Where Philadelphia's Life Sciences Leaders Show Up.

Prior to joining Vectiv Bio, Mr. Applebaum was the Chief Legal & Compliance Officer and Senior Vice President of Regulatory Affairs at Trevena, where he played a key role in gaining FDA approval for their lead product, Olinvyk®. Previously, he served as President of Context Therapeutics and was General Counsel at Vitae Pharmaceuticals, where he was instrumental in their sale to Allergan. Formerly, he was Chief Legal Officer for Medgenics, a rare genetic disease company. Mr. Applebaum spent 10 years at Shire, where his roles included heading up their global legal group, managing their neuroscience portfolio outside of the United States as SVP of the Neuroscience Business Unit and leading the implementation and execution of the regulatory strategy for all of Shire’s specialty pharmaceutical products worldwide as SVP of Global Regulatory Affairs, Quality Assurance and Compliance. Previously, he was Senior Counsel for medicines and medical imaging at Bristol Myers Squibb.

Prior to his career in the biopharmaceutical industry, Mr. Applebaum was a lawyer at Dechert LLP. He received his J.D. from Stanford Law School and a B.S. in Economics, Finance and Accounting from the University of Pennsylvania.

Angela Bagley is Vice President of Technical Operations & Regulatory Affairs at Trevena, Inc., an innovative biopharmaceutical company dedicated to delivering groundbreaking medicines to address the critical needs of patients with central nervous system (CNS) disorders. Angela is an accomplished technical executive in the life sciences industry, with a career spanning product development, process engineering, commercial launch, global supply chain, and product lifecycle management. She formerly worked at Bristol-Myers Squibb and Merck & Co., Inc. Angela has been an Advisory Board member for LogiPharma, Planning Committee chairperson for an alumni service organization, and program coordinator for multiple on-site events for the Healthcare Businesswomen’s Association.

Louis W. Beardell Jr. focuses his practice on intellectual property (IP) matters in connection with patent strategies, IP due diligence, litigation, and transactions. He assists clients in developing and implementing programs that protect products and inventions including trade secrets, particularly in the life sciences, technology, and financial services fields. For US and international clients, Louis negotiates and prepares the IP aspects of licensing and purchase agreements, as well as agreements relating to product and service supply, collaboration, research, consulting, patent litigation settlement, and material transfer.

Kristin Bhavnani is Head of Global Corporate Communications & Engagement for Jazz Pharmaceuticals, a global biopharma company whose purpose is to innovate to transform the lives of patients and their families. Kristin is also the co-chair for Jazz’s employee-led affinity forum committed to promoting the advancement and impact of women globally in the innovative biotechnology industry. With more than 20 years of experience, Kristin is an accomplished Corporate Affairs executive in the healthcare industry, with a career leading global, regional and in-market external and internal corporate and product communications teams in addition to patient advocacy teams driving Corporate Affairs strategies aligned to therapeutic areas including oncology, neuroscience and cardiovascular-metabolic. She formerly worked at AstraZeneca and Burson-Marsteller, a global PR/communications agency (now Burson). She graduated from Franklin and Marshall College and currently serves on the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors of Delaware Greenways.

Megan Bilson is an executive human resources and business leader with more than 25 years of experience helping organizations scale, transform, and build high-performing cultures. She currently serves as Chief People Officer at Century Therapeutics, where she leads people strategy, corporate communications, and IT in support of the company’s mission to develop transformative cell therapies.

Megan brings a breadth of experience across both private and public companies, with a career spanning life sciences, technology, consumer products, financial services, and industrial organizations. She has held senior leadership roles at Amicus Therapeutics, TE Connectivity, QVC, American Express, Citigroup, The Hershey Company, and Hewlett-Packard.

Known for aligning talent strategy with business growth, Megan has deep expertise in leadership development, organizational design, culture and engagement, and change management. She has a strong track record of partnering with executive teams and boards to navigate growth and build resilient, people-centered organizations.

Megan is passionate about supporting mission-driven companies and is especially energized by opportunities in life sciences, where strong leadership can directly contribute to improving lives.

Randy Brenner has been Paratek’s Chief Development and Regulatory Officer since June 2019. Since 2015, Mr. Brenner has been part of the Executive team leading the regulatory, quality and manufacturing activities for NUZYRA’s development and approval.

Prior to Paratek, Mr. Brenner was the Global Head of Regulatory Affairs at Shire Pharmaceuticals where he was responsible for all aspects of regulatory for a broad range of programs in multiple therapeutic areas and pharmaceutical technologies. Before that, Mr. Brenner was Head of Regulatory Affairs for the Emerging Markets and Established Products Business Units at Pfizer. In this role, he played an active part on the regional leadership teams and was responsible for the regulatory activities and staff leading the development, registration, launch, and life cycle of all of Pfizer's innovative products outside the United States and European Union as well as the Established Products business in all regions.

Prior to Pfizer, Mr. Brenner spent 14 years at Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, where he held multiple senior regulatory positions.

Mr. Brenner has a B.S. in Chemistry from Muhlenberg College and an M.S. in Pharmaceutical Sciences from Temple University.

Topher Brooke is the Chief Executive Officer of MasterSwitch Bio, where he leads the venture-backed biotechnology company advancing pioneering transcription factor mRNA therapeutics for end-stage organ rescue. Until 2024, Topher served as the Chief Operating Officer of SwanBio Therapeutics. Topher has over 20 years of general management experience in healthcare across all phases of development and commercialization. He has worked across several modalities (proteins, small molecules, vaccines, and gene therapy) and across multiple therapeutic areas. Topher joined SwanBio from Aytu BioPharma who acquired the company he founded, Rumpus Therapeutics. Topher has held roles of increasing responsibility at Johnson & Johnson, AstraZeneca, and AmerisourceBergen. Topher has a BA from Colgate University and an MBA from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.

Doug Brown is a Director in Riviera Partners’ Private Equity Practice, where he focuses on executive search for life sciences and healthcare companies backed by private equity and venture capital.

Doug brings more than 15 years of experience leading senior-level searches across the C-suite and functional leadership roles, partnering with companies from early-stage growth through global scale. He brings perspective from both executive search and in-house talent environments, and is valued for his consultative approach, deep sector knowledge, and ability to work with investors and management teams to align leadership needs with business and growth objectives.

Charles Buck has held leadership positions in biotech, academia, cross disciplinary research, and higher education administration. He has served as a mentor, manager and community advocate. In his current position as Chief Innovation Officer for BioAnalysis, he is focused on business development and establishing new analytical technologies in support of gene and therapy biopharma companies. He has a lead role in promoting a positive impact in the Kensington neighborhood where BioAnalysis is located.

Tom is President & CEO of AOIC, LLC –a medical and scientific communications organization that helps biopharma and non-profit companies communicate clinical trial data and disease treatment advances. Tom has a BS in Chemical Engineering and an MBA from Drexel University. Prior to becoming President & CEO of AOIC, Tom served in several marketing and management roles for the company. In addition, he spent 15 years in business and engineering management for several pharmaceutical drug delivery and chemical manufacturing companies including FMC, Colorcon, and Allied Signal. A native of Pennsylvania and a resident of Chester County, Tom has served in community service for West Whiteland Township, Chester County, and the state of Pennsylvania for almost 18 years. He serves on the Board of the Chester County Economic Development Council (CCEDC) and the Ideas x Innovation Network (i2n). Tom also served on the Board of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society for 8 years. Tom is married, and they have one son who loves sports, science, and math.

Christopher Burns is a highly entrepreneurial life sciences executive with more than 30 years of experience leading R&D and management teams across both Big Pharma and startup environments. As CEO and co-founder of Venatorx Pharmaceuticals, he steered the company from a three-person virtual startup to a globally recognized leader in antibacterial and antiviral drug development.

Chris is the architect of a capital-efficient public-private business model that has raised over $150 million in private capital and secured more than $700 million in nondilutive U.S. government funding. His career as a drug hunter spans multiple therapeutic areas, including metabolic diseases, oncology, cardiovascular, and anti-infectives.

His leadership and innovation have earned him recognition as Life Sciences Pennsylvania’s CEO of the Year and Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year.

Rachael M. Bushey is a partner in the Life Sciences group at Goodwin. She joined the firm in 2023. Rachael represents public and private life sciences companies in connection with a variety of capital markets transactions; Securities Exchange Act work; mergers and acquisitions; complex divestitures and carve-out transactions. In addition to day-to-day corporate counseling and strategic advice, she also regularly provides counseling to boards of directors and senior management on a wide range of corporate governance and compliance matters. Rachael has significant experience negotiating transactions with pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies in the US, Europe, and Asia.

Barb’s 25+ year background in finance and accounting management ranges from life science start-ups to commercial-stage companies. Prior to joining Danforth she served as CFO of Enterin, where she established the financial infrastructure to support the company’s progress in its clinical trials and preparing for the company’s capital raise. She previously held finance leadership roles at Egalet Corporation (Zyla Life Sciences), Sobi, Topaz Pharmaceuticals (acquired by Sanofi-Pasteur), Genaera Corporation and Vicuron Pharmaceuticals (acquired by Pfizer). Barb served as Director of Client Service at Resources Global Professionals (RGP). She began her career as an auditor at Deloitte.

In addition to her work at Danforth, Barb serves on the Board of Directors of Life Sciences Pennsylvania and the Board of Advisors of Life Science Cares Philadelphia.

Barb is a CPA and holds a BS in Accounting and MBA in Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Marketing from St. Joseph’s University.

Chris Chambers is a trusted thought leader in the Life Sciences industry, bringing nearly three decades of hands-on experience in enterprise systems, business transformation, and digital innovation—always with a relentless focus on delivering measurable value.

His passion lies at the intersection of enterprise technology and strategic business outcomes, particularly for Life Science organizations navigating complex regulatory, operational, and market landscapes. He specializes in shaping and executing Business Value Roadmaps that align digital capabilities with high-impact business goals—from R&D to commercialization, and from global supply chains to quality and compliance.

Chris is known for solving some of the most complex challenges facing Life Sciences clients, including legacy system modernization, process harmonization, enterprise architecture, and change management. Whether working with C-suite executives, business process owners, or technical teams, he brings a unique ability to translate cross-functional needs into scalable, cost-effective solutions—grounded in proven methodologies, benchmarking insights, and decades of pattern recognition.

With a strong foundation in both strategy and execution, Chris has helped global Life Sciences companies accelerate innovation, reduce risk, improve compliance, and unlock operational efficiencies through enterprise systems transformation.

Jeremy Chapman is a principal with Baker Tilly’s commercial services practice. He is a seasoned accounting professional with extensive experience with both international and regional accounting firms serving clients in a variety of industries including manufacturing, distribution, technology and life sciences.

Jeremy joined Baker Tilly in 2017, and as a partner in the firm’s commercial audit practice, he assists privately held companies and SEC registrants by providing various business advisory, audit and accounting services. He also audits employee benefit plans. Jeremy has comprehensive knowledge of complex and technical accounting issues such as revenue recognition, debt and equity offerings and acquisitions and divestitures. He is also proficient in planning and forecasting, internal controls and performance improvement processes.

With over 18 years of experience at Morgan Stanley, Brett brings extensive expertise in working with corporate executives and private business owners. As a Private Wealth Advisor, he specializes in executive compensation, pre- and post-liquidity planning, and long-term financial strategies. Brett earned a B.B.A. in Finance from The George Washington University while participating in the University Honors Program. Currently, Brett lives in Center City, Philadelphia, with his wife Jackie, their children Dillon and Parker, and their French Bulldog, Penny. In his free time, he enjoys yoga, hiking, and traveling. Brett also serves on The Barnes Foundation Young Professionals Leadership Board and the Life Science Cares Philadelphia Advisory Board.

Recognition

• Forbes America’s Top Next-Generation Wealth Advisors: 2017-2021
• Forbes Best-In-State Wealth Advisors: 2018-2023

Award Disclosures

2017-2021 Forbes America’s Top Next-Generation Wealth Advisors & Top Next-Gen Wealth Advisors Best-in-State (formerly referred to as Forbes America's Top Next-Gen Wealth Advisors, Forbes Top 1,000 Next-Gen Wealth Advisors, Forbes Top 500 Next Generation Wealth Advisors)
Source: Forbes.com (Awarded 2017-2021). Data compiled by SHOOK Research LLC based on a 12-month period concluding in March of the year the award was issued.

2018-2023 Forbes Best-In-State Wealth Advisors
Source: Forbes.com (Awarded 2018-2023). Data compiled by SHOOK Research LLC based on a 12-month period concluding in June of the year prior to the award issuance.

For full disclosures, visit: Morgan Stanley Awards Disclosure

Pete has been working at Wexford for 10 years and currently serves as Vice President, Development and Market Executive for Philadelphia. He actively manages the marketing, leasing, financing, operation and construction of uCity Square – Wexford’s project in the Philadelphia market. uCity Square is an 8.0 million square foot mixed-use development project located in West Philadelphia and University City from 34^th to 38^th along Market Street and north to Lancaster and Powelton Avenues. Specific buildings that Wexford manages include 3711 Market, 3737 Market, 3675 Market and 3401 Market. Most recently, led the development of nearly 1.4M SF of new space, valued at over $750M, and made up of five separate projects. Pete graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Marketing from the Smeal College of Business at Pennsylvania State University. He is a member of the Urban Land Institute and a board member for NAIOP Philadelphia.

As Chief Operating Officer of Bench International, Emily leads global operations with a focus on scalability, performance, and client excellence. She oversees enterprise systems, operational strategy, and cross-functional alignment to ensure Bench consistently delivers on its promise of precision, partnership, and speed.

Emily’s career spans marketing, communications, and organizational strategy across life sciences, healthcare, and technology. Before joining Bench, she served as Director of Strategic Marketing at the Drug Information Association (DIA), where she led a global marketing team to advance brand alignment, digital transformation, and stakeholder engagement across multiple continents.

Combining strategic insight with operational discipline, Emily drives continuous improvement and sustainable growth across Bench’s global platform. She is committed to empowering teams, strengthening execution, and ensuring clients worldwide secure transformative leaders who drive progress across life sciences, healthcare, and technology.

Emily holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing and a minor in Communications from Drexel University.

As a Principal in the Employee Benefits Consulting Group at EPIC Insurance Brokers & Consultants, my focus is on crafting innovative benefits strategies. The effective communication strategies and regulatory compliance measures we implement are pivotal in serving our diverse clients. I earned my bachelor’s degree from St. Joseph’s University. An active member in my local community, I am a board member of Habitat for Humanity of the Lehigh Valley and a board member of Neurodiversity Employment Network and a long-time member of Life Sciences Pennsylvania.

Christina Deaver is an Executive Director and Banker in the Philadelphia office of J.P. Morgan Private Bank. Together with her team, she delivers wealth management services to families, private business owners, executives, and foundations. Christina leads our local efforts working with founders and executives in the life sciences and healthcare spaces. A 16-year veteran of the firm, Christina advises clients on every aspect of wealth management across the entirety of their balance sheet. She helps develop tailored strategies to reach their individualized goals and is particularly focused on investment management, estate planning, banking, and lending.

Known for her energy and drive, which are apparent both at the office and in the community, Christina served as the Co-Chair of the Global Associate Advisor Committee, which develops junior talent. Outside of the office, she sits on the Board of Directors for Shake It Off, a non-profit focused on Parkinson's disease, and the Philadelphia Youth Orchestra Music Institute. Christina also serves on committees for the Pennsylvania Ballet, Association for Corporate Growth, and Women in Bio.

Christina obtained her M.B.A. from Villanova University and is a lifetime member of the business honor society, Beta Gamma Sigma. She holds a B.S. from Lehigh University where she earned a double major in Finance & Marketing and graduated with High Honors. At Lehigh, Christina captained the competitive dance team and was active in the Pi Beta Phi sorority.

Born and raised in West Chester, Pennsylvania, Christina enjoys exploring all that the Philadelphia area has to offer. Christina currently resides in Bryn Mawr with her husband, Will, and daughter, Liliana. In her limited free time, she enjoys international travel, golfing, and trips down the shore with family and friends.

Mike DeFeo is a Vice President in the Life Sciences Commercial Banking group serving Pennsylvania. He has worked for JPMorgan Chase since 2015. Mike develops relationships and provides financial solutions for life sciences companies throughout the state.

Prior to his current role, Mike was a Banker covering industry agnostic business in the Philadelphia market and was also a part of Chase’s Middle Market Banking analyst program in Seattle. Mike relocated to Philadelphia from Seattle in 2019. Mike is a Philadelphia native and started his career as part of JPMorgan Chase’s Corporate Analyst Development Program, a two year business leadership training effort.

Mike graduated from Tufts University with a B.A. in Economics and was a member of Tuft’s varsity football team. Outside of the office he enjoys golfing, reading, and traveling.

Phillip Duffy is a Principal based in Korn Ferry's Philadelphia Office. For the last decade, Mr. Duffy has been a member of the Firm’s Global Life Sciences Practice, specializing in partnering with entrepreneurial biotechnology, pharmaceutical, and life science companies and Venture Capital/Private Equity funds. Mr. Duffy’s primary focus is on C-Suite Biotechnology Executive Recruitment, with expertise in Chief Executive Officer, Research & Development, Investment, Non-Profit, and other key leadership related engagements. Mr. Duffy joined Korn Ferry in 2013, leading research strategy efforts across multiple life science verticals. Prior to joining Korn Ferry, Mr. Duffy worked as a Summer Associate for Merrill Lynch. Mr. Duffy received his bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the Rawls College of Business at Texas Tech University. He currently serves on the Rawls College of Business Recent Alumni Board and Vestry of Rittenhouse Square's The Church of the Holy Trinity. Mr. Duffy is a former member of the Susan G. Komen Board of Directors.

With almost 16 years of executive search and life sciences industry experience, Dr. Ferrer's primary focus is to assist venture-backed and emerging high growth biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies in recruiting Chief Executive Officers, Heads of Research and Development, Chief Medical Officers, Chief Financial Officers, and Chief Business Officers.

In addition to her advanced scientific training, Dr. Ferrer has broad industry expertise with seven years of biotechnology and pharmaceutical company experience at both Amgen and Pfizer.

Prior to joining Korn Ferry, Dr. Ferrer served as director, worldwide business development for Pfizer, based in New York City, where she co-led product licensing and business development for the oncology therapeutic area. Previously, she was director, business development for Amgen, where she covered multiple therapeutic areas.

She received a doctorate of philosophy from the department of pharmacology, with a focus on neuroscience from Columbia University's College of Physicians and Surgeons, and a master's of public health from Columbia's School of Public Health. She also received a bachelor's degree in French literature from Georgetown University.

Ashley Finney is a Partner in the Life Sciences and Healthcare practice of Park Square, where she serves as a trusted executive search partner and strategic advisor to clients building high-impact leadership teams across the biotechnology, pharmaceutical, medical device, and adjacent life science sectors. She partners closely with founders, boards, and senior executives to align talent strategy with critical business milestones, from early clinical development through commercialization and scale.

Known for her thorough, disciplined, and efficient approach, Ashley has a proven track record of solving challenging searches with unique and impactful solutions in a timely manner. Her style combines deep market insight with a strategic, partnership-driven process, earning her a reputation as a respected voice during periods of transformation, growth, and inflection.

Prior to joining Park Square, Ashley worked for over a decade at two boutique retained executive search firms specializing in life sciences. During this time, she led and supported searches across the Board, C-suite, R&D, Commercial, and Operational leadership functions, partnering with organizations ranging from venture-backed startups to established, global enterprises.

Based in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, Ashley brings a strong concentration of experience across the Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York life science ecosystems, in addition to having worked on searches throughout the US and internationally. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Health Sciences with a minor in Psychology from Drexel University in Philadelphia.

Lalo Flores brings over 30 years of entrepreneurial and R&D leadership experience in the biopharmaceutical industry to his role as Venture Partner at Scion Life Sciences. After beginning his career at Tularik (acquired by Amgen), he advanced multiple drug candidates at Merck and Johnson & Johnson. Dr. Flores co-founded Novira Therapeutics, which was acquired in 2015, and later served as founding CEO of Century Therapeutics (NASDAQ: IPSC), which he took public in 2021. He earned his doctorate in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from Rutgers University and completed postdoctoral work at the Salk Institute.

John Fry was appointed Drexel University’s 14th president in 2010 and has served in higher education for his entire professional life.

A focal point of Drexel’s strategic plan is to become an even greater economic engine for Greater Philadelphia. Fry announced the creation of Drexel Ventures and Schuylkill Yards, a $3.5 billion mixed-use development on University. Under Fry, Drexel has seen a significant increase in fundraising and philanthropic partners. Landmark gifts in recent years include $50 million from Thomas R. Kline to support the Kline School of Law and $45 million from Dana and David Dornsife to support the Dornsife School of Public Health. A $400 million campaign reached its goal ahead of schedule in 2013, and in late 2017 Fry announced a new, four-year campaign to raise $750 million - already past the $600 million mark.

Fry came to Drexel from Franklin & Marshall College, where he served as president from 2002 and was instrumental in the college’s academic growth, campus and neighborhood development and improved finances. From 1995 to 2002, Fry served as executive vice president of the University of Pennsylvania. Before joining Penn, Fry was a management consultant at KPMG Peat Marwick and then with Coopers & Lybrand’s National Higher Education Consulting Practice.

In addition to leading Drexel, Fry served two years as chair of the Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia, concluding his tenure in October, 2018. He previously served as chair of the NCAA Division III Presidents Council and chair of U.S. Squash. He was appointed by President George W. Bush to the Benjamin Franklin Tercentenary Commission. In January, 2020, he was appointed to the board of directors of the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia.

A native of Brooklyn, N.Y., Fry graduated from Lafayette College and earned a master’s degree in business administration from the New York University Stern School of Business. Fry and his wife, Cara, an art historian, have three children.

Eric Hacherl is a seasoned biopharmaceutical operations leader with more than 25 years of hands-on experience spanning research and development, product and process engineering, technical operations, and manufacturing strategy. With a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering, he has built a distinguished career guiding teams and organizations across all stages of the product lifecycle; from early R&D to commercial-scale manufacturing—while maintaining a sharp focus on operational excellence, regulatory compliance, and innovation in both large and small molecule therapeutics.

Eric currently serves as Chief Operating Officer at Kyttaro Therapeutics, where he leads strategic planning, regulatory affairs, and operational execution to advance the company’s gene therapy programs. He is also the Founder and CEO of SMART Bio Works LLC, a biopharmaceutical consulting firm providing tailored operational and workforce development support to clients nationwide. Through SMART Bio Works, Eric has co-led the Viral Vector Program Team at NIIMBL (The National Institute for Innovation in Manufacturing Biopharmaceuticals), served as an Industry Advisor for the Keystone LifeSci Collaborative, and provided CMC regulatory support for emerging biotech companies pursuing first-in-human studies.

Previously, Eric served as Vice President and Head of Manufacturing at Spark Therapeutics, where he was recruited to the senior leadership team to oversee commercial and clinical manufacturing operations for the company’s pioneering gene therapy programs. He also held leadership positions at Persephoni Biosciences, where he helped startups bridge the gap between bench science and commercial application.

An expert in biotech and pharmaceutical operations, Eric’s core competencies include Biotech Clinical and Commercial Manufacturing, CMC Strategy, Regulatory Affairs, Technology Transfer, LEAN and Single-Use Manufacturing, Supply Chain Optimization, Strategic Planning, and Team Leadership Development.

Deeply committed to advancing the life sciences ecosystem, Eric also serves as a member of the Board of Advisors for Kyttaro Therapeutics, contributing his expertise to help accelerate innovation in the gene therapy space.

Ms. Harte-Hall currently serves as Chief Compliance Officer of Cabaletta Bio and was Head of Clinical Quality and Compliance at Adaptimmune where she built a compliance program and helped establish a culture of integrity to drive ethical behavior in the management and conduct of clinical trials. Ms. Harte-Hall developed and implemented Quality and Compliance programs focusing on risk management and compliance functions to improve activities such as regulatory monitoring, auditing, and managing alignment with policies, procedures and controls. Ms. Harte-Hall has held various positions in Quality and Compliance in companies such as Centocor, Wyeth and Pfizer. She currently serves as a committee member for the Alliance for Regenerative Medicine (ARM) Accelerator Group, The Research Quality Association (RQA) and a member of the Society of Corporate Compliance and Ethics (SCCE). Ms. Harte-Hall holds a Master of Science in Psychology from Capella University and BA in Business Administration from St. Leo University.

Donna Higgins is Founder & CEO of The Higgins Group, Inc., one of the oldest and most successful search firms in the life sciences. Founded in 1998, the firm has grown exclusively through referrals as a result of Donna’s simple but powerful business philosophy: to develop lasting relationships with a select group of clients by doing great work. This drive for excellence infuses every aspect of the firm’s work due to a culture that values superior results, exceptional teamwork, and doing the right thing. Although her team has diverse backgrounds and experiences, all of The Higgins Group consultants, researchers, and associates share Donna’s energy, optimism, integrity, and grit.
Over her 30 years’ in the life sciences, Donna has gained a global reputation for her insight, expertise and integrity. Prior to starting her own firm, Donna was Vice President & Life Sciences Practice Lead for HFA International, where she built the life science practice by consistently exceeding her clients’ expectations. Before search, Donna worked on commercial teams at both ends of the life sciences spectrum, dividing a decade between Abbott Laboratories, a Fortune 50 pharmaceutical company, and Immunex, an emerging biotech company at the time.
Donna holds an MBA from Drexel University and a BA from Penn State University. Committed to lifelong learning, she joined the Coaching Certification Program at Columbia University to continue sharpening the strategic coaching she provides to clients and candidates. She is an Advisory Board member for Life Sciences Cares and the Association of Women Entrepreneurs, and a Board member for Big Brothers Big Sisters Independence Region and ACHIEVEability. She also serves as adjunct faculty at the Center for Positive Leadership, where she is a frequent speaker on women in business. Donna divides her time between the company’s Philadelphia and Boston offices.

Chris is a Trust Solutions partner at PwC with extensive experience leading audit engagements in the Health Industries sector. Chris has served clients ranging from private biotech start-ups to large, multinational public companies. Chris has experience with IPOs and other going public transactions and has worked with clients in the sector on numerous complex technical transactions. Chris is a graduate of Villanova University and currently resides in Wayne, PA with his wife and two children.

Tyler Jones is a seasoned strategic leader in the life science and cleanroom construction industry, currently serving as Senior Estimator at IMC Construction. With a career defined by innovation, precision, and operational excellence, Tyler brings deep expertise in life science facility development and preconstruction strategy. His forward-thinking leadership continues to fuel IMC’s growth in the life science sector.

Beyond his professional role, Tyler is committed to advancing the industry through active involvement with the International Society of Pharmaceutical Engineering (ISPE) and the Institute of Environmental Sciences and Technology (IEST). He also dedicates time to supporting youth sports in his community.

Tyler holds a Bachelor’s degree in Building Construction Management from the Pennsylvania College of Technology. He resides in Lansdale, Pennsylvania, with his wife Amanda and their two children.

Tracey Keele is the Founder and CEO of Keele Advisory, a consulting firm that helps life science and professional services organizations build healthy, high-performing cultures grounded in trust, agility, and accountability.

A former audit and risk leader turned transformation architect, Tracey has spent more than 25 years helping organizations navigate change, crisis, and renewal. Her work bridges business performance, human behavior, and organizational risk, empowering leaders to turn culture into a force for impact.

At GlaxoSmithKline, she held multiple leadership roles, including architecting a global values assurance program that positioned culture as a strategic and risk management lever. At KPMG, she served as National Internal Audit and Risk Practice Leader for Life Sciences and later led a firmwide culture transformation, establishing the firm’s Culture Transformation Services offering.

Tracey also founded Bud and Bloom, serves as Co-Chair of the Strategic Growth Council for Covenant House PA. She is a CPA, Prosci-certified Change Practitioner, and NACD Directorship Certified.

Raised by a single mother in public housing, Leo has first-hand experience with the cycle of poverty. Building on his Penn doctoral degree, McKinsey training, pharma experience, and now founding a Penn spin-out biotech, he plans to give back to the society that gave him so much and uplift the next generation to higher purposes.

Meg Kraftson Fell is a Partner and Executive Life Sciences Recruiter at HIRE-IQ, a national boutique recruiting firm. She specializes in delivering personalized, cost-effective human capital solutions to the life sciences industry—never compromising on service or candidate quality.

Before joining HIRE-IQ, Meg spent over a decade in the nonprofit sector, helping raise more than $200 million to support transformative initiatives that improved thousands of lives. At Elwyn, the nation's oldest human services nonprofit, she served on the 8-person executive team of a $400 million organization with 5,000 employees. There, she built a high-performing team, launched a unified national brand for the 173-year-old institution, and led initiatives to improve recruitment, retention, and workplace culture.

Earlier in her career, Meg held leadership roles at Sheppard Pratt Health System and the University of Maryland. In 2023, she was recognized by the Philadelphia Business Journal as one of its 30 Women of Influence. Meg is a proud graduate of the Baldwin School and the University of Pennsylvania.

KJ is responsible for cultivating and maintaining tenant and landlord relationships within Philadelphia’s bustling life sciences industry. It’s KJ’s goal to help his clients find the functional facilities they need based on their specific requirement. KJ has lived in the greater Philadelphia area for over 15 years, and most recently worked for one of the regions top retail brokerage firms where he had experience handling both tenant and landlord representation. KJ received a BA in Supply Chain Management from The University of Rhode Island in 2017.In his free time, KJ enjoys outdoor activities. Hiking, camping and exploring new places, as well as being active in several sports leagues within the city of Philadelphia.

Co-founder and CEO of Context Therapeutics, an emerging women's oncology company.

Laura Liotta is the Founder, President, and CEO of Sam Brown Inc., a leading independent, full-service healthcare communications and public relations agency. With over 25 years of experience, Laura has supported public and private life sciences companies across all sectors, helping them tell their stories strategically and creatively.

Under her leadership, Sam Brown Inc. has become well known for delivering smart strategy, powerful messaging, expert media relations, and impactful digital and social media solutions across all therapeutic areas. In 2024, Sam Brown Healthcare Communications joined Blue Matter, a life sciences consulting firm, further expanding its reach and impact within the industry.

Laura is a trusted advisor to C-suite executives and board members, providing expert guidance on corporate launches, IPOs, acquisitions, and crisis communications. She is also an accomplished media and presentation trainer, helping a variety of spokespeople—including executives, scientists, and advocates—become more effective communicators.

As an entrepreneur, Laura is proud to have built a novel agency model centered on highly productive remote teams that deliver outstanding client results. Beyond her professional accomplishments, Laura finds her greatest joy in her three children and inspires others to create the life they want.

Tia Lyles-Williams, D.Sc. – affectionately known as Dr. Tia, is the 1st African American Queer Woman to own and lead a biopharmaceutical manufacturing company – 68 years after the 1st African American Man, Dr. Percy Lavon Julian with his company, Julian Laboratories, Inc. in Chicago, IL. She received her Bachelor of Science in Biology from Howard University, Master of Science in Entertainment Business from Full Sail University, and a Master of Science in Regulatory Science from University Southern California. Dr. Tia has dedicated her career to the biotech/biopharma industries – including bioprocessing development, building large-scale bioprocessing facilities, developing/training/leading teams and commercializing proprietary biological assets via global regulatory affairs. She has been working in the biotechnology / biopharmaceutical industry for 22+ years – including formerly interning at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) as well as a former contractor at Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (WRAIR in Silver Spring, MD). Her former employers include Human Genome Sciences, Inc. (now GSK) – Rockville, MD; Amgen, Inc. – Thousand Oaks, CA; Baxter BioScience (now Takeda) – Thousand Oaks, CA; Avid Bioservices – Tustin, CA; Lonza Pharma & Biotech – Portsmouth, NH; and Jazz Pharmaceuticals, PLC – Philadelphia, PA. Dr. Tia is a Three-Time Life Science Start-Up Founder – Founder & CEO of LucasPye BIO (2018), a Contract Development Manufacturing Organization (CDMO); Founder & CEO of HelaPlex (2021), the 1st Commercial Life Science Accelerator for Life Science Start-Ups and Virtual Biotechnology Companies; and Founder & CEO of Jackson Taylor Therapeutics (2023) – a Genomic AI Therapeutic Drug R&D Firm. o date, Dr. Lyles-Williams has raised +$2.5M USD to support her Health Equity Conglomerate via her three (3) Life Science Start-Ups. As a Champion of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion within the Workplace, STEM Education and Healthcare – Dr. Lyles-Williams has made it her mission to lead by example via the following initiatives: • 2019 BioDiversity Graduate at the Partnership, Inc. • LucasPye BIO’s C-Suite is made up of 50% Women & 85% People of Color • HelaPlex, LucasPye BIO & Jackson Taylor Therapeutics has partnered to remove Health Disparities by mapping the Human Genome for the BIPOC Community – including researching & developing drugs to improve healthcare outcomes / treatment options for People of Color • Black Latin-X Indigenous Institutes of Health (BLIIH), along with its strategic partners – including HelaPlex; Jefferson Institute for Bioprocessing (JIB); University City Science Center; and The Business Center for Entrepreneurship & Social Enterprise will be piloting BioWorks – a Commercial Biotech Workforce Training Program for Philadelphians in Fall 2024 o The program is an alternative career path for members of Marginalized Communities to enter the biotech / biopharma workforce as a Bioprocess Operator or Quality Control Technician – including training & certification opportunities for individuals to continue their education and attain higher-levels employment, i.e., from Specialist & Entry-Level Management up to Executive Management, C-Suite & Entrepreneurship o Committed employers (to date) that will hire BioWorks Graduates and BioWorks Fellows include: LucasPye BIO, HelaPlex, Delaware State University, Jackson Taylor Therapeutics, CR Clinical, and Weaver Medical Center. Dr. Lyles-Williams is a board member at LaunchBio and Independent Business Alliance: Greater Philadelphia’s LGTBQ+ Chamber of Commerce. She’s also a Business Mentor for Princeton University’s Entrepreneurship Council & Charles Drew University of Medicine & Science. As a Biopharma Executive and Pillar of the Life Science Industry – Tia was named “Unicorn” by Philadelphia Magazine (2020); recognized as a 2021 Forbes NEXT 1000 Honoree, listed as 1 of Inc. Magazine’s 2021 Female Founders 100; a recipient of the PHL Inno 2022 Fire Award on behalf of LucasPye BIO from The Philadelphia Business Journal; and featured in Philadelphia Tribune’s People on the Move” for 2022. On May 12, 2022, Dr. Lyles-Williams was conferred as an Honorary Doctorate in The Sciences from the Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, PA. Most recently, Dr. Lyles-Williams participated as a panelist at The White House Summit for Biotechnology and the Bioeconomy in the U.S.; and her work at LucasPye BIO was highlighted at the 2023 USPTO World IP Day in D.C.

Link to Dr. Tia speaking at The White House: https://youtu.be/LcP9zPNuUh4?si=Yq5ejdd0ClzejgMS

Executive with >20 years of pharma and biotech experience in strategic and operational roles at global, regional and country level in US, Europe and Emerging Markets.
Multiple startup experiences, setting up commercial strategy and organization, building strong teams and inspiring them to successfully launch brands in multiple therapeutic areas in both Hospital and Retail.

Keri Mattox is Chief Business & Strategy Officer for Parexel. In this role, she leads the company’s business operations and growth strategy. Ms. Mattox brings more than 25 years of healthcare experience across corporate strategy and development, investor relations, communications and environmental, social and governance (ESG) programs.

Prior to joining Parexel, Ms. Mattox served as Chief Communications and Administration Officer at Zimmer Biomet, a global leader in medical technology. Her experience also includes serving as Global Lead of Integrated Corporate Communications at W2O Group (now Real Chemistry) and Vice President, Corporate & Investor Relations at Fortune 20 company AmerisourceBergen (now Cencora). Ms. Mattox also held executive leadership positions at Endo International and Auxilium Pharmaceuticals. Earlier in her career, she held roles as Executive Vice President at Pure Communications, Director of Economic Development at the University of Pennsylvania and Business Writer for Hearst Newspapers.

Ms. Mattox holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Boston University and a Master of Arts in Journalism from the University of Maryland.

Mary McGinn is a Senior Principal at The Bowdoin Group, where she partners with healthcare and life sciences organizations on critical leadership hires that shape growth, strategy, and impact. With more than 20 years of experience across executive search, client partnerships, and commercial leadership, Mary brings a relationship-driven, deeply informed approach to helping companies build the teams they need to scale.

Before joining Bowdoin, Mary spent more than 12 years at The Higgins Group, where she helped expand the firm’s executive search practice and built lasting partnerships across the life sciences and healthcare sectors. Earlier in her career, she held sales roles at Novartis and Wyeth. Mary earned her BA in English Language and Literature from Villanova University.

Mr. Murray joined BVF Partners L.P. in 2013. Prior to joining the General Partner, Mr. Murray was an Associate at Leerink Swann in the strategy consulting division where he advised pharmaceutical and biotech clients on M&A strategy, due diligence, clinical development strategy, and commercial opportunity assessments. He holds an A.B. in Human Evolutionary Biology and a Secondary Field in Economics from Harvard College.

Michelle Ottey, PhD, HCLD is a Philadelphia native, and completed a post doctoral fellowship at University of Pennsylvania's School of Veterinary Medicine in Genetics from Thomas Jefferson University.  She transitioned from research science to science management and joined Fairfax Cryobank in June 2006, eventually becoming the Lab Director. Michelle dedicated fifteen years to building a strong, effective, and efficient team with Fairfax Cryobank while serving on the Medical Advisory Board and as the Spokesperson for Cryobank.

Mike is a Managing Partner of Section 32, a venture capital fund investing at the frontiers of technology and healthcare. Prior to joining Section 32 in 2017, he served as CEO of Foundation Medicine, a company which transformed the way pharmaceutical companies and physicians evaluate the genomic changes underlying a patient’s cancer, until he transitioned to Chairman through the close of Roche’s (RHHBY) acquisition of FMI in August 2018. Previously, he was President and COO of Clarient, a national leader in molecular pathology, which was acquired by GE Healthcare in 2010.

He currently serves as a member of the Board of Directors for Nusano, Singular Genomics (OMIC), Adaptive Biotechnologies (ADPT), Octave BioSciences, TwinStrand Genomics, the Personalized Medicine Coalition, and the American Cancer Society. He previously served on the board of Thrive Earlier Detection, which was acquired by Exact Sciences (EXACT) in 2021, and Tango Therapeutics (TNGX). Mike brings a breadth of understanding in personalized medicine, with a particular interest and focus on defeating cancer. He is also a member of the President’s Leadership Council at Thomas Jefferson University and Jefferson Health.

During the COVID  pandemic, Mike served as a Senior Advisor to the Rockefeller Foundation’s efforts on COVID-19 testing.

Mike received a BA from Boston College, an MBA from Drexel University and an MD from Jefferson Medical College.

Gretchen Pinto is an audit partner at KPMG with more than 18 years of experience in accounting and financial reporting.

Nathalie Riebel is the Founder, CEO, and Principal Consultant of Oncospire Consultants, LLC, where she advises biotechnology companies on oncology clinical development, operational strategy, and portfolio execution. With more than 36 years of experience spanning pharmaceutical companies, biotechnology organizations, and contract research organizations (CROs), Nathalie has built a career advancing oncology drug development and helping bring innovative therapies to patients.

Throughout her career, Nathalie has held leadership roles across clinical operations, clinical development, portfolio management, and inspection readiness at organizations including Eli Lilly, GSK, IQVIA, ICON Clinical Research, ImClone Systems, Delcath Systems, and PDS Biotechnology. In addition to consulting, she is passionate about mentoring the next generation of life sciences leaders and supporting patient advocacy organizations through education, collaboration, and volunteer service.

Lindsi Scanlan is a Partner in CrossCountry Consulting’s Accounting Advisory practice and a dedicated advocate for the life sciences community. With two decades of experience, she advises life sciences organizations across all stages of growth, supporting CFOs and finance leaders with building strong and sustainable financial foundations, IPO readiness, complex licensing and collaboration arrangements, and the scaling of finance functions to support innovation and long‑term value creation. She is passionate about advancing the life sciences ecosystem and supporting initiatives that improve patient outcomes and strengthen communities. Lindsi began her career at PwC and holds a B.S. in Accounting from Penn State University.

Steve is an audit partner in the Growth Markets practice of EY with more than 30 years of experience. Steve is fully devoted to serving clients in the life sciences industry with experience in accounting and auditing services, financial reporting, SEC registration statements and reporting, initial and secondary public offerings, private offerings and advisory services related to mergers and acquisitions and transaction support.

Judith is a senior Medical Affairs and Clinical Development executive with over 20 years of experience in clinical development and scientific strategy. This includes building and leading high-performing scientific teams and managing rapid organizational growth. She has a track record of successes in early and late-stage drug development, regular engagement with US and global key opinion leaders, experience in drug development, scientific support of multiple commercial launches, and scientific differentiation strategies. As the President and founder of SMAC, she has specialized in bringing nimble, data-driven scientific and medical affairs expertise to bridge development and launch. Judith received her B.A. in both Microbiology and Chemistry at Miami University (Oxford, OH) and her Ph.D. in Microbiology and Immunology at Albert Einstein College of Medicine (Bronx, NY). She spent over 20 years supporting antibiotic development programs at small biotechnology companies including Cubist Pharmaceuticals and Paratek Pharmaceuticals.

Thomas Stenberg is Senior Vice President at Aon, where he focuses on business development and client relationships across risk management solutions, mitigation strategies, M&A transactions, IPO readiness, and IP-backed specialty lending.

Tom brings deep experience in commercial property and casualty insurance, with a focus on helping growth-stage and established companies navigate complex risk, insurance, and transaction-related needs. Prior to joining Aon, he held roles at Gallagher and AssuredPartners, where he supported clients across the Greater Philadelphia market.

Tom earned his degree in Risk Management and Insurance with a Property and Casualty focus from Temple University’s Fox School of Business.

Lee has over 25 years of investor relations, corporate finance, and corporate communications experience within the biotechnology sector. Before co-founding Meru Advisors, he was VP, IR & External Communications at Achilles Therapeutics [ACHL]. Prior to that, he was a Managing Director in Solebury Trout’s Life Sciences practice and a founder of Trout Capital. Lee received an MBA from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and a BS in Quantitative Economics from Tufts University. He is also a CFA® charter holder and plays drums in a NYC cover band.

Joe is a Senior Director of Development for Breakthrough Properties, responsible for overseeing development activities on the East Coast and in Colorado. Breakthrough is a global life science real estate development company that leverages cross-sector collaboration to deliver environments that foster innovation and scientific breakthroughs.

Evan Tzanis most recently served as Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President, Head of Research and Development at Neuraptive Therapeutics, Inc., where he spent nearly six years leading the transformation of a scientific concept into a clinical-stage company. During his tenure, he built and led a mission-driven organization across R&D, manufacturing, regulatory, quality, HR, and finance; raised over $35M in funding, including more than $12M in non-dilutive support from the Department of Defense; and advanced NTX-001, a novel therapy for traumatic peripheral nerve injury.

Prior to joining Neuraptive, Mr. Tzanis was Chief Development Officer at Paratek Pharmaceuticals, where he led all development activities, including the successful approvals of omadacycline (Nuzyra®) and sarecycline (Seysera®). Earlier in his career, he served as Head of Development Operations and Biometrics at Endo Pharmaceuticals, with leadership roles in clinical and project management for several late-stage development programs, including BEMA® Buprenorphine (Belbuca®).

Mr. Tzanis has also held positions of increasing responsibility at Quintiles (now IQVIA), Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, and Pfizer. With over 28 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry, he has contributed to the regulatory approval of eleven products across multiple therapeutic areas, including treatments for central nervous system disorders such as panic disorder, major depressive disorder, pain, sleep disturbances, opioid-induced constipation, and rheumatoid arthritis. He currently provides consulting support to companies across the life sciences sector.

Based in Philadelphia, PA, Tyler is the regional lead of the Integrated Portfolio Services (IPS) group and the Philadelphia representative on JLL’s Life Sciences Advisory Council, a group of the leading JLL life sciences brokers in the core life science markets across the nation. Tyler is responsible for (lease and sale) transaction and portfolio management and overall service delivery for clients with significant local, national and international real estate holdings. Current life sciences clients include the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), Spark Therapeutics, Iovance Biotherapeutics, Panorama Medicine, BGI, Lonza, and FMC Corporation.