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Malcolm Skingle CBE is a highly regarded figure in the pharmaceutical industry, having recently retired after a distinguished career as the Academic Liaison Director at GSK.

With a BSc in Pharmacology/Biochemistry and a PhD in Neuropharmacology, Malcolm dedicated over 40 years to advancing pharmaceutical research and fostering industry-academia collaborations.
In his role at GSK, Malcolm managed collaborations with universities, governmental bodies, research councils, and biotechnology firms. He played a crucial role in bridging the gap between industry and academia, ensuring that research insights translated into tangible advancements in medicine.

Malcolm’s contributions to the field have been recognised with numerous honours, including a CBE in 2009 for his services to the pharmaceutical industry. He also holds honorary degrees
and fellowships from several universities and is a Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences, the British Pharmacological Society and the Faculty of Medicine at Imperial College.

Prof Emma Thomson is the director of the MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research. She is Clinical Professor of Infectious Diseases, specialising in viral evolution and detection of emerging viral infections. She also holds a position as Professor of Emerging Viruses at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM).

Her research group develop and use next-generation sequencing (NGS) methods to detect new and emerging viruses in the UK and in East Africa (Uganda) and engage in improving local diagnostic capacity to allow for more rapid control interventions. Her group also work on linking the genotype of viruses with the phenotype in the laboratory and in clinical settings.

She works as a consultant in infectious diseases and general (internal) medicine NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHS GG&C) and a PI for several vaccine studies.

Dr Hitesh Sanganee is an influential figure in the pharmaceutical industry, currently serving as a Venture Partner at Octopus Ventures. He brings over two decades of experience in drug discovery and development, having previously held the position of Executive Director and Global Head of Emerging Innovations at AstraZeneca.

At AstraZeneca, Hitesh was instrumental in establishing the Open Innovation platform, fostering collaborations with academic institutions and funding bodies such as the UK’s Medical Research Council (MRC) and the US National Institutes of Health (NIH). His efforts have led to the development of innovative therapeutics across various domains, including dermatology, neuroscience, oncology, and rare diseases.

Hitesh holds a DPhil and BA in Chemistry from the University of Oxford, and an MBA from the University of Cambridge. He is also an active mentor for startups, collaborating with institutions like the University of Cambridge’s Judge Business School to guide founders in bringing revolutionary solutions to market.

Perdita Fraser is a highly regarded professional with over 20 years of board experience spanning the private, public, and third sectors. Her expertise lies in innovation, sustainability, data science, and fostering partnerships. A former investment banker at JP Morgan, Perdita has transitioned her career towards roles that drive social impact and community development.

In April 2021, Perdita was appointed Chair of the Board of Trustees at National Numeracy, a UK charity dedicated to improving numeracy skills across the nation. Her involvement with education and social mobility charities spans nearly three decades, including contributions to the Rugby Portobello Trust, IntoUniversity, and Access Aspiration. She is a passionate advocate for collaborative efforts among businesses, charities, and government to address societal challenges.

Perdita also serves as a board member of the National Lottery Community Fund and the University of Edinburgh, reflecting her commitment to advancing UK science and research, as well as investing in skills and community development. In 2015, she was recognised as one of the “100 Women to Watch” in the female FTSE Board Report and is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (RSA).

Dr Venkat Reddy is the Chief Scientific Officer at General Inception, which is a US and European Venture Builder, a role in which he oversees the company’s scientific and research strategies to develop innovations. His background includes significant experience in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries. He brings years of knowledgeable experience as CEO, CSO specifically in immunology and oncology. Additionally, he serves on the Boards of Tactile Therapeutics which he co-founded, Pharmacelera, and Tavira Therapeutics. Venkat brings a successful track record and extensive strategic and management experience, he has held senior executive roles in both European and US companies.

Venkat has made significant contributions to the development of both small and large molecules in the fields of Oncology and Autoimmune diseases.

He holds a MS in Biotechnology and a PhD from the Ludwig-Maximilians Universität München, where he specialised in immunology and oncology. Following his doctoral studies, Venkat undertook post-doctoral research at the Scripps Research Institute also in Immunology. His previous experience includes: Macrophage Pharma (CEO/CSO), APC Therapeutics (CEO/Co-founder), Senior management positions of increasing responsibilities at Sanofi , Pfizer, Novartis and Glenmark Pharmaceuticals.

His experience includes leading research teams, managing drug development pipelines, and driving innovation in drug discovery and development. He is recognised for his expertise in translating scientific research into viable products and strategies for addressing unmet needs.