About ISPEP
Governance Lead and Chair of the Advisory Board
Steve Clark
Steve is a globally recognised leader in patient advocacy and Founder of Strive for Five CIC, bringing extensive experience in cancer awareness, health policy, and advancing patient-centred care. He combines this with 45-years’ experience working in the NHS as a biochemist and pharma in various commercial roles. Steve has already demonstrated a strong commitment to the values that underpin ISPEP’s mission.
Strategic Programmes and Partnerships Director
Olivia Kersey
Olivia is a Patient Affairs specialist driving meaningful improvements to clinical trials, health(care) research, and patient outcomes. Combining a sharp strategic focus with lived experience as a Sibling Carer and expertise in medical science, patient-focused drug development, and patient communication, Olivia is ideally positioned to advance research and care towards a more impactful and humanised future.
Managing Director
Helen McNaught
Bio coming soon
Founder / Chief Executive Officer
Emma Sutcliffe
A global leader in patient-focused medicine development, a medical biochemist, and a psychotherapist and volunteer counsellor, Emma is a true example of where science meets empathy. From starting her career as a medical writer working in HIV, Emma has gone on to win a multitude of awards and speak at countless conferences as a champion for patient
engagement over the past 30 years.
With experience working across biopharma, agencies, and now more recently a patient organisation, Emma is a firm believer in the importance of patient engagement professionals coming together - regardless of background or 'title' - to learn from each other, co-solve challenges, and advance best practices.
Chief Patient Officer (North America)
Ursula Mann
Bio coming soon
Meet the team
We are led by highly experienced patient engagement professionals with a wide range of experience.
Independent Advisors
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Regional Ambassadors
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Sponsors
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ISPEP is a not-for-profit organisation
supported by a broad network of
Sponsors, Ambassadors, and Independent Advisors
Member Spotlights
Emma Sutcliffe
Founder / Chief Patient Officer
A global leader in patient-focused medicine development, a medical biochemist, and a psychotherapist and volunteer counsellor, Emma is a true example of where science meets empathy. From starting her career as a medical writer working in HIV, Emma has gone on to win a multitude of awards and speak at countless conferences as a champion for patient
engagement over the past 30 years.
With experience working across biopharma, agencies, and now more recently a patient organisation, Emma is a firm believer in the importance of patient engagement professionals coming together - regardless of background or 'title' - to learn from each other, co-solve challenges, and advance best practices.
Alex Charge
Chief Executive Officer
A global life sciences executive, specialising in strategic transformation, innovation, and patient-centric approaches in healthcare, medicines development and clinical trial optimisation.
Alex brings extensive leadership experience in pharmaceutical, CRO and solution organisations, and is an active industry voice advancing patient-focused drug development, inclusive research, and equitable healthcare.
With experience in Global Clinical Operations, she has led initiatives in Clinical Innovation, Digital Health, DCT/Hybrid Strategy and Business Process Transformation to advance and accelerate access of medicines to patients.
Wider ISPEP team
Our team is growing! We couldn't do this without...
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Olivia Kersey, Operations and Engagement Director
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Zoe Healey, Governance Lead and Chair of the Advisory Board
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Helena Binder, Ambassador Programme Manager
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Tanya Sadhwani, LinkedIn Manager
We are supported by a dedicated team of specialists and Regional Ambassadors.
Whether it’s creating business case studies or amplifying the voices of patient advocates across the globe, ISPEPers are committed to advancing the field of patient engagement to drive meaningful change in healthcare.
Inês Teixeira Gonçalves
For Inês Teixeira Gonçalves, ISPEPer and Head of Patient Engagement and Advocacy at Therakos, patient engagement is not just a role, it’s a mission.
Our Sponsors
