Pharma Manufacturing World Summit

Melissa Seymour is executive vice president, Global Quality for Eli Lilly and Company.

Melissa previously served as the chief quality officer for Bristol Myers Squibb. In this role, she led the GPS Quality organization in setting the quality compliance strategy, implementation of quality processes and systems, and development of talent to ensure the highest level of quality and compliance. Before joining Bristol Myers Squibb, Melissa was also the chief quality officer at Biogen. She has had prior roles providing oversight for QC laboratories and spent several years as the vice president of Corporate Quality, with responsibility for global compliance and quality systems as well as in-market Quality.

Melissa earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Biological Sciences and Biochemistry from North Carolina State University and an Executive Master of Business Administration degree from Duke University. She has over 25 years of experience in the quality arena, including quality positions at Novo Nordisk and Glaxo Smith Kline.

Melissa has been involved in influencing regulatory guidance through her participation on non-profit Boards of the Parenteral Drug Association since 2016, currently serving as chair-elect; as well as Rx-360 consortium focused on supply chain security vis-à-vis public health concerns and patient safety. She has been an advocate for simplification of post approval change processes, participating in industry forums, writing articles and interacting with regulators. She holds certifications from ASQ as a Certified Quality Auditor, Quality Engineer and Quality Manager.

Arleen Paulino, senior vice president, Manufacturing, leads Amgen’s commercial manufacturing organization. Prior to this role, Paulino served as vice president, Site Operations at Amgen Singapore Manufacturing from 2016 to 2018, where she led the team to the successful licensure of Amgen’s first Next-Generation Biomanufacturing plant.

Paulino joined Amgen in 2002 and over the years has held various positions with increasing responsibility in Process Engineering and Process Development. She was also the head of Clinical Operations and Development Supply Chain, where she was responsible for the end-to-end supply chain for the manufacture and delivery of clinical product to support Amgen’s global clinical trials.

She began her career in Operations at Genentech and later joined Immunex, where she held a variety of roles overseeing development and scale-up operations, contract manufacturing and technology transfer, as well as plant manager for the cell culture facility.

Paulino holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemistry from Marquette University.

As Chief Technical Operations and Quality Officer, Dr. Collins is responsible for the technical development, quality, and supply of preclinical, clinical and commercial programs within Moderna’s portfolio.

Dr. Collins joined Moderna from Novartis, where he held roles of increasing responsibility over the last nearly 30 years, focused on pharmaceutical production and manufacturing, including roles serving as Head of Global Chemical Operations and Anti-Infectives and as Head of Global Chemical Operations.

Dr. Collins received his Bachelor of Science in Chemistry and his Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry from University College Cork, Ireland. He also conducted post-doctoral cancer research at Arizona State University.

Tim Maines joined Alnylam in August 2017 as the Global Head of Quality Assurance and Quality Control and was promoted to Chief Technical Operations and Quality Officer in April of 2023, holding over 35 years of experience. Prior to joining Alnylam, Tim was a member of the senior leadership teams at Ariad Pharmaceuticals, Omthera Pharmaceuticals, Astra Zeneca/MedImmune, GTC Biotherapeutics (formerly Genzyme Transgenics) and Stryker Biotech where he provided strategic input and independent quality and technical oversight of each company’s global GxP operations. In total, these experiences resulted with the commercialization and market expansion of thirteen novel medicines, including four FDA-approved therapies at Alnylam.

Tim holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology/Microbiology from Gannon University.

Sheena Behn is an established global leader in the Pharmaceutical Industry with significant supply chain, manufacturing and development experience and expertise. She has worked at AstraZeneca for 25 years.

Sheena is currently VP Vaccine and Immune Therapies Supply Chain and VP for Oncology Supply, based in Cambridge, UK.

She was previously based in Gothenburg as VP R&D Supply Chain (2012-2014) running the global group for Clinical Supply at AZ; and before that VP for Wuxi Manufacturing site for 3 years, based in China (2010-2012).

Sheena is a Pharmacist who started her career working in London hospitals, before working in pharmaceutical development with GSK and then AZ before joining Operations in 2007.

Alexander Gaffney is a regulatory and media executive responsible for founding and leading the research division of AgencyIQ, the regulatory analysis division of the media company POLITICO. As the Vice President of Regulatory Policy and Intelligence, Alexander directs the division’s analysis of regulatory issues affecting pharmaceutical, biotechnology, medical device, chemical and food companies.

Before joining AgencyIQ, Alexander analyzed life sciences regulations as part of PricewaterhouseCoopers’s Health Research Institute and was the Manager of Regulatory Intelligence at the Regulatory Affairs Professionals Society (RAPS), where he also served as Managing Editor for the company’s flagship publication, Regulatory Focus.

Alexander is regularly asked to speak to executive audiences about life science regulatory policy developments and his analysis and work (including his daily newsletter, FDA Today) is relied upon by many of the country’s top life sciences companies, law firms, trade associations, regulatory professionals, legislative staffers and public health officials. He has a master’s degree in Regulatory Science from the University of Maryland and his Regulatory Affairs Certification (RAC) in US regulation. He also serves as the co-chair of the Drug Information Association’s (DIA) Regulatory Policy and Intelligence Community and the Chair of RAPS’ Regulatory Intelligence Conference.

Dr. Joanne Beck is currently Chief Technology Officer at Abata Therapeutics. Prior to this, she served as Chief Technology Officer at Aerium Therapeutics and COO at Boston Pharmaceuticals, a private company developing candidates across multiple indications in cardiometabolic, oncology, and immune/inflammatory diseases. Prior to joining Boston Pharmaceuticals, she was Executive Vice President of Global Pharmaceutical Development and Operations at Celgene where she oversaw the company’s Product Development, Global Manufacturing Operations, Supply Chain, Engineering and Quality. Prior to Celgene, she was SVP of Pharmaceutical Development at Shire. Prior to Shire she held roles of increasing responsibility in Process Development at Genentech and Amgen and in Operations at Abbott’s Pharmaceutical and Vascular Divisions. Beck holds a BA in Chemistry from Lewis and Clark College, a Ph.D. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from University of Oregon Medical School and completed a postdoctoral fellowship in the department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry at the University of California, San Francisco. Dr. Beck serves on the board of directors for Orchard Therapeutics and Astria Therapeutics.

Steven Johnson is currently Vice President of Quality Assurance Operations and Quality Site Head of Ultragenyx’s internal Manufacturing and Quality Control locations in Bedford and Woburn, Massachusetts (respectively).  Steven joined Ultragenyx approximately 6 years ago and has been a key Quality Leader developing procedures and processes to build out internal operations.  This included significant enhancements to company Quality Systems, establishment of a new Quality Control laboratory, and establishment of a new gene therapy manufacturing facility.  Previously Steve has held progressive roles within Quality Assurance, Manufacturing, and Quality Control at companies such as Genentech, Amgen, Baxter, and Shire.  Steve is an advocate for common sense, practical solutions grounded in Lean principles through value added thinking, waste removal, and simplification of processes.

Judy joined Gilead Sciences as Vice President, Global Supply Chain in January 2024.  She leads supply chain professionals responsible for end-to-end global supply chain strategy and execution to ensure uninterrupted supply of Gilead’s clinical product portfolio from trials through to launch. Close partnership with CMC functions including Product & Portfolio Strategy, CMC Regulatory Affairs, Technical Development, Manufacturing Operations and Quality Assurance will be critical part of her accountabilities. Judy is an accomplished healthcare supply chain professional with blended experiences in both big pharma and smaller, clinical-stage biotech companies. She is a visionary, solution-focused leader with a strong track record delivering best-in-class improvement strategies and strengthening portfolios. She has a passion for developing people to help them realize their potential and maximize their contributions.

Magaly currently works at Takeda as a Senior Director Quality Compliance for the Global Oncology & Biologics Division. Prior to joining Takeda she worked in consulting for Pharma-BioServ US Inc., MedImmune, Pfizer, Wyeth and Schering Plough in positions of increased responsibility. She holds a Bachelors Degree in Chemistry from the University of Puerto Rico and a Master Degree in Bioscience and Regulatory Affairs from the Johns Hopkins University in Maryland, US. She has comprehensive management experience in Quality Assurance, Quality Systems, Compliance, Quality Control, Validation and Manufacturing Operations. Magaly has participated as a lead in companies undergoing remediation efforts such as Consent Decrees and Warning letter environments in which she has developed expertise in quality systems design and implementation and Risk Management. She is Kepner-Tregoe Problem Solving Decision Making(PSDM) Certified Trainer, former ASQ Quality Auditor (CQA), US-RAC, and a PR Licensed Chemist. She was the PDA QRM IG Coordinator for the past couple of years and recently was appointed Co-Lead of this QRM IG.

Catalina Vargas is Senior Vice President and Global Supply Chain (GSC) Lead at Bristol Myers Squibb (BMS). A global pharmaceutical executive with more than 20 years of experience, Catalina currently leads a talented team, working to seamlessly deliver medicines to patients in more than 50 countries around the world. Under her leadership, Catalina has built a highly synchronized, transparent and sustainable supply chain organization.

Catalina joined BMS in 2018 as Vice President, Strategic Sourcing and Procurement, Global Product Development and Supply, where she managed a complex supply chain to bring critical medicines to patients. During her time in this role, BMS acquired Celgene, which at the time was the largest deal in biopharma history, and Catalina successfully integrated the Celgene and BMS sourcing and procurement groups.

Immediately prior to her current role leading GSC, Catalina was Chief of Staff to the CEO of BMS where she led strategic enterprise-wide initiatives and advanced the leadership team’s governance and decision-making model. With an exceptional record of building high performing and agile global teams, Catalina is a passionate advocate for inclusion.

Prior to joining BMS, Catalina was with Pfizer for 17 years, where she was tapped for leadership positions across strategic sourcing, operations, and external manufacturing.

Catalina has a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering and a graduate degree in finance and capital markets.

Allyson Nicholson is a seasoned biopharmaceutical executive with 29 years of experience in end-to-end supply chain management, business reengineering, and digitalization, across a wide range of industries including banking, airline, food, public sector, consulting, and pharmaceutical. Allyson has a proven track record in process improvement, large systems implementations, and mergers and acquisitions. With extensive experience in clinical and commercial supply chains, Allyson has successfully led product commercialization and in-market execution, ensuring supply reliability.

Currently, Allyson serves as the Head of Global Supply Chain at BioMarin Pharmaceutical, where she is responsible for the successful execution and services of all global supply functions ensuring supply to patients for their commercial portfolio and pipeline candidates.

Outside of work she enjoys cooking, learning about wine, skiing and walking in a beach somewhere.  She currently lives in Boston with her husband, two young-adult children, and their two dogs.