Archives: Speakers

Helén Johansen Blanco is Senior Clinical Director, Clinical Development at the Swedish biotech company Cantargia AB. She has 21+ years’ experience in clinical research and has worked within Big Pharma as AstraZeneca, the generic company Mylan, larger biotech as Celgene and in large and small CROs, in addition to several Scandinavian biotech companies. The majority of her career is within project/study management of phase I, II and III studies; with a track record of several leading registration trials within oncology, leading to successful marketed drug. Previously, she has worked and lived in Switzerland, Australia, Iceland, Sweden and Norway. Her passions are quality in clinical trials, proactive risk management and financial oversight.

Frederik Grell Nørgaard is Project Manager for decentralised trials at the Clinical Trial Unit, Danish Medicines Agency (DKMA). Frederik is working as a regulatory assessor and coordinator of clinical trials applications and runs several Danish initiatives such as the dialogue forum for decentralised trials (DCT). He is also the co-author and coordinator of the Danish DCT guidance. Frederik is a member of several workgroups within the Clinical Trials Facilitation and Coordination Group (CTFG) being involved in development of DCT guidance and a Q&A regarding the IVDR-CTR interface. Frederik has a background as Master in Pharmacy.

Gerd Straub has more than 20 years of working experience in the Financial Services Sector & Captives and is leading member of KPMG’s Automotive/ Mobility Financial Services Group. Servicing global as well as regional clients in implementing Software, Accounting Change and Finance Transformation. Starting on strategic level designing Target Operating Models especially for Finance and Risk departments, designing global processes and organizational structures as well as implementing global IT system platforms. A lot of these projects were performed in the Leasing area. Sometimes in the Leasing department of banks, but more often in specific leasing companies or captives.

Sunand Prasad is a Principal of Perkins&Will and co-founder of the highly regarded architects, Penoyre & Prasad which became a studio of Perkins& Will in 2019. The practice’s work ranges widely across many sectors and places, with a commitment to sustainability, research and high quality design as evidenced by multiple awards and publications.

Sunand was President of the Royal Institute of British Architects 2007-09 campaigning for action on climate change, reform of architectural education and better integration in design and construction. He is one of the London Mayor’s Design Advocates and Chairs the Editorial Board of the Journal of Architecture. He was a founding Commissioner of the Commission for Architecture & the Built Environment, member of the Government’s Green Construction Board, trustee of the Centre for Cities, advisor to the Government’s Building Better Building Beautiful Commission, and Chair of Article 25, the humanitarian architecture charity. He is the author of a number of books, articles and broadcasts on architecture, culture and sustainability.