The World’s Leading Life Sciences Supply Chain Event
LOGIPHARMA’S 25TH ANNIVERSARY
Shaping the Future of Life Sciences Supply Chain – Insights from Program Director Will Robinson
As LogiPharma celebrates its 25th anniversary, we sit down with Program Director Will Robinson to reflect on the evolution of the event and its continued impact on the life sciences supply chain industry. With a deep understanding of the industry’s needs and challenges, Will shares his personal reflections on the event’s growth, the key themes shaping this year’s edition, and what attendees can look forward to in this milestone year. From fostering meaningful connections to tackling the most pressing challenges in the sector, Will’s leadership continues to shape LogiPharma as an essential platform for innovation, collaboration, and learning.
Reflecting on 25 Years of LogiPharma:
Reflecting on 25 Years of LogiPharma: As LogiPharma celebrates its 25th anniversary, how has the event evolved since its inception, and what are some of the most significant milestones achieved over the years?
The LogiPharma event series began as a logistics and distribution-focused event for the pharmaceutical industry. As the industry has shifted to a fully integrated and digitalised ecosystem, managing complexities around new products, sustainability, regulation, and resilience, LogiPharma has evolved alongside it. We have also grown organically, expanding from 200 attendees at our first event to over 2,500 today. Fast forward 25 years, and while the name LogiPharma has remained, it could now be considered somewhat of a misnomer!
Today, we cover the end-to-end value chain for the entire life sciences industry, and we have incorporated LogiMed (the world’s leading medical device supply chain event) into our programming. Whether you’re focused on strategy, planning, digitalisation, procurement, temperature-controlled logistics, distribution, medical device supply, clinical scale-up, or manufacturing integration, the 25th Anniversary of LogiPharma & LogiMed caters to attendees from across the industry. Regardless of their backgrounds and specialties, attendees can personalise their agendas to align with their specific objectives.
Key Themes for the 25th Anniversary Edition:
What are the central themes and focus areas for the upcoming 25th-anniversary event, and how do they address current challenges in the life sciences supply chain?
The breadth and scope of LogiPharma are extensive, with over 300 speakers across 10 stages, along with numerous workshops and boardroom discussions taking place over the course of the three-day event. We encourage everyone working in the space to visit our website and explore the full agenda.
Key themes that permeate the entire event include AI integration, advanced data analytics, and digital transformation to enhance visibility, automation, and patient-centric delivery. Sustainability will be a major focus, highlighting green logistics, Scope 3 emissions, and circular economies.
The event will also address critical issues such as geopolitical risks, supply chain resilience through collaboration, improving interactions and customer service for hospitals, healthcare practitioners, and patients, as well as fostering a diverse and inclusive workforce.
Notable Speakers and Sessions:
Can you highlight some of the prominent speakers and sessions planned for this year’s event, and what unique insights can attendees expect to gain?
The pharmaceutical and medical device producers are at the core of the event’s thought leadership, sharing lessons learned and best practices grounded in the use cases they are driving within their own organisations. Steffen Lang, President of Operations & Executive Committee Member at Novartis, will discuss the technology-driven operations transformation taking place across Novartis’ 25,000-strong operations workforce. Ruth Beadle, Chief Supply Chain Officer at Sanofi, will share insights on Sanofi’s “All In on AI” journey, with additional AI perspectives from industry leaders such as Alessandro De Luca, Global CIO at Merck Group, and Brian Thornley, VP of Global Supply Chain Excellence at Moderna.
Sustainability perspectives will come from industry heavyweights such as Joydeep Ganguly, SVP of Global Operations & Chief Sustainability Officer at Gilead Sciences, Malene Gundestrup, VP of Global Logistics & Distribution at Novo Nordisk, and Anne Giovannelli, Global Head of Supply Chain Sustainability at Pfizer, to name a few. This is just the tip of the iceberg!
In addition to the producers themselves, we have senior representation from key stakeholders and industry leaders across the life sciences supply chain. These include logistics leaders such as Oscar De Bok, CEO of DHL Supply Chain, specialty partners like David Simonsson, CEO of Envirotainer, and digitalisation experts like Mark Talens, SVP & Chief Strategy Officer at ParkourSC.
To round off the lineup, there are numerous opportunities to take inspiration from leading perspectives outside of the industry. Notable guest speakers include Kenton Cool, International Mountaineer and Adventurer, IFMGA Guide, 18-time Everest Summiteer, and World Record Holder, who will discuss “Risk and Leadership Amidst Significant Pressure and Logistical Complexity.” Additionally, John Sitildes, Senior Fellow at the National Security Program of the Foreign Policy Research Institute, will explore “Trump, Putin, Xi Jinping & the Global Life Sciences Supply Chain: The New Geopolitics of Trade, Energy, Diplomacy, and War.” The list goes on...
Innovations in Event Experience:
What new features or formats have been introduced in this anniversary edition to enhance attendee engagement and learning experiences?
For this special anniversary edition, we’ve gone all in on elevating the experience at LogiPharma. This includes significant improvements to practical elements, such as how attendees can consensually share their contact information for future meetings in an age where business cards are becoming a thing of the past. Additionally, we’re hosting a very special 25th Anniversary party at the incredible Musée des Confluences, adding a memorable touch to the event.
For the 25th anniversary, we’ve introduced a new event track focused on Procurement and Supplier Management. This track will dive into the opportunities and challenges faced by those working within this specific area of the life sciences supply chain. All sessions across the eight event tracks will start and finish at the same time, allowing attendees to fully personalise their agendas. The rooms will be located near each other, enabling attendees to move seamlessly between sessions and focus on the content that matters most to them.
New formats, such as the novel “soapbox” sessions, along with a significantly expanded agenda of closed-door boardrooms and masterclass workshops (many of which will take place under Chatham House Rule), have been designed to maximise opportunities for attendees to benchmark and learn interactively.
Addressing Industry Challenges
How does LogiPharma plan to tackle pressing issues such as AI integration, sustainability goals, geopolitical risks, and complex product management in the life sciences supply chain?
The key themes I mentioned earlier address pressing issues such as optimising operations through the use of AI, mitigating risks in increasingly volatile global markets, and advancing sustainability to meet environmental goals. By promoting collaboration and innovation, LogiPharma aims to build more adaptable and efficient supply chains. It serves as a platform for life sciences leaders to exchange insights and strategies, equipping the industry to navigate disruptions and embrace opportunities in a rapidly evolving landscape.
Networking Opportunities
What opportunities will attendees have to network and collaborate with peers, and how does the event facilitate meaningful connections among industry professionals?
Alongside all the thought leadership and opportunities for in-depth learning at LogiPharma, the event is also about expanding your network, meeting people who are facing similar challenges, assessing the latest services and solutions in the industry, and having some fun while doing it!
The exhibition hall at LogiPharma is the world’s largest gathering of supply chain service and solution providers in the industry, offering a unique opportunity to discover the “who’s who” in the space.
Feedback from Past Attendees
Can you share some feedback from previous attendees and how it has influenced the planning of this year’s event?
Every year, as soon as we close the door at LogiPharma, the hard work begins on researching content and improving the event for the next year. All attendees have the opportunity to provide detailed feedback on their event experience and the content through a survey, and we’re fortunate that the vast majority of attendees take this opportunity! We then use this feedback to focus our efforts on the key areas we want to develop for the following year.
Before writing the draft agenda for LogiPharma, I personally spend around three months (approximately 300 hours on calls) speaking to industry professionals to understand how things are changing, where the industry’s pain points and biggest opportunities lie, and I write an agenda that reflects this. So, all content for the event comes from the industry itself.
It must be said that LogiPharma is an event highly regarded in the industry, and here are a few examples of feedback we’ve received in the last few months alone:
“Tell me where else you’ll find 2000+ life sciences supply chain leaders at the top of their game... the networking and learnings are unsurpassed. It’s a great mix of engaging content, pharma colleagues, and vendors, combined with world-class event orchestration.”
Tomas Fant, Global Head of Temperature Controlled Logistics Projects, Pfizer
“The inspiration I receive from LogiPharma is unmatched. I eagerly anticipate the 25th Anniversary Edition!”
Bert Lemmens, Head of Supply Chain EMEA, Terumo
“LogiPharma is 100% the best global supply chain event in the life sciences sector!”
Michael Mines, Snr Manager Global Transportation Procurement, GSK
“LogiPharma brings together industry leaders to discuss how new trends in the Life Sciences & Healthcare sectors are impacting the supply chains of our customers, making it an essential event for driving innovation in pharma logistics.”
Oscar De Bok, Chief Executive Officer, DHL Supply Chain
“LogiPharma is the place to be for Pharma Supply Chain Professionals: a high-quality event that brings together crucial discussions on current and future industry trends, great learnings and insights from fellow professionals, very relevant vendors and their offerings, and the best opportunities to network and reconnect in the community. It has a firm place in my agenda every year, and 2025 is no different – see you in beautiful Lyon!”
Frank Binder, VP Global Supply Chain, Santen
Future Vision for LogiPharma:
Looking ahead, what are your aspirations for the future of LogiPharma, and how do you envision the event continuing to serve the life sciences supply chain community?
As mentioned above, LogiPharma fundamentally acts as a mirror for the industry through the in-depth research we conduct as the foundation for the following year’s content and audience development. The number one aspiration that I and the rest of the team will always have is to ensure that the content and focus of the event accurately represent the challenges and opportunities that professionals in the industry are facing in their roles.
If we can create opportunities for those who attend LogiPharma to learn things they wouldn’t learn anywhere else, meet industry peers they wouldn’t meet anywhere else, and take valuable knowledge and contacts back with them — all while having some fun — we know we’ll have served the community well.
Attending, speaking at, or sponsoring LogiPharma & LogiMed requires our attendees to take time out of their highly pressurised, responsibility-laden roles. It means creating space in incredibly busy schedules to engage with the event and the community. We understand that there is a significant opportunity cost for them and their organisations in that involvement. Our foremost job and aspiration, both now and into the future, is to ensure that the value they take from their involvement far exceeds that opportunity cost, and they leave knowing that their time at LogiPharma & LogiMed was well worth it. If we keep doing this, while staying aligned with the priorities of the industry, everything else will follow.
Personal Reflections
As the Producer of LogiPharma, what has been the most rewarding aspect of organising this event, and what are you most looking forward to in the 25th-anniversary edition?
Producing LogiPharma gives me the opportunity and privilege to gain an in-depth understanding of what is truly happening across one of the most dynamic, fascinating, and important industries in the world! Through my role, I have the chance to speak with and build relationships with some of the most intelligent and dedicated people I’ve ever met.
These individuals are using their expertise and commitment to solve problems that directly lead to positive outcomes for patients worldwide. I find the life sciences supply chain, and the leaders at the forefront of it, utterly fascinating. It’s a tremendous honor to have access to these leaders and their time in the process of creating LogiPharma each year.
The 2025 edition is no exception. Seeing the months of hard work culminate in meaningful discussions, impassioned debates, rounds of applause, and the fantastic feedback we receive each year is the most rewarding part for me.
Will Robinson Program Director
LogiPharma is the world’s leading life sciences supply chain event, bringing together over 2,500 industry leaders to benchmark strategies and build future-ready supply chains. Celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2025, the event focuses on leveraging AI, achieving sustainability goals, and navigating geopolitical risks to enhance end-toend supply chain connectivity and resilience.
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