As part of the afternoon of sessions on Influencing Life Sciences at Birmingham City Football Club, this specific session will involve a panel of experts exploring how sustainable practices and collaborative ecosystem building can drive innovation and growth in regional life sciences. Hear from leading voices in the sector as they share practical insights, strategic […]
Join the Life Sciences Networking lunch hosted by Al Carns Al Carns DSO OBE MC MP Take a break, grab a bite, and connect with fellow delegates during our dedicated Life Sciences Networking Lunch. This informal session is the perfect opportunity to continue conversations sparked during the morning and early afternoon, meet new collaborators, and […]
As part of the afternoon of sessions on Influencing Life Sciences at Birmingham City Football Club, this specific session will involve a panel of experts exploring how AI and digital transformation are reshaping leadership, operations, and competitiveness within the life sciences sector. Our panellists of industry leaders will share insights on how emerging technologies are […]
As part of the afternoon of sessions on Influencing Life Sciences at Birmingham City Football Club, this specific session will involve a panel of experts exploring some of the latest innovations and future directions in medtech, diagnostics, and advanced therapies — and the opportunities they present for the life sciences sector. Hosted by Alex Richter, […]
Panel Discussion with industry experts exploring the journey from concept through commercial impact to value realisation. The content will be relevant for all stages of business from early-stage innovator to scaling, high-growth businesses and will offer practical insights on areas such as protecting, valuing and commercialising Intellectual Property (IP), capital raising, licensing technology or other […]
Join us for this exciting session, in partnership with the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce, featuring a discussion with Prof Gino Martini, CEO of the Precision Health Technologies Accelerator (PHTA), based in Birmingham. In this exclusive morning session, Professor Martini will share insights drawn from a distinguished career spanning academia, industry, and science policy. With […]
An exclusive event for stakeholders, partners and decision-makers to experience the transformative impact of the West Midlands Health Tech Innovation Accelerator and discover opportunities for its next phase of growth. Over the past two years, the West Midlands Health Tech Innovation Accelerator (WMHTIA) has delivered exceptional results, catalysing investment, strengthening collaborations and cementing the West […]
The Smart Buildings and Sustainability Leaders’ Forum on 18th September 2025 at the Vox Conference Centre is a dynamic conference and networking event designed to drive innovation, collaboration and accelerate the rate of adoption of digital solutions across the built environment. Its unique format blends four parallel conferences, keynote presentations, expert panel discussions, and curated […]
- Project pitches - Open networking session Midlands Innovation, together with the University of Birmingham and the Invest in UK University R&D programme, invite you to meet a delegation of leading German researchers, entrepreneurs, and government-backed projects visiting Birmingham on 17–18 September 2025 as part of the Forum Digital Technologies (FDT) Roadshow. The delegation, commissioned […]
This seminar offers practical insights for life sciences companies on structuring their business. It offers practical guidance on how to build a strong foundation for growth in the life sciences industry and manage essential insurance risks. Open to startups and scale-ups across med tech and biotech, the event also provides valuable networking opportunities. Key Features […]
Join us at the Birmingham Health Innovation Campus for a series of insightful, academic and high-level talks on topics from across Life Sciences. This intriguing event combines tech, research and innovation into one great event. Speakers include: Andrew Fletcher - Associate Medical Director for Donor Medicine and Plasma for Medicines, NHS Blood & Transplant Renata […]
The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) is pleased to invite you to our Unlocking Global Growth roundtable session, hosted at the HMG Offices in Central Birmingham as part of the inaugural WM Life Sciences Week 2025. This session is specifically designed to equip you with the insights, strategies, and resources needed to accelerate your […]
Strategic Consultant,
Life Sciences Week
+44 (0) 121 227 4156
info@lifesciencesweek.co.uk
Graham Combe is an experienced strategic consultant, relationship builder, and entrepreneur in the global life sciences sector. He holds a BSc (Hons) in Chemistry from University College London (UCL) and spent over a decade with Nature, where he pioneered key initiatives such as Nature’s BioPharma Dealmakers and Nature’s SciCafe.
In May 2011, he founded Biosell UK, a consulting and event management firm that collaborates with global life science publishers, event organizations, and marketing partners. Beyond BioSell, Combe is the founder or co-founder of several prominent networking and thought-leadership platforms, including #BiotechBuddies, #coffeebuddies, the #AgileLeaders Forum, and the Creative Disruption Forum—the latter three events co-hosted with his business partner, Professor Tony Sedgwick.
Specializing in the early-to-mid stages of drug development (from pre-clinical research through Phase 3 and clinical proof-of-concept), Graham focuses on facilitating forums to promote peer-to-peer discussion, strategic growth, investment and meaningful connections between biotech innovators, investors, and industry service providers.
Apply for a complimentary Conference Day VIP Pass
Complimentary Conference Day VIP Passes are reserved for senior leaders and decision-makers with influence over purchasing, commissioning, investment or technology advancements and adoption across UK life sciences.
A Conference Day VIP Pass includes:
The VIP Pass applies to the Launch Day Conference only. It does not include admission to the Life Sciences Week Gala Dinner or other separately ticketed events.
Applications are reviewed individually and submitting this form does not guarantee a complimentary pass. To maintain a balanced, high-quality audience, we may limit the number of VIP Passes issued to any one organisation.
Advisory Partner,
Life Sciences Week
+44 (0) 121 227 4156
info@lifesciencesweek.co.uk
Shabna Raja is a senior leader in enterprise transformation within Life Sciences, with over 20 years’ experience spanning pharma, consumer health and large-scale digital programmes.
She specialises in bridging strategy and execution – helping organisations translate AI, data and digital innovation into tangible business outcomes. Her work focuses on complex transformation
initiatives across commercial, data and operating model domains within regulated environments.
Shabna spent seven years at GSK, where she played a key role in transformation programmes, including as part of the Consumer Health joint venture with Pfizer — one of the most significant integrations in the sector. This experience provided her with deep expertise in organisational change, integration and operating model evolution at global scale.
More recently, she has spent over three years working closely with Haleon through a strategic
services partnership, leading enterprise client engagement and managing a multi-million-pound account while supporting transformation across a newly independent global organisation.
Her experience spans the end-to-end life sciences value chain, including R&D, commercial, supply chain and patient engagement, giving her a holistic perspective on how technology and transformation can unlock value across the industry.
Executive Partner,
Life Sciences Week
+44 (0) 121 227 4156
info@lifesciencesweek.co.uk
Amjad Khan is a UK-based entrepreneur, AI strategist, and senior technology leader with over 15 years of experience at Pfizer, where he held multiple leadership roles across digital strategy and transformation. As Global Digital Client Partner, he was responsible for digital strategy and execution across Global Business Units covering Vaccines, Hospital, and Medical Affairs. Most notably, he led the commercial launch for the Covid franchise transforming and accelerating the model for how new medicines are brought to market.
Following his tenure at Pfizer, Amjad channelled his expertise into building at the frontier of AI. His work spans AI leadership, stakeholder engagement, and agile delivery helping organisations adopt and scale emerging technologies to drive meaningful outcomes.
Dr Richard Fallon is an entrepreneur and ecosystem builder who connects industry leaders, investors and public-sector stakeholders to accelerate collaboration and commercial growth.
As the Founder of the Technology Supply Chain and co-founder of the Innovation Awards, he has spent more than two decades convening influential networks that help emerging businesses find capital, strategic partners and new routes to market.
Richard’s work spans leadership and consultancy across major organisations, alongside building membership and partnership platforms that bring universities, industry and investors into the same room – and turn conversations into practical outcomes.
With his focus on life sciences, Richard supports organisations and people driving breakthroughs in healthcare, biotechnology, medical technology and advanced research. He is passionate about creating the conditions for transformative ideas to move from concept to real-world impact – by connecting innovators with the funding, expertise and opportunities they need to scale.
Through Life Sciences Week, Richard is championing the UK’s world-class life sciences community and helping position it at the forefront of innovation, investment and patient outcomes.
Amy Deakin is a Birmingham-based leader specialising in building partnerships and fostering innovation in the life sciences sector. With a degree in Sport and Exercise Science, Amy brings a grounded understanding of human health and performance to her work and a strong interest in the developments shaping healthcare today.
Amy is Managing Director of Life Sciences Week, part of the One Thousand Trades Group, and also serves as Director of One Thousand Trades Events. In these roles, she convenes researchers, clinicians and industry leaders to strengthen collaboration, unlock new partnerships and help accelerate real-world innovation across the life sciences ecosystem.
Her career spans both commercial and third-sector environments. She began in automotive design, delivering projects for Volkswagen, McLaren, Bentley and Jaguar Land Rover, before moving into the third sector with Acorns Children’s Hospice. She later joined Western Union, working as a Partnerships Manager for international payments
An avid netballer, Amy is a committed advocate for health and wellbeing – bringing energy, clarity and connection to everything she builds, and actively involved as a participant in health related research studies.