The BABC was honored to collaborate with UK Trade & Investment and AstraZeneca on the by invitation only 10th Annual BIO Reception & Dinner at The National Constitution Center on Tuesday, June 16, 2015. More than 150 executives from both sides of the Atlantic participated in this exclusive program welcoming the UK delegation to the City for this annual conference. The BIO International Convention is the world’s largest and most prestigious biotechnology event, drawing industry leaders from more than 62 countries. Most international attendees visit as part of an international delegation; an official group of ten or more attendees from a country other than the US, organized on a national level. Participants from the UK represented one of the largest international delegations.
Martin Cook, Director of UK Trade & Investment, USA welcomed guests and thanked the BABC for our participation. Martin is responsible for UKTI in the United States, where he oversees 130 professionals and nine offices throughout the country – San Francisco, New York, Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami and Washington, DC. The US represents the largest source of inward Foreign Direct Investment (“FDI”) for the UK. UKTI is a UK government department which plays an integral role in generating economic growth in the UK by helping to expand bilateral trade and investment between the UK and US, as well as other countries throughout the world. UKTI is present in approximately 100 overseas markets and has 2,500 staff globally. Martin spoke briefly about UKTI and his role before thanking AstraZeneca and introducing Paul Hudson, US President and EVP North America, AstraZeneca.
Paul is responsible for leading AstraZeneca’s commercial operations in North America and represents the region as a member of the Senior Executive Team. In this capacity he is accountable for driving growth and maximizing contribution of North America to AstraZeneca’s global business. Prior to his role in North America, Paul served as Representative Director and President of AstraZeneca K. K., the Japanese subsidiary of AstraZeneca PLC. He has served as a Standing Board Member of JPMA (Japan Pharmaceuticals Manufacturers Association) and EFPIA (European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations) in Japan. Previously Paul was President of AstraZeneca’s business in Spain. He joined AstraZeneca in 2006 as Vice President and Primary Care Director, UK. Paul received a degree in Economics from Manchester Metropolitan University and a DipM from the UK’s Chartered Institute of Marketing. So as not to detract from networking Paul briefly thanked attendees for joining him and his team for their 10th annual Bio Convention dinner, and turned the microphone over to special guest speaker Doctor John Watson, Deputy Chief Medical Officer, UK Department of Health.
Professor John Watson MB BS, MSc, FRCP, FFPH is the Deputy Chief Medical Officer for England, Department of Health, UK. He is an Honorary Professor in the Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and Visiting Professor in the Department of Primary Care and Population Sciences at University College London. He qualified from St Bartholomew’s Hospital Medical School, London, in 1979 and subsequently trained in clinical respiratory medicine and infectious disease epidemiology. Between 1989 and 2003 he worked at Public Health England (formerly the Health Protection Agency) focusing on the surveillance, prevention and control of tuberculosis and acute respiratory infections (particularly influenza, legionnaires disease and SARS) at the local, national and international level. He led the Health Protection Agency’s public health response to pandemic influenza in 2009 and to the novel coronavirus in 2012.
Guests thoroughly enjoyed celebrating innovation in life sciences, networking, listening to the speakers, and eating a delicious meal in the world renowned National Constitution Center in the heart of historic Philadelphia. People remained at the event long after dinner concluded.
The Bio2015 Convention opened on Monday, June 15th and concluded on Thursday, June 18th.
