Ruth Bastow
Ruth is the Innovation Director for Crop Health and Protection (CHAP) one of the 4 UK Agritech Centres whose mission is to advance crop productivity in a sustainable manner. Ruth obtained her Ph.D in Plant Genetics from the University of Warwick and carried out post-doctoral roles at the University of Sheffield and the John Innes Centre. Ruth left the bench in 2004 to pursue a career in science strategy, policy and communication. She established the UK Plant Sciences Federation (UKPSF) and was awarded the Society of Biology Presidents Medal for her support of the UK Plant Sciences Community. Ruth has held leadership roles as Head of the ELIXIR UK Coordination Office at the Earlham Institute and was Executive Director of the Global Plant Council. Ruth has generated over 30 peer reviewed publications and worked at/with several key international institutions and bodies including the UN FAO.
Geogg Briggs
Peter Bogaert
Peter Bogaert is a managing partner of the Brussels office, and has a broad European life sciences practice. He has detailed regulatory expertise under EU and national laws, handles legislative and other policy assignments and provides strategic advice. He also represents life sciences companies before the European Courts in Luxembourg and in local litigation in Belgium. Mr. Bogaert's practice covers pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, medical devices, special foods and feed, cosmetics and other consumer products and he represents numerous innovative life sciences companies, including start-ups, as well as several industry associations.
Ming S. Zhao
Ming has a natural gift for business and discovery. Prior to founding Proven, she was the head of business development at NerdWallet, a private equity investor at Bain Capital and a strategy consultant with the Boston Consulting Group. She holds an MBA degree from Harvard Business School and is certified in cosmetic formulation.
Ming has lived and worked in numerous regions around the world, including China, India, Austria, Rwanda, Hong Kong and the United States, and has absorbed the beauty and wellness wisdom from her wanderings. She is also a 3rd generation entrepreneur - her grandfather became a baker/ entrepreneur after trekking 1200 miles on foot to escape a famine. Her father, similarly, made the journey to America from China to expand his computer literacy school, in the process immigrating the family and the then 12-year-old Ming to the US.
Daniela Pinto
Mark Offerhaus
Mark Offerhaus is founder and CEO of Dutch biotech Micreos. The company's endolysin technology, marketed under the Gladskin brand, enables targeted killing of unwanted bacteria while preserving the microbiome.
Before starting Micreos, Mark worked at ING for over ten years, including 5 years in Japan.
Chris Gummer
After 21 years as a senior technologist with Procter & Gamble Research & Development, Chris is now working for his own consultancy (Cider Solutions).
He has extensive experience in copy claim development and claim substantiation with some of the world’s leading consumer brands. His experience ranges from fundamental research, hands-on development of data and methods, through to copy development and product credentialing. Importantly, he has extensive experience in working with the Clearcast (formerly BACC) and the ASA from the position of an advertiser. He is a widely published and quoted author.
Nigel Lawmon
Nigel Lawmon joined Feelunique as Commercial Director in 2015, and now has over 22 years retail experience including department store, travel retail and speciality retail, including 17+ years in the beauty industry.
Nigel’s expertise quickly enhanced Feelunique’s business commercially and enhanced the brand offering, that has significantly increased its sales.
Prior to joining Feelunique Nigel was Managing Director of The Fragrance Shop and has previously held leadership roles at Debenhams and Alpha Retail/World Duty Free.
Ingmar Claes, PhD
Ingmar studied bioscience engineering at the University of Leuven, graduated in 2007 and obtained a PhD in cell and gene technology in 2011. He has an expertise in the field of probiotics, its molecular mechanisms and the topical application of these beneficial bacteria to restore the human microbiome. As bioengineer and microbiologist, he feels that it is important to translate this scientific research into daily products from which people at home and the community can benefit.
In the context of YUN, he is closely working together with the Department of Bioscience Engineering of the University of Antwerp, the Lab of Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology of prof. Sarah Lebeer, the Lab of Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmacy of prof. Filip Kiekens, prof. dr. Julien Lambert (dermatology) and dr. Gilbert Donders (gynaecology, the University Hospital of Antwerp).
He has experience with leadership in multiple R&D projects and he held a managing role in YUN’s R&D projects of the Flemish Institute for the Promotion of Scientific and Technological Research in Industry (VLAIO). YUN’s current range of probiotic products and therapies were developed under his supervision.