CEO blog: biotech diplomacy; health data; Women in Biotech; TechBio and sector opportunities

Dear colleagues,

Greetings from Japan, where I’m flying the flag for UK biotech and sharing the strengths of our life sciences community with international partners at BioJapan and at the UK-Japan Trade Summit. I’m showing how our science, talent and connected ecosystem turns into high value patient benefit and sustainable growth.

The relationships built at these strategic sessions – linked with Free Trade Agreements and Regulatory diplomacy – give our biotechs and service companies the ‘away advantage’ they deserve in accessing patients, investors and markets. These benefits sit alongside the ‘home advantages’ we are discussing and campaigning for in the budget and across the UK’s R&D infrastructure.

This home and away advantage runs through this week’s update. At home, we are helping shape a health-data system that works for patients and innovators, supporting companies to prepare for AI-enabled R&D and bringing leaders together through our Women in Biotech (WIB), BioSolutions and TechBio communities.

We are also creating practical ways for people to get involved, from WIB mentoring applications and the final tickets for TechBio UK to opportunities to join the BIA team. I hope you find an idea, connection or next step that helps you move your work forward.

Wherever you are this week, I wish you a productive one.

In this update:

• Chairing a panel on health data at Labour Party conference
• Gathering female biotech leaders in Edinburgh
• The 2027 Women in Biotech mentoring programme
• Advanced Therapy Treatment Centre conference
• BioSolutions Advisory Board first meeting
• Secure one of the final places at TechBio UK
• Current opportunities to join the BIA team

Chairing a panel at Labour Party conference

Health data can improve care today while strengthening the NHS and supporting UK growth. That was the central message from our Labour Party Conference panel Going Greater with health data, for patients and the economy.

I chaired the discussion with Dr Manish Patel of Jiva.ai, Nicola Perrin MBE of the Association of Medical Research Charities, Andy Haywood of Health Innovation Manchester and Dr Zubir Ahmed MP. We explored how better joined-up data can help clinicians make more informed decisions, reduce duplication and improve NHS efficiency - while also creating the foundations for research, innovation and life-saving medicines.

Thank you to our panellists and everyone who joined the conversation. As Zubir said, this is an honest and open national debate we need to have alongside choices we need to make. This starts with improvements to patient care, followed by additional health benefits new therapeutics and services can provide.

Thoughtful digitalisation discussions at Women in Biotech Edinburgh

We had a great crowd joining us for Women in Biotech in Edinburgh on Wednesday to network and discuss operational and infrastructure readiness for AI. BIA Managing Director Jane Wall was joined by Becky Street-Howard, Alix Mackay (DTG) and Fiona Dempsey (MedAnnex) for an insightful and pragmatic panel covering the challenge of interoperability of systems in biotech, data standards and business process mapping, essential senior management and organisational buy in and the continued role of human input and oversight.

We all left spurred on to educate ourselves and experiment to unlock value, but also with the reassurance that human judgement is still very much required – as is a strong awareness of security.

Apply now for the 2027 Women in Biotech mentoring programme

This is the final week to apply for the 2027 Women in Biotech mentoring programme. Running from January to December, it offers participants the chance to build meaningful professional connections and develop leadership skills with experienced people from across the sector.

The programme is open to women at every career stage. Mentees must work for BIA member companies, while member and non-member organisations can nominate mentors. Apply now!

Advanced Therapy Treatment Centre conference

I gave the keynote on Thursday at the Advanced Therapy Treatment Centre network meeting. This was an energetic event packed with representatives from discovery science, NHS, translators, regulators and investors.

Despite several years of ‘hanging tough’ the community celebrated the evidence of the UK’s long-term global pioneering in this area and how its science is being taken into faster trials and, with regulatory and system support, pushing through the tough barriers to adoption. This is a choice the UK must make, because Advanced Therapies are an area which we can make ourselves essential in, against growing global competition.

BioSolutions Advisory Board has first meeting

Our BioSolutions Advisory Board met for the first time last week. The initiative was set up to provide sounding board for our work, drawing on expertise from across the biosolutions ecosystem so our activity reflects the needs of the community.

Book one of the final places at TechBio UK 2026

Only a few tickets remain for TechBio UK on 13 October. It is the UK’s flagship TechBio conference, bringing together senior leaders from biotech, pharma, technology and investment to accelerate the next wave of innovation.

The full-day programme will examine how data and AI are changing R&D, opening commercial opportunities and supporting the UK’s global position in TechBio.

If you are building a TechBio company, looking for new partnerships or exploring the field’s commercial potential, join us to meet the people shaping what comes next.

Career opportunities with BIA

We are currently recruiting for three roles that will help us deliver greater value for members and grow our impact across the sector: Programmes and Projects Manager; Senior Programmes and Projects Manager; and Policy and Public Affairs Manager. Find out more and apply if you're a good fit!