Board members

Chair of the Life Sciences Strategy Board, Chris Brinsmead is President of AstraZeneca UK. He became the ABPI president in April this year. An Engineering graduate, Chris has over twenty years’ experience in the pharmaceutical industry, formerly with ICI and Zeneca.

Previously President of Avecia Biologics, one of the world’s leading biopharma manufacturers, Kevin has worked in Bio/Pharma for over 15 years. Kevin is Chair of the advisory committee for Bionow, charged with developing the biomedical sector in England’s North West. He is also Chair of UKTI’s Bio/Pharma sector advisory committee.

Robert is UKTI Director for high technology sectors working within Sectors Group, a role he has held since 2006. Robert is responsible within UKTI for overall coordination and development of the UK Life Science marketing strategy, and covers the development of the UK ICT marketing strategy also.

Eliot Forster is the CEO of Solace Pharmaceuticals, with focus on research and development for innovative treatments for pain. He was born in the North East of England and has lived and worked in both the UK and USA for Glaxo and Pfizer. He is a graduate from the University of Liverpool, where he gained a PhD in Neurophysiology and has a MBA from Henley Management College. Eliot is a non-executive director to Oxford Bio Therapeutics and Atlantic Healthcare and also works with universities in support of their Enterprise activities. Eliot is a Kent County Ambassador.

Mark is Co-founder and Chief Executive of Renovo Group plc, the UK’s largest biotechnology company. Mark chaired the UK Government’s Foresight Programme in Health and Life Sciences and has served on many other UK and international committees. He was elected Technology Pioneer at the World Economic Forum in 2006.

Chris has over 40 years’ experience in the international trade of healthcare products. He is currently chair of the UKTI Healthcare Sector Advisory Group and holds directorships at the UK India Business Council, The South East Health Technologies Alliance (SEHTA) and medical equipment manufacturer, UV-Tec Ltd. Chris’ previous experience includes founding and running six international trading companies in a variety of technology businesses.

VP and international COO, Research and Development, Amgen Jeremy Haigh is responsible for R&D operations across Amgen’s International region, and for all staff and facilities at its International Development headquarters in the UK where he is based. He is a member of Amgen's International Management Committee, the Global Development Senior Leadership Team, and a Director of Amgen Limited.

Andrew is UK Managing Director of Eli Lilly. Andrew joined Lilly as a Sales Representative in 1985 after graduating from Cardiff University with an honours degree in biochemistry.
During the following 11 years Andrew held a number of management positions in UK and US Sales and Marketing Management, before being appointed, in 1996, to the position of Director, Strategic Planning for the Infectious Disease and Director of Marketing Plans for CNS Products in the US Affiliate.

Roy Johnson has over 25 years experience in the medical device and diagnostics sector, operating at board level in both the UK and the USA. He is particularly conversant with bringing complex technology to market, developing worldwide distribution networks, and negotiating and managing strategic relationships with some of the industry's leading players. Currently Executive Chairman, NED and consultant with a portfolio of businesses, spanning medical imaging, diagnostics, devices and analytical instrumentation.

Chief Executive, Association of British Healthcare Industries Peter spent 28 years in sales, marketing and general management before being appointed Chief Executive of ABHI in October 2008 after spending over 12 months as Association Chairman. Peter has been an active participant in ABHI activities for a number of years as well as being involved with SDMA, BHTA and the Drug Tariff Forum and chairing the AdvaMed UK Working Group.

Elizabeth Surkovic is the Director of Bioscience within the Department for Business, Innovation & Skills (BIS). Her background is in chemicals, having spent 20 years in that industry. Five years ago she moved to the Civil Service where she has worked in Defra and the Cabinet Office. She has a degree in biochemistry and biotechnology from Birmingham.

Geoff is Sector Head Biomedical and Director of Bionow and leads the development of the biomedical sector for the Northwest Regional Development Agency. His role is to develop the North West Region's biomedical cluster, one of the largest in the UK, and to support and promote the biotechnology, pharmaceutical and healthcare industry sectors, and their interaction with the academic, research and clinical communities. The NWDA is the lead RDA for biotechnology for the UK Government Department for Business, Innovation and Skills. Geoff represents the Agency in this respect and sits on a number of regional and national boards and committees.

Giles is the Director of Medicines, Pharmacy & Industry Group.
Giles was Director of Policy at the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) from 2005 to 2009. He also had responsibility for policy on health and safety in high hazard industries, such as chemicals, nuclear, and offshore oil and gas.

Giles was seconded to the Foreign Office in 2004, to work as Director Civil Affairs in the Coalition Provision Authority, Baghdad. Between 2001 and 2003 he was Head of Policy for Children, Older People and Social Care at the Department of Health. Earlier in his career, he has been Chief Executive of a small postgraduate teaching hospital; he has also worked in the Treasury.

Phil is currently Managing Director of the global Distributor Business for Smiths Medical. He has over 20 years experience of international trade in Africa, Asia, Europe, the Middle East and Latin America. Phil is also a member of the UKTI Healthcare Sector Advisory Group. An engineering graduate, Phil has an MBA from Cranfield and is a Henley certified coach.

Robert was appointed Director of the Office for Life Sciences (OLS) in February 2009.

Previously, Robert was at the Department for Business where he led the development of the Government's new manufacturing strategy. The Strategy was launched successfully by the Prime Minister in October 2008.
As Deputy Chief Scientific Adviser in the Department for Transport, Robert supported the Board in ensuring policy was underpinned by strong evidence. He led the transport aspects of the Energy Review.

Before joining DfT Robert was Director of the public sector consultancy group in QinetiQ Plc.