3 minute read
Executive CV
from HealthInvestor
Education
I grew up in North Lanarkshire, not far from Glasgow, and was educated at Airdrie Academy. I graduated with a degree in Chemistry in 1991 from the University of Strathclyde and subsequently completed a PhD in Biotechnology from the same university in 1994.
Work history
Research fellow, University of Westminster 1995–1997 After I completed my PhD, I decided to continue in academic research and moved to London to work on an EU-funded research project in biocatalysis (using living systems to speed up chemical reactions). I enjoyed working on a cross-disciplinary project with scientists in France, the Netherlands and Germany.
Research fellow, South Bank University 1997–2001 I then moved into another research role, this time looking into the structure-function relationships of dietary fibre in the bowel. I spent more time teaching as well as in the lab and implemented part of the course structure for a new degree course in Forensic Science. I’ve always wanted to be in roles where I could learn something new and Forensic Science was a very popular course at the time with all the new forensic shows on TV!
Senior technology transfer associate, Cambridge Enterprise 2001–2004 After spending nearly a decade in post-graduate research, I decided it was time to shake off my lab coat and move into a role that still utilised my scientific background but involved talking to people rather than machines all day. I moved to Cambridge to work in their technology transfer office, supporting academics in the life sciences to commercialise their research. This is when I first got interested in business and innovation. Senior innovation manager & head of innovation, Health Enterprise East 2005–2010 After four years at Cambridge Enterprise the opportunity to join Health Enterprise East (HEE) came up. HEE was spun-out of Royal Papworth Hospital in late 2004, to commercialise innovations emerging from front-line NHS staff in the East of England. I was the third employee in the company, and it was exciting to be in at the start of the venture and to be working exclusively in healthcare where I really felt I could make a difference.
Chief executive, Health Enterprise East 2010–Present When my boss retired, I took over running the company and immediately sought an opportunity to develop a more sustainable business model that relied less on government grants. In the last 10 years HEE has raised over £16 million to support innovative medical technologies emerging from our network of NHS organisations.
No longer just a regional business, we’ve expanded into London and the greater South East, commercialising 125 innovations to improve the quality and efficiency of patient care. We also work a lot with innovative SMEs seeking to understand the market opportunity for their products in the healthcare system: in the last five years alone we’ve undertaken over 60 health economic evaluations of products in this capacity.
Non-executive director, Ablatus Therapeutics 2016–Present Ablatus Therapeutics, a medical device company, was founded with support from HEE to develop and commercialise a novel tissue ablation technology to treat the most challenging and often inoperable, solid cancer tumours. The start-up company was spun-out of the Norfolk & Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, where the technology originated, and I represent HEE’s interests on the board. Chair, Medovate 2017–Present Medovate was co-founded by HEE and two private sector investors to develop medical technology innovations emerging from HEE’s pipeline through to market. With an initial focus on anaesthesia, critical care and surgery, our first product should come to market this year. It has been very rewarding through HEE and Medovate to help drive these new products and services into the marketplace, putting new tools, techniques and processes in the hands of clinicians to benefit their patients.
Hobbies
I like to travel and generally take a weeks’ holiday in winter somewhere in the sun to help me recharge the batteries. In March this year I am going to Brazil and looking forward to my first trip to South America. I also like to cook and have recently taken up running – which is harder than it looks at my age! n
TOP TIP FOR SUCCESS
I’ve never had a formal career plan and have always taken roles because they interested me rather than as a route to anywhere in particular. The one piece of advice I always follow is to focus your energy on the things you can control rather than the things you can’t.
ENTRIES OPENING SOON VISIT CAREINFO.ORG FOR SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES CAROLINE.BOWERN@INVESTORPUBLISHING.CO.UK NOVEMBER 2020
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