James leads IFPMA’s work spanning global health, including the innovative pharmaceutical industry’s policy on pandemic preparedness, antimicrobial resistance (AMR), and global access to medicines and vaccines.
In his previous role as Head of Corporate Government Affairs at GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), James was responsible for GSK’s strategic engagement with the UK Government. He also held positions in Government Affairs and Commercial at European and global levels and led their strategy and engagement on AMR.
He was in the founding team of the AMR Action Fund and led the development of the 2016 Davos Declaration on AMR and the subsequent United Nations General Assembly Industry AMR Roadmap. He has advised on AMR policy development at the WHO, UN, EU Commission, and with national governments.
James is Chair of the AMR Industry Alliance Board and has also served as the Vice-Chair of Health at Business at the OECD, and as a member of the UK Life Science Strategy Board.
He has an MBA in Business from Harvard Business School as well as a Master s in Natural Sciences-Molecular and Genetic Pathology from Cambridge University.
I believe that progress requires great science, trust-based conversations, and real commitment to action.
More from James
Progress in tackling antimicrobial resistance
Since antibiotics were discovered nearly a century ago, the rate of resistance growth is outpacing the rate at which new ones can be developed and be used against infections. If we lose this race, patient deaths will significantly increase from the current 1.2 million per year. The pharmaceutical industry recognized the impending crisis and set...
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Collaboration can help find a vaccine within first 100 days
Our efforts against COVID-19 have surfaced critical learnings, including the need to establish a global foundational capability, fit for purpose ahead of the next health emergency.
Read moreThe power of innovation: Malaria’s gamechanger
We must make up ground lost in the fight against malaria during the COVID-19 pandemic. Innovation in vaccines and treatment offer hope for solutions.
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