.png)
.png)
The BIA advocates extensively in the UK, Europe and beyond to ensure that the interests of our members are represented to key policymakers, regulators and stakeholders. We also work collaboratively with other industry groups, charities and academia to present a unified message on shared issues, as well as the importance and strength of the life sciences ecosystem in the UK.
Our policy work is guided and informed by input from our nine Advisory Committees, which are crucial mechanisms for highlighting the most relevant issues facing bioscience companies. Committee members include influential experts from across the sector.
For more information on our policy activity in specific areas, use the navigation on the right-hand side of the screen.
Nicky Edwards
What does your role at BIA involve?
As Director of External Affairs, Nicky is responsible for enhancing the BIA’s influence by managing relationships with government, parliament, regulators, policymakers and industry bodies. She leads a team which works across policy, public affairs and regulatory affairs and coordinates the community of expert members engaged in the Association’s advisory committees and groups, as well as supporting members who represent us in government/industry forums such as the Life Sciences Council.
Previous experience & achievements
Before joining the BIA in 2018, Nicky gained extensive experience of delivering external affairs strategies for national organisations, including more than a decade of leading on policy and public affairs for businesses and membership bodies in the financial and professional services sector. For five years she served as a member of the Speaker’s Advisory Council on Public Engagement working to make Parliament more open and accessible.
Dr Christiane Abouzeid
Christiane has been with the BIA since May 2004. She is a lawyer responsible for regulatory issues concerning the research and development of novel technology products and has been involved in influencing legislative and policy developments affecting the life sciences industry in the EU. Christiane is the Clinical Trials Topic Leader for EuropaBio, the European Association for Bioindustries. Previously, Christiane was part of the Biosciences Group at Eversheds, joining shortly after qualification at Llewellyn Zeitman (now Shook Hardy & Bacon LLP). She worked at the European Commission for one year. Prior to her legal career, Christiane was a research scientist at University College London and Imperial College School of Medicine for over 12 years. She holds a PhD in microbiology and biochemistry from the University of Louvain (Belgium).
Dr Martin Turner
What does your role at BIA involve?
Martin is responsible for all the BIA's policy outputs and public affairs activities and leads on finance and tax policy as well as the BIA’s engagement with the investment community. He authors the BIA’s investment analysis reports and is a regular commentator on the life sciences sector in the national press. He also serves on the Advisory Board of the Cambridge University Science Policy Exchange (CUSPE).
Previous experience & achievements
Martin has over ten years experience in policy and public affairs and has worked at the Royal Society, the Campaign for Science and Engineering, and the Association of Medical Research Charities. Before embarking on a career in policy, he completed a PhD in molecular biology at the University of Sheffield, where he also co-founded and was director of an award-winning science communication charity called Science Brainwaves. He has a BSc in molecular biology from the University of Manchester.
Dr Emma Lawrence
What does your role at BIA involve?
I lead our genomics, digital, data and artificial intelligence (AI) policy areas. This means that I engage with members who work in these fields and understand their policy needs. I provide the secretariat for our genomics advisory committee and look after our TechBio community as part of this. I also lead our influence agenda for these areas, engaging with civil servants and other senior stakeholders.
Previous experience
Prior to joining the BIA, I worked at cross-party think tank Policy Connect on a Cell and Gene Therapy Parliamentary engagement programme. I’ve previously worked in the biomedical research sector understanding the barriers to accessing human samples and data for research. This included leading engagement at the UKCRC Tissue Directory and Coordination Centre (UCL) and the Immunotherapy Trial Simulation Project (Imperial College London). I have a PhD in Immunology from the University of Manchester.
If you could invite any scientist or entrepreneur to dinner, who would it be and why?
Ada Lovelace, who is the godmother of computer programming because she was the first to recognise that a machine would have uses beyond calculations. We’d chat about maths and 19th century gossip over cocktails.
Linda Bedenik
What does your role at BIA involve?
I lead on intellectual property (IP), engineering biology, R&D and innovation policy, and animal research. I provide the secretariat to our Intellectual Property (IPAC) and Engineering Biology (EBAC) advisory committees and the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Life Sciences.
Previous experience & achievements
Prior to joining BIA, I worked as a Policy Analyst at a non-profit looking into university-business collaboration and knowledge exchange in the UK, and as a researcher at a public policy-focused think tank identifying challenges to state-level public service delivery and rural health in India. I have an MA in Global Political Economy from the University of Sussex.
If you could invite any scientist or entrepreneur to dinner, who would it be and why?
Santos-Dumont and the Wright Brothers – to have them settle the debate over who flew first.
Rosie Lindup
What does your role at BIA involve?
I lead the BIA’s policy work on access to medicines, rare diseases, cell and gene therapies, and antimicrobial resistance. This involves providing the secretariat for the BIA’s Cell and Gene Therapy Advisory Committee (CGTAC) and Rare Disease Industry Group (RDIG). I am also responsible for organising the BIA’s annual Parliament Day, which brings CEOs and senior representatives from BIA member companies to Westminster to meet with politicians and policymakers.
Previous experience
Previously, I worked as a Senior Research Consultant at a Westminster-based public affairs agency, where I supported clients from a range of sectors, including pharmaceuticals, technology and financial services. Prior to that, I worked as a Management Consultant at KPMG, where I assisted on financial and regulatory projects with large corporate clients. I have a BA in Human, Social and Political Sciences from the University of Cambridge.
Joe Smale
What does your role at BIA involve?
In my role at the BIA, I support our policy work on access to medicines. This involves campaigning to improve the uptake of new medicines by the NHS by addressing issues relating to access and reimbursement. My role is primarily to support the BIA’s Rare Disease Industry Group (RDIG). This involves engaging and organising events with relevant sector stakeholders as well as aiding the delivery of projects carried out by the group.
Previous experience
I joined the BIA in April 2021 having graduated from the University of Manchester with a degree in Politics and International Relations. Outside of work, I am an Ambassador for Blood Cancer UK and have dedicated lots of my time fundraising and campaigning for research into kinder and more effective treatments for blood cancer patients.
Herbie Lambden
What does your role at BIA involve?
Herbie is responsible for supporting the secretariat for the BIA Advisory Committees and the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Life Sciences. He also works on key events within Policy and Public Affairs, including the annual Parliament Day and panels at major party conferences. His work is aligned with the Business Development and Membership Services team to ensure that BIA's policy priorities are communicated effectively across the organisation.
Previous experience & achievements
Herbie joined BIA in February 2022, having graduated with a BA in History from the University of Cambridge.
If you could invite any scientist or entrepreneur to dinner, who would it be and why?
John Snow for what would be a fascinating discussion of the development of public health in the UK over the past century and a half.