Aline Charpentier

Science Strategy and Innovation Lead, Welcome Genome Campus

Aline is currently the Science Strategy and Innovation Lead at the Welcome Genome Campus and was previously Head of Innovation at Bruntwood SciTech, where she played a pivotal role in fostering vibrant TechBio and life sciences ecosystems across the UK. She brings extensive experience in supporting life science entrepreneurs, having developed Bioentrepreneur bootcamps across Europe, established the One Nucleus Virtual Innovation Centre for growing biotech companies, and advised early-stage therapeutics funds and startups.

Prior to joining the Cambridge ecosystem, she worked on technology transfer programmes for the scientific services of the French Embassy in the USA (Boston) and technology scouting at the CEA (Commissariat à l’Energie Atomique). She holds a MSc in Molecular Biology from the University of Toulouse and MBA from Grenoble School of Management.

Jane Wall

Managing Director, BIA

What does your role at BIA involve?
Strategic leadership of the organisation and oversight of P&L to ensure that BIA is a sustainable, successful, and ever-evolving association. Serving the needs of existing members, growing new communities, and increasing member benefit; producing sector-leading thought leadership and events, growing influence, reach and impact.

Previous experience & achievements
25 years of experience managing teams 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 human understanding beyond what was/is 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’.