Epilepsy Society

Board Trustee

LifeArc

Accountable for setting LifeArc’s portfolio strategy in line with charitable objectives and delivering the portfolio through effective project leadership and management. Develop and lead the Translational Challenges as a core element of strategy; these programmes accelerate healthcare innovation by transforming promising life science ideas into life-changing medical breakthroughs for patients. They consider the entire patient pathway – from diagnosis through to treatment and lifestyle support in complex areas of healthcare need. LifeArc provides translational insight, spanning our core offerings of science, funding and advice and connect these collective strengths and resources with the expertise, capabilities and funding of other life sciences partners to catalyse the translation of innovation.

Chief Project and Portfolio Officer

Accountable for LifeArc’s Translational Challenges to accelerate healthcare innovation by transforming promising life science ideas into life-changing medical breakthroughs for patients.

Head of Translational Challenges

Accountable for ensuring effective governance, processes, systems and resource are applied across the entire company including our scientific research programmes, IT improvements, strategic and infrastructure, together with those utilising LifeArc’s offerings of advice and funds.
Developing and implementing strategy, translating LifeArc’s strategic ambitions into well-crafted and achievable operational plans, managing the portfolios, ensuring focus on the highest-level company priorities. Leading major change initiatives to support integration of emerging technologies and adapting operating model design for delivery and agility.

Head of Corporate and Portfolio Project Management

Accountable for building and maintaining productive collaborative relationships with major research partners. Managing the Tech Transfer of antibody technology platforms into LifeArc (transgenic mice, B cell sorting and screening, and in silico bioinformatics for candidate selection) ensuring all facilities, equipment and resources in place to optimise use for therapeutic discovery.

Consultant, Alliance Manager

KQ Labs

Accelerator programme run by the Francis Crick Institute, supporting innovative early-stage data-driven health start-ups to validate their ideas and put their exciting companies on the path to receive further investment.

Governance Board Member

PIPMG

The aim of PIPMG is to support development of the Project Management profession in the global pharmaceutical, biotech and associated industries by:
1. Encouraging recognition of the key role of project management in the industry
2. Enabling learning and sharing of best practices in portfolio, programme and project management
3. Providing Training, Coaching and Continual Professional Development
4. Providing a forum for communication and information exchange between members
5. Introduction, participation in and support of initiatives intended to improve the practice of project management internationally

Executive Committee Member

BTG plc

Global Head of Immuno-Oncology 
Accountable for the strategic direction and commercial success of our Immuno-Oncology platform, managing collaborative partnerships with global pharmaceutical companies, leading research institutions and societies. 
Lead a broad portfolio of pre-clinical and clinical research projects investigating the ability of our interventional oncology therapies (selective internal radiation, ablation solutions, embolics) to drive immune responses, both alone and in combination with immunotherapeutics (check point inhibitors, next generation immunotherapies).

VP Immuno-Oncology

Head of Global Project Management organisation  
Managed R&D governance process, annual portfolio review, and business analytics to track and improve performance, prioritising budget and resource on a risk-balanced pipeline of R&D projects that maximise business value.

VP Project Management

Head of Global Project Management organisation 
Line management of a global team (US, EU, APAC), set project management vision and strategy, ensuring effective project management resource, processes and systems applied across the business, with high standards for delivery.

Group Manager of Project Management

Clinical lead of multiple out-sourced clinical trials with small molecules, peptides, biologics and medical devices (spanning Phase I, II, III and IV).

Clinical Development Executive

Merck

Directed exploratory neuroscience research project teams, selecting multiple candidates for clinical development using pre-clinical models.

Research Manager

Directed learning and memory disorder program, heading GABA α5 inverse agonist pre-clinical research project for the treatment of mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s disease.

Project Director

Headed an exploratory research team of technical personnel running electrophysiological assays for Neuroscience disorders (CHO cell lines, Xenopus oocytes, mouse brain slices) for structure-activity relationship assessment of novel small molecules and drug candidate prioritisation.

Team Leader

Conducted exploratory research, characterising the pharmacology of tachykinin receptors in the brain (nucleus tractus solitarius, dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus, amygdala, entorhinal cortex).

Senior Research Biologist

Karen Skinner is Chief Project & Portfolio Officer at the medical research organisation, LifeArc with accountability for their portfolio of Translational Challenges. These ambitious programmes focus primarily on Rare Disease (including ultra-rare diseases, MND and rare dementias, rare respiratory conditions and childhood cancer), and Global Health. In addition to her role at LifeArc, Karen is a Board Trustee of the Epilepsy Society and member of PIPMG Executive team. 

She has over 30 years of experience within the life sciences industry, having held numerous leadership roles in blue chip big pharma, specialty pharma, biotech and nonprofit organisations. 
She is passionate about biomedical science and technology, applying that knowledge to create innovative products that make a real difference for patients. She believes that collaboration is the key to accelerate the progress of scientific discoveries to create medical breakthroughs that transform the lives of those living with disease. 

Life Sciences | Director | Transformational Leader | Portfolio Management | Keynote Speaker

Karen Skinner

Buckswood Ltd

Head of Key stage in an International School in East Sussex which values diversity. Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to create, maintain and develop good personal interactions with colleagues internally and externally with parents, agents and suppliers across a range of disciplines and cultures. Visible and approachable as HOKS and previously as HOY. Inspire, coordinate and support students to achieve and realise their ambitions. Promote, always, their ability to reach their full potential. Monitor both progress and behaviours effectively. Resolve issues as they arise. Encourage further education to A level, IB and beyond towards apprenticeships or University. Present to the students, a clear and focused tailored strategy for future success for a variety of life directions. Respond to challenges and change rapidly. Effective at remote working. Member of a team tasked with assessing performance appraisal system within Buckswood School Ltd.
Head of science department.
Enhanced presentation and tuition skills demonstrated as an educator for year 11, 12 and 13 in the technical subjects of A level biology (including immunity, genetics and antibiotic resistance), IB (and A level) chemistry and A level environmental science. Adept at presenting technical information. Project management and planning skills utilised to deliver the academic courses to teams in a classroom environment. Clear and enthusiastic delivery to culturally diverse audiences in the IGCSE sciences: biology, chemistry and physics as combined, coordinated or single science. Adept at working under pressure. Share knowledge of study skill techniques to allow students to study independently and effectively. Promote resilience to change and setbacks and encourage students to take pride in their work and accomplishments. Diversity is valued and inclusive environment promoted in the classroom and as Head of Year. Supported and mentored new colleagues.

Head of Key Stage, Head of Year, Head of Department, Educator

Poison Fish Ltd

Established a trademark and initial designs for sports wear and accessories. Designed the Poison Fish trademark under which diving and sportswear, also personally designed, could be sold. Intellectual cover was obtained in Europe and selected countries. 

Adept at acquiring technical knowledge and skills. Rapidly acquired knowledge and accumulated numerous PADI levels to reach Open water scuba diving instructor (OWSI), emergency first response (EFR) instructor and master scuba diver. Lateral thinker: Gap in the market identified hence the establishment of the trademark.

Certificate in legal studies gained with the Open University

Director/Owner

Buckswood Ltd 

Head of Business Department imparting knowledge on business and economics to Year 11 to year 13 achieving 100% pass rate at A level in this subject whilst promoting and growing this high profile department. Introduced Young Enterprise and mentored the first group who reached the regional finals. Introduced Dale Carnegie course for sixth form students. Possess and demonstrate the ability to rapidly gain insights into issues in businesses and departments and identify areas of improvement. MBA gained with the Open University enables strategic and financial assessment of companies.

Head of  Department, Business and economics

Bodiam Consulting Limited

One of the founding directors of Bodiam Consulting Limited, a business consultancy specialising in project leadership and management in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology sector. Knowledge of the pharmaceutical industry was maintained.
Evaluated and planned routes to self-development: Fast tracked an MBA with the Open University and was awarded merit for the strategy and marketing strands. Masters level courses in medicinal chemistry: Molecules and Medicine (distinction) and issues in brain and behaviour (merit) were also undertaken completing the MSc with Earth science: a systems approach at a later date. Knowledge and interest in virology demonstrated: dissertation on HIV and its treatments winning best poster on the HIV drug Fuzeon.

Director

Glaxo Wellcome

Transitioned into Glaxo Wellcome after the merger between Glaxo and the Wellcome Foundation Ltd. and was soon assigned as programme and project manager representing R&D on an international multidisciplinary project team for type II diabetes drug. Knowledge of the FDA’s good clinical practice and the conduct of clinical trials and ICH guidelines maintained. 
Selected to be the representative from R&D whose role it was to track compounds in medicinal chemistry in order to facilitate their transfer into development. Provided scientific input and critical assessment. Adept at identifying potential problems and risks which could be encountered at development and scale up. Project leader or team member who has worked on both lead and follow up compounds in a variety of therapeutic areas. Adept at enhancing my knowledge base in therapeutic areas within a short timescale.
Strong communication skills have been demonstrated on an individual, team and conference level via different mediums. Presented to 200 scientists from the newly combined R&D soon after the merger of Glaxo and the Wellcome Foundation Ltd. Adept at researching and interpreting scientific data and literature. Practiced in the art of scientific report writing. Highly developed communication, presentation and negotiation skills. 
Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to create, maintain and develop good personal interactions with colleagues, both internally and externally across a range of disciplines and cultures. Build strong networks and connections within departments, across interfaces or external to a company and motivate people and teams to set and meet challenging objectives. Selected by divisional head to chair a group tasked with facilitating the merger of R&D departments of Glaxo and the Wellcome Foundation Ltd.  
Comprehensive understanding of the pharmaceutical industry and the drug development process.  Knowledge of NHS, healthcare and public health.

Programme, Project Manager and Senior Development Chemist

The Wellcome Foundation Ltd

Key player in the successful development of an anti-migraine compound 311C90 within the Wellcome Foundation Ltd.. Thorough understanding of the drug development process from molecules to marketplace. 
Planned, organised and coordinated the development and pilot plant preparation of the required quantity of various pharmaceutical drug substances with diverse commercial values in several therapeutic areas on time and to budget. Prepared pilot plant processes and risk assessments in compliance with regulatory, health and safety and environmental concerns. Contributed to and commented on regulatory submissions. Adept at working under pressure. Resilient. Knowledge of clinical trials. 
Personally identified both the resolution method and the synthetic route to the phenyl pyrimidine 4030W92. Programme manager who successfully led the project teams prior to the merger with Glaxo. This process was successfully transferred to the pilot plant and beyond.  The resolution method of this chiral molecule was critical and fundamental to its development. 
Project teams were motivated, engaged and had a clear understanding of objectives, activities required and key milestones. Project meetings were effective, focused on priorities and the project timescale. Involved in fast track drug development process. Scenario analysis and horizon scanning undertaken as part of programme and project planning process. First programme and project manager at the Wellcome Foundation Ltd. to invite a formulation scientist to the project team at the early phase. Recognise and value the achievements of others. Knowledge and experience transferred to university placement students and junior colleagues by coaching and mentoring. A lateral thinker which often leads to innovative ideas or products. Inventor patent number 6124308 resolution of optically active phenyl pyrimidine 4030W92.

Programme, project manager and Senior Development Chemist

Extensive experience in the Research and Development Division in Glaxo Wellcome and previously in the Wellcome Foundation Ltd as Programme, Project Manager and Senior Development Chemist. A leader and strong team player with the ability to encourage and motivate multidisciplinary teams to meet quality standards, defined goals and time deadlines in a matrix environment. Possess many transferable skills.    Represented R &D on the international project team as project manager for a type II diabetes drug. Key contributor to the development and success of the anti-migraine drug 311C90 within the Wellcome Foundation Ltd. A thorough understanding of the drug development process, Research & Development and the pharmaceutical industry. Representative from R&D, whose role it was to track compounds in medicinal chemistry in order to facilitate their transfer into development. Experienced at research, presentation and communication of scientific information and data. Adept at accumulating or enhancing knowledge speedily in various therapeutic, scientific or business areas. Career in the life science industry, business and education sectors

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Karen Skinner

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