In these turbulent times, questions around the "State of the Nation" are front of mind for many in the life sciences industry. But amidst the uncertainty, there are strong positives to build on — and plenty of innovation to champion.
Drawing on over twenty years of experience leading Pd-m, our CEO Richard Hall was invited to speak on a panel at the recent Bionow BioFocus conference, held at The Catalyst, Newcastle Helix, on Wednesday 11 June.
Setting the Scene for Life Sciences in the North East
The morning panel, chaired by Michelle Duggan, Inward Investment Manager at Invest North East England, opened the day with a focus on the region’s strengths and key sector issues.
Richard was joined by a knowledgeable and diverse group of panellists:
Dr. Dan Todd, CEO of InvenireX
Heather Allinson RTTP, of Nevragenics
Helen Brain, Square One Law | B Corp™
Karen Winterhalter, Onyx Health
The session explored the North East’s long-standing legacy in pharmaceutical manufacturing — while also spotlighting fast-growing areas of innovation including advanced therapies, gene therapy, and AI applications in life sciences.
Richard’s Perspective: Sustainability, Skills & Smart Growth
Richard brought Pd-m’s unique design-for-impact perspective to the panel, speaking about:
The critical role of sustainable innovation in driving long-term growth
How to address funding gaps to accelerate product development
The realities of adopting AI responsibly in regulated industries
Why leadership and upskilling are essential for resilient, future-ready teams
Shaping the Future of Labs, Therapies & Technology
This year’s BioFocus was full of engaging discussions on flexible, sustainable labs, new funding streams, and the transformative therapies and technologies shaping the future of life sciences.
Many thanks to Charlotte B. of Rapid Fluidics for capturing photos of the panel in action, and to Claire Rutherford of Definition IP Limited | B Corp™ for generously hosting a mid-conference webinar in their meeting space.