and other publications in the U.S. and U.K.

Before joining Reason Foundation, Bentley served as a reporter in London and Washington, D.C.

Lillian Ortega is the Owner and Chief Regulatory Compliance Strategist at WOW Solutions LLC, a consulting firm dedicated to guiding businesses through the complexities of FDA regulatory processes. With over a decade of distinguished service at the Food and Drug Administration, Lillian has extensive experience leading strategic and complex compliance and regulatory projects. Her expertise spans a broad range of sectors, including tobacco products, biologics, and FDA-regulated clinical research.

Before founding WOW Solutions, Lillian served as the Director of Enforcement and Manufacturing at the FDA’s Center for Tobacco Products. In this pivotal role, she led manufacturer compliance and enforcement programs, directed inspection activities, oversaw compliance actions, coordinated tobacco recall operations, and managed import activities.

Lillian’s academic background in Microbiology and Public Health Policy complements her professional experience, enabling her to deliver invaluable insights to her clients. Her unique blend of regulatory oversight and business acumen empowers organizations to successfully navigate the FDA regulatory landscape. Through WOW Solutions, she provides tailored consulting services to position products and operations for success in a highly regulated environment.

Georg is Director of Business Development at Genmab, where he is responsible for the identification, evaluation, and negotiation of partnerships with biotech companies, academic institutes, and other industry stakeholders. Currently, Georg leads Genmab’s Venture Capital Fund relationships and direct investment activities.

He brings broad industry experience in antibody therapeutics, having worked at companies such as argen-x, Genmab and Byondis over the past 15 years. His career has encompassed roles in R&D, Competitive Intelligence, Corporate Finance and Business Development. He has a background in Molecular Biology & Microbiology and has a degree in Science & Business Management from the University of Utrecht.

Lucy is an independent Medical Diagnostics Consultant who began her career in the National Health Service as a Clinical Scientist. It was here that she gained first hand insights into the importance of diagnostic testing in improving health and disease management, and enhancing patient experiences. Fast forward nearly 25 years, and Lucy has spent her career in the commercial world of diagnostic testing holding leadership roles in Product Management, Technical Marketing and Medical Affairs for several leading diagnostic companies.

In 2023, Lucy established her own consultancy business – Lehane Consulting Ltd. providing medical diagnostics expertise to guide businesses to bring their diagnostic products to market. Lucy endeavours to apply her 25 years of experience in the IVD industry to provide expert advice for product development, market understanding, devising clinical studies and communications to help bring products to life.

Olga Vizgalova was appointed as Managing Director of Oximio UA in September 2022 and further promoted to Regional Director for Central Eastern Europe in October 2024.

Olga oversees operations and growth strategy across these diverse markets, with a focus on enhancing Oximio’s regional impact and forging deeper connections with partners and clients.

Serving as a member of the Senior Management Team, she has worked for Oximio since 2018. Originally joining as Investment Project Analyst, prior to becoming Investment Project Manager, and then Director of Regional Development and Investments.

During this time Olga has made a substantial contribution developing the Investment Unit and geographical expansion of the business through the development and implementation of a GEO expansion strategy. She managed M&A and Greenfield projects and contributed to the development of the global partner network and launch of the new services. Olga has 10 years project management experience in the food and clinical trials industries.

Zayheda Khan was appointed Chief Commercial Officer in December 2022 and UK Managing Director in October 2024.

She has more than 20 years experience in a variety of roles within the clinical trial sectors including preclinical, clinical, proposal and budgeting, procurement and programme management.

Zayheda oversees the Marketing, Sales/KAM, Commercial Operations, Procurement and Project Management functions with the aim of assessing customer needs and providing cost-effective tailor-made solutions.

She is also responsible for the commercial data analysis for accurate forecasts and opportunity pipeline management and her organisation is driven to develop customer partnerships and drive forward the success of the commercial projects in an ever-changing clinical trial landscape.

Zayheda has a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Central Lancashire and Master and PhD Degrees in Pharmacology from The University of Bradford.

After a master degree in engineering with a specialisation in Environment, Juliette Cauchy worked for the construction products sector for two years before joining Imerys in 2020. She now coordinates sustainability projects such as the assessment of Imerys solutions according to sustainability criteria including the Life cycle Assessment (LCA) of minerals.

Born in Zambia, a British National, with a doctorate in Microbiology from the University of Manchester, England, Matt Jordan started his working career as an operator on a packaging line at a UK regional brewer. 12 years later, with a diploma in brewing and an interest in filtration, he was appointed filtration zone specialist at now the world’s biggest brewer, responsible for implementing filtration “best practice” in their 15 European breweries. Matt Jordan joined Imerys Minerals LTD  in 2007 as a brewing filtration specialist, supporting filter aid applications. With various roles in Marketing, New Product Development and Global Adsorbent Business Development, Matt Jordan is now Filtration Technical Support Manager for Imerys Performance Minerals EMEA