SESSIONS & SPEAKERS
Thank you to our 2025 speakers and sessions. 2026 information coming soon!
New Era of Innovation
Innovation is more than a buzzword, it’s the engine driving progress in Life Sciences. In this executive panel, senior corporate leaders will share how they define innovation, what they look for in supplier partnerships, and how the right collaborations can spark breakthroughs in science, technology, and patient impact. Attendees will gain insight into how innovation shapes corporate priorities, influences sourcing strategies, and opens the door to transformative opportunities for suppliers ready to align with forward-thinking business strategies.
Panelists:
- Sherry Davis | Senior Vice President and CPO – Eli Lilly & Company
- Noël France | Sr. Vice President of HR Solutions – Avantor
Supplier Inclusion & the Law: What You Need to Know (and How to Talk About It)
The legal landscape for supplier inclusion is evolving rapidly, with new laws, executive orders, and court decisions shaping how programs are structured and communicated.
This session will outline the current requirements and guardrails for building compliant initiatives, along with practical tips for framing and discussing these programs with in-house counsel. Attendees will gain the knowledge and language to align strategies, manage risk, and drive merit based inclusive procurement.
- Cindy Towers | Co-Founder, President, & CEO - JURISolutions Legal
The Cutting Edge of AI
Get ready for a fast-paced, future-focused look at artificial intelligence from the lens of the newest generation of tech innovators. This session unpacks the latest AI breakthroughs, reveals where the technology is headed next, and explores how it’s poised to transform industries and daily life. Expect fresh insights, bold predictions, and a glimpse into the possibilities that are only just beginning to emerge.
- Haik Decie | CEO & Founder - ClusterLabs
SUPPLIER INCLUSION & CALIFORNIA’S HOSPITAL LANDSCAPE
California’s hospitals face increasing pressure to diversify their supplier networks – both to meet evolving state regulations and to align with broader commitments to equity and community impact. This panel brings together supply chain leaders from leading hospital systems and a GPO to explore how Life Sciences companies and suppliers can effectively engage with hospitals in the state. Discussion topics will include how to do business with hospitals, the role of Group Purchasing Organizations (GPOs), compliance with California’s new diversity procurement laws, and strategies for strengthening supplier inclusion programs that go beyond check-the-box approaches. We will focus on California, simply because it is leading the way as it often does. Massachusetts now mandates state reporting for publicly funded hospitals, as well as other entities, while five other states have some type of state level reporting.
Moderator:
- Karen Ochoa | Director of Health Equity Programs & Operations - Communities Lifting Communities
Panelists:
- Ernie Flores | Supplier Development Manager - Kaiser Permanente
- Andrew Kwok | Associate Director of Supply Chain Diversity - Cedars-Sinai Health System
- Chico Manning | System Vice President of Enterprise Supply Chain - PIH Health
- Andaye Hill-Espinoza | Associate Vice President, Core Tenet Programs, Responsible Sourcing - Vizient Inc.
AI ACROSS THE VALUE CHAIN: INSIGHTS FROM MULTIPLE INDUSTRIES
From marketing and market access to IT, staffing, manufacturing, and supply chain – artificial intelligence is transforming how industries operate and collaborate. In this panel, speakers will share how AI is driving innovation in marketing strategies and market access, explore its role in IT and staffing, and discuss its impact on manufacturing and supply chain efficiency. Together, our accomplished panelists will examine current applications and emerging capabilities of AI across multiple industries, and how they are preparing for future innovations to stay ahead of the competition. Attendees will gain practical insights on leveraging AI-driven solutions to create value, strengthen partnerships, and maintain a competitive edge in an evolving marketplace.
Moderator:
- Manvay Dangi | CTO – Synkriom
Panelists:
- Yann Deredec | EVP, Growth & Partnerships, Co-Founder – YAMA Group
- Jeanette Towles | Founder & CEO – Synterex
The New World of Work
In this high-energy immersive experience, cofounders of The New World of Work, Frankie Russo & Matt Emerzian, will guide you through an interactive hour designed to ignite purpose, unlock your unique genius, and show how bold collaboration can transform this New World of Work we are entering. Through powerful stories, live facilitation, and real-time challenges, you’ll discover how mattering and genius combine to create unstoppable momentum for yourself, your team, and your industry!
Panelists:
- Frankie Russo | Co-Founder - The New World of Work
- Matthew Emerzian | Co-Founder - The New World of Work
INNOVATION IN PRACTICE: FROM CAPABILITIES TO RFP'S
Building on the insights from the New Era of Innovation keynote, this panel brings together corporate and innovative suppliers to explore how innovation is evaluated and applied in real-world partnerships. Panelists will discuss what corporations look for in supplier-driven innovation, how RFPs assess it, and practical ways suppliers can showcase their ideas and solutions in capability presentations and proposal responses. Supplier panelists will share examples of innovations they’ve successfully implemented to stand out, along with how they positioned those ideas to demonstrate value to corporations and integrated them into winning RFP responses. Corporate representatives will provide an inside look at evaluation criteria and offer actionable advice on how suppliers can increase their chances of success.
Moderator:
- Tameka Little Royster | Senior Manager - GSK
Panelists:
- Joyce Eggers | Global Supplier Diversity Lead - Takeda
- Mellissa Tong | Chief Storyseller - DuckPunk Productions
- Lawrence James | President & CEO - Connexus Technology
