I am pleased to put myself forward for the role of President-Elect of TOPRA. I bring over 30 years of global experience in regulatory affairs and clinical development, including senior leadership roles within Thermo Fisher Scientific and its predecessor organisations. My career has spanned the full product lifecycle across multiple therapeutic areas and regions, including leading regulatory strategy and governance for complex, accelerated programmes such as global COVID-19 vaccine submissions. This experience has required senior-level oversight, managed risk and uncertainty, and successfully ensured alignment between strategic objectives and delivery.
Alongside my professional roles, I have maintained long-standing involvement with TOPRA, from its earlier BIRA origins to today, contributing through education, professional assessment, board and editorial activities. These experiences reflect my commitment to advancing regulatory professionalism and supporting the development of the profession.
TOPRA stands at an important moment as the regulatory landscape continues to evolve rapidly scientifically, technologically and societally. My aspiration is to support the organisation in strengthening its position as the trusted professional body for regulatory affairs globally. Central to this is reinforcing the “Professional” in TOPRA: competence, ethics and accountability in decisions that directly impact patient safety. As access to information increases and the pace of change accelerates, the need for trusted, evidence-based interpretation and strong professional standards becomes even more critical.
A key priority for me would be to support TOPRA’s global outreach and inclusivity. Our profession is increasingly international, and it is important that members working beyond traditional centres feel connected and represented. I would encourage the growth of regional and international networks, ensuring that expertise and opportunity are accessible across our global community.
I also see the role of President-Elect as that of a custodian safeguarding the organisation’s values and direction while supporting its evolution. This includes ensuring continuity across leadership and supporting effective governance and Board succession, with a focus on maintaining a diverse, skilled and forward-looking leadership team.
If elected, I would work closely with the Board, Chief Executive, volunteers and membership to support delivery of the Corporate Strategy. My approach would be collaborative and governance-focused, ensuring alignment, transparency and effective delivery while maintaining stability and enabling progress.
TOPRA’s values of independence, ethics, transparency, quality and community are fundamental to its credibility. I am committed to upholding these values, including promoting diversity, inclusivity and equality across the profession.
I would approach this role with a strong sense of responsibility and purpose. My aim would be to help ensure TOPRA continues to lead with credibility and confidence, strengthening professional standards and supporting a global, inclusive community. I would be honoured to serve TOPRA and contribute to a profession that remains trusted, relevant and impactful for the future.