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BIA update - 21 August 2023
Ready for autumn of events and thought leadership
As the ‘back to school’ emails start to roll in and we come to terms with the end of summer, at BIA we are putting the finishing touches to a packed autumn agenda of events and thought leadership. With September just around the corner, it’s worth having a look at what we have planned and ensuring you book your place or get in touch to find out more.
Our Regional Networking event in Stevenage is booking up very quickly and we are anticipating a full house. With a TechBio spin on scaling and an excellent speaker lineup, it’s not to be missed (and free to attend for BIA members). Hot on its heels is our first-ever member-only Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) workshop focussing on inclusive recruitment and hiring practices. If you’re a BIA Corporate SME member keen to hear from both the experts and other companies on their experiences, please do talk to us about attending.
Another first – the BIA’s Future of UK Regulation Conference will be taking place at 11 Cavendish Square on 5 October. For those with a focus on regulation, this will be a must-attend event in the autumn with speakers including Dr June Raine DBE (MHRA), Professor Lucy Chappell (NIHR), Dr Nick Crabb (NICE), Lord O’Shaughnessy (Newmarket Strategy) and senior representatives from the FDA and Swissmedic. Attendees will hear the very latest thinking on getting UK clinical trials back on track, international recognition frameworks and marketing authorisation, and the regulation of novel technologies. Book now to avoid disappointment.
TechBio UK returns bigger and better for 2023: we are excited to be expanding into Kings Place on 18 October and bringing more of the excitement, great networking, and top speaker lineup that attendees have come to expect. Look out for our TechBio 3.0 report launching in time for the conference, focussing on how TechBio is maturing and developing, how the UK is faring, and the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. Take a look at the previous two reports below.
Our biggest ever Women in Biotech will take place in Oxford on 1 November and with a spectacular venue, we are looking forward to celebrating the incredible women in the sector, creating a supportive and above all enjoyable evening, but also addressing the stubbornly slow progress on closing the global gender gap. Come to network and be inspired. Our Women in Biotech mentoring scheme will be inviting applications for its second cohort this autumn (mentees from BIA member SME companies only). Contact us if you would like more information.
20 years of the Annual bioProcessUK conference will be celebrated in style in Brighton in November, and it is highly recommended that you book your space early if you want to be there. You can expect the usual gathering of ‘who’s who’ in the bioprocessing world and a highly informative programme in addition to unmissable networking opportunities. Pack your finery this year for a black-tie dinner in celebration of the anniversary.
In addition to all this, look out for BIA thought leadership in exciting new areas (mRNA and innovation for global sustainability), further work in DEI (digging further into our ‘first in sector’ report earlier this year), our continuing leadership in genomics and financing the sector, and attracting much-needed skills into life sciences (please do check out the #BIGIMPACT campaign if you haven’t done so already and get involved if you can!).
Jane Wall
What does your role at BIA involve?
Strategic and operational leadership of BIA membership, events, marketing and business development teams to ensure that BIA is a sustainable, successful and ever-evolving association. Serving the needs of existing members, whilst growing new communities and producing sector-leading thought leadership and networking events.
Previous experience & achievements
Over 20 years of experience in leadership roles in academic publishing and membership organisations: providing strategic and editorial direction combined with business acumen; driving operational, organisational and community development, profitability and innovation. Previous roles at Oxford University Press, Taylor & Francis (Informa PLC), Oxford Brookes University, Fire Protection Association and Food and Drink Federation. Jane holds a first degree in Italian and European Literature from Warwick University, MA in Social Anthropology from SOAS and MBA from Oxford Brookes Business School.
If you could invite any scientist to dinner, who would it be?
Galileo Galilei: having been slightly obsessed with Italian culture and the Renaissance, I was fascinated by Florence, the Medicis and their patronage of artists and scientists. I am always in awe of the bravery and foresight of individuals willing to push scientific understanding beyond what was generally acceptable at the time: Galileo was willing to risk the ire of the Inquisition and to live condemned as a heretic in times when the punishment was extreme – to become the ‘father of modern science’.