Archives: Speakers

Richard Bennett is Senior Director and Therapeutic Strategy Lead in the Neuroscience franchise at Worldwide Clinical Trials. With two decades in the industry, he has advanced through the traditional clinical operations roles such as clinical research associate and clinical trial manager and has spent many years as a leader of clinical development programs in both the larger pharma and biotech setting. He has worked on neuromuscular disorders, rare diseases, critical care, pain and palliative care, dermatology, and epidemiology programs. His direct experience working with large pharma and small and emerging biotech firms has given him a deep understanding of the needs of our sponsors

Malia Lewin is global head of strategy, ensuring both clinical and market fit for Teckro products. An attorney by training, Malia Lewin has over 20 years of experience in the life sciences industry. Passionate about getting life-changing healthcare innovations to patients, Malia has worked on behalf of non-profit organizations, pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, hospital systems, and technology companies to expedite the path of scientific discoveries from bench to clinic.

Most recently, Malia served as chief business officer of CherryCircle Software, where she led the global go-to-market strategy for QbDVision, a SaaS platform to optimize the development and manufacturing of drug products. Prior to that, she served as director of global oncology strategy at Veeva Systems, where she worked closely with clients in the oncology space to harness the power of technology to develop and commercialize oncology innovations. During her seven-year tenure as VP of client services and head of strategic operations at Rivermark, LLC (an IQVIA company), Malia led strategic consulting teams advising on the development, launch, and adoption of diagnostics and treatments, across therapeutic areas. This included the development of novel digital products for stakeholder mapping and engagement, network visualization and activation, and reporting and analytics. Earlier in her career, Malia had the opportunity to serve non-profit organizations as the founding CEO and executive director of the International Psoriasis Council and as lead partner of Networking and Affiliations at Ascension Health.

Malia holds Bachelor of Arts Degrees in English and in Women’s Studies from the University of Richmond and a Juris Doctor from The George Washington University Law School.

Wasim’s career in financial services has focused on leading operational teams and delivering strategic change across banking sectors. Partnering with global banks to execute large-scale transformation, and advising innovative startups to launch new products and services.

He spent his formative years in business banking at Abbey National Bank; followed by global banking and markets at RBS where I managed teams delivering all UK Libor lending for commercial and corporate banking.

Moving onto Barclays Wealth Management as VP Head of Credit Operations, and onto the Operations Lead role to launch Smart Investor. Before consulting in the CIO office to deliver group programmes covering system decommissioning, platform implementations, banking entity closures, launching new products, and structural reform for the Private Bank.

Transitioning into fintech as Director of Operations and Projects at AskIf, launching CBILS with the British Business Bank as part of the initial wave of UK lenders. Developing SME green finance innovations, managing operational third-party vendors, brokers and external client lending portfolios utilising managed services.

Most recently as the Transformation Lead in Financial Markets at Standard Chartered Bank delivering global change initiatives impacting all 45 regulatory markets. Leading the plan, design and transition of a material outsourcing programme under NDA within a full RFP lifecycle. Delivering business outcomes in people, operations, technology, communications, finance, risk & transition workstreams.

Wasim received his Master’s in Economics from the University of Glasgow and more recently completed executive certificates at Saïd Business School, University of Oxford, and MIT Sloan School of Management. His focus areas are business strategy, digital transformation, client journeys, process reengineering, lending, regulatory adherence, corporate innovation, platforms, open finance, and outsourcing solutions.

Experienced head of global communications with a history of success in the financial services industry across traditional asset management, start-ups and private markets. Skilled in strategic communications, identifying opportunities and delivering solutions for company, clients and colleagues.

Co-founder of ekko, a positive and transformative app, debit card and ecosystem. Ekko’s mission is to reframe people’s relationship with climate change and empower them with ways to make an impact that they can see, and feel good about. We want to be the first step in someone’s journey to a more sustainable lifestyle.