Archives: Speakers

Mr. Andy Liu has strong operational experience in the CRO industry and a deep understanding of the regional market. Andy worked at Covance, Inc., a global CRO, for more than 10 years in a number of executive positions. Before joining PPC group, he was General Manager of Covance’s Central Laboratory Service, Asia Pacific, where he led a large multi-functional team of around 500 employees across multiple sites in APAC. Andy holds an MBA from the Booth School of Business at the University of Chicago, an MS in Electrical Engineering from the Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, and a BS in Electrical Engineering from Tsinghua University.

Leila Cupersmith is a rare-disease and cancer clinical trial operations leader and patient-advocacy champion with 20+ years of clinical trial operations experience delivering highly complex cancer and rare-disease studies across Phases I–III, across more than 30 countries from concept through closure. Her work centers on innovative, nimble, cost and time-effective, operational, collaborative strategies that reduce patient and caregiver burden, embed transparent communication, and align site, CRO, sponsor, advocacy, and regulatory stakeholders early and often. In addition to ongoing global patient and caregiver-centered rare disease and cancer clinical trial operations, Leila also actively volunteers on various Committees contributing to telehealth/telemedicine standards and equity for clinical research, reflecting her focus on pragmatic decentralization pathways that protect data integrity while alleviating patient and care provider burden and expanding equitable access for small, geographically dispersed populations

Marouane Nouira is a seasoned clinical data management executive with a strong focus on driving AI and innovation within the life sciences sector. As Head of Data Management & Strategy at Galapagos, he leads strategic data initiatives across decentralized CAR-T oncology trials, integrating AI-driven approaches to optimize data workflows and cross-functional collaboration.

During his 13-year tenure as Vice President of Services at Medidata, Marouane pioneered the integration of AI, machine learning, and generative AI into clinical data management—delivering transformative efficiencies and securing patents for novel applications of AI in clinical data systems. 

Will spent the first half of his career working in craft beer production, including a tenure as head brewer, before moving to service the beer industry and beyond with technical sales of hop products. Now managing sweet and beverage business line at Nactarome UK he is well equipped to bring added value solutions to beverage manufacturers with Nactarome’s capabilities in innovative flavours and ingredients.

Tim O’Neill is Chief Operating Officer at SōRSE Technology, where he is responsible for the day-to-day execution of their corporate strategy, helping position them as the global leader in water soluble cannabinoids. He joined SōRSE following ten years as an officer in the British Army, where he enjoyed a broad range of roles from policy to counter insurgency operations. He has worked with military, civic and commercial partners in Europe, the United States, the Middle East, Central Asia, Africa and South East Asia.

Riku Louho is leading the automotive and mobility vertical at Signicat, Europe’s leading provider of digital identity and trust services. He has more than 15 years of business development, sales management and advisory experience in the fields of digital identity, fraud prevention and banking. At Signicat, he helps automotive and mobility customers to achieve business growth and stay compliant by building secure digital services with great user experience.

Philipp Wegmann is Country Manager DACH at Signicat, Europe’s leading provider of digital identity and trust services. With more than 10 years of experience in software and business development for the mobility sector, he has held senior roles at IDnow, Truma, and Panasonic Automotive. At Signicat, he helps automotive finance and leasing players build secure, compliant, and customer-friendly digital journeys, with a strong focus on digital identity, e-signature, and fraud prevention.

Kjel has been working in Consumer and Automotive finance for over 20 years throughout Europe. Currently working as a Nordic Brand Manager for Santander in the Nordics, managing automotive relationships between the bank and the OEMs. Previous experience includes Change and Product Management for Royal Bank of Scotland. Santander in the Nordics is the leading finance company for automotive and EVs specifically. With EV sales reaching well over 90% of new car sales in Norway, mass adoption is already a fact.

• Witek has 24 years of experience combining investment banking and biotechnology
• Has previously launched 6 companies as a non-executive founder
• He spent the first seven years of his career in biotechnology in the San Francisco Bay Area, working for Celera Corporation and Theravance Biopharma
• PhD candidate University of California Berkeley, Bioorganic Chemistry
• MBA, Columbia University/IESE

As Customer Engagement Manager for DS Smith, an International Paper company, and leading global provider of sustainable fibre-based packaging, Amy works with the biggest names both on the high street and behind the scenes.

Amy has a wealth of experience in FMCG both here in the UK, Europe and the USA. She has worked as a Brand Manager, Marketing Manager, Commercial Manager and Technical Manager; bringing a varied skillset to support customers on their sustainable packaging journeys.  From utilising psychology to increase consumer appeal and understanding the nuances of the retail space and supply chain, to navigating a complex sustainability landscape and the challenges and opportunities of packaging legislation.

Supporting (literally) your no and low drink to reach your customer, and tell your story, through every step of its journey!