The IAAE Life Sciences Advisory Board
Why does the IAAE have an advisory board and what role does it play?
Our Life Sciences Advisory Board, plays a crucial role in guiding IAAE's work. The board identifies key capabilities required to support digital manufacturing objectives and collaborates on several initiatives each through subgroups. Their industry expertise ensures that our educational offerings remain aligned with the needs of medical product and device manufacturers, and informed by the trends they are experiencing, with the outcome of ultimately helping them navigate the challenges posed by evolving technologies and regulatory requirements.
Chris Garvin
Director of Data Sciences for Operations Advanced Analytics at Amgen
Chris and his family hail from New York but have called Rhode Island home for the past 10+ years. During this time, Chris has established a career path focused on delivering meaningful data-driven projects to improve the way Amgen’s global Operations organization works.
When did you first connect with International Academy of Automation Engineering, and why?
I attended and presented at the 2019 AIChE PD2M Advanced Process Control workshop, where I was impressed by Malcom Jeffers’ presentation on the role of IAAE in upskilling staff in automation and digital technologies.
What motivates you to participate on the IAAE® Life Sciences Advisory Board?
Education and learning are central to who I am as a person, but I think their role in a vibrant and successful organization is sometimes underappreciated. I enjoy collaborating with the other Advisory Board members to develop ideas for bringing relevant skill-based learning programs to our industry, and to ensure all staff members are given opportunities to grow and improve in their roles.
What ecosystem role do you see IAAE® playing?
IAAE creates a creative, productive, and safe space for pan-life sciences industrial collaboration. This allows the diverse and motivated team to operate with freedom from organizational constraints to create mutually beneficial content, programs, and strategies.
What excites you about the future in your work with IAAE®?
At a time when staff retention is a topic of concern for leaders at all levels of the organization, finding ways to improve the experience of a staff member in their current role is essential. I’m excited to work with IAAE to create ways to topple the the up-or-out career path paradigm and replace it with one of grow-within.
Is there any career advice would you like to share with the IAAE community?
Surround yourself with people you truly love working with, who challenge and support you, and who are tirelessly motivated to improve themselves and the organization you work for.
Julien Cloots
Senior Procurement Delivery Manager for Facilities and Engineering
Julien comes from Belgium where he lives with his wife and three children. Julien is passionate about automation and new technologies and he has more than 15 years experience in automation and digital for Pharma industry. Leader with a solid history of directing cross-functional teams, executing large engineering projects and nurturing a creative environment that encourages new ideas and innovation.
When did you first connect with International Academy of Automation Engineering, and why?
Back in 2018, I initiated, together with one of the IAAE team members, the first pilot program with IAAE® for our company. The goal was to use IAAE® educational program to increase Automation knowledge within our manufacturing sites.
What motivates you to participate on the IAAE® LSAB?
I really like sharing on digital manufacturing capabilities with other Pharma peers, on our challenges but also and foremost on ideas how to make it better for our people and their development.
What is the value to your org?
IAAE® provides a fundamental educational basis within automation and digital domains and support Pharma companies to build stronger capabilities.
What ecosystem role do you see
IAAE® playing?
Connecting people from companies, institutes, associations, etc, to better understand capabilities challenges and develop solutions.
What excites you about the future in your work with IAAE®?
I’m particularly excited to be part of IAAE® focus group where we can share ideas and support IAAE® to shape their offer aligned with customers expectations.
Is there any career advice would you like to share with the IAAE community?
Everyone you meet knows something you don’t. Learn from them (Bill Nye).
Rendela K Wenzel
Global Maintenance and Reliability Leader- Eli Lilly and Company
Rendela lives in Plainfield, Indiana with her husband and 2 children. She has worked for over two decades to in Reliability and Maintenance Leadership. Her current role includes providing technical leadership and oversight and of coordinating reliability initiatives around the world.
She has extensive Reliability and Maintenance experience developing and implementing successful PdM programs, leading RCA activities, and driving maintenance execution initiatives. Prior to Lilly, she was the Lead Reliability Engineer supporting the Crankshaft Steel Business Unit at Navistar, an Operations and Maintenance Manager at Chrysler overseeing the cleaning and core rooms, and as a Process Engineer supporting the mixing lines at Pillsbury. She serves as the Chairperson of the ICML Board of Directors and is an Industrial Advisory Board member at Purdue University. She has also attained the rank of Captain in the United States Army.
When did you first connect with International Academy of Automation Engineering, and why?
I connected in 2022 with Mary Bunzel, a colleague for many years in the M&R industry.
What motivates you to participate on the IAAE® Life Sciences Advisory Board?
I enjoy participating in the advisory board and connecting with leaders in the Pharma, Biopharma, and MedTech industries.
What ecosystem role do you see IAAE® playing?
IAAE has a unique role as a not-for-profit in how it can connect with and make connections between those who are seeking meaningful, fulfilling careers in digital manufacturing and the governments, companies, institutes, and associations who want to support them to do so.
What excites you about the future in your work with IAAE®?
We are currently at a stage of manufacturing development where digital transformation is not a question of “if” but a question of “when” to implement. Competitive advantage and future development of products and services will be integral with the people and technology that IAAE supports worldwide.
Is there any career advice would you like to share with the IAAE community?
Seek to always learn and adapt as opportunities arise. Life-long learning is vital in staying current in any role both current and future.
Rob Dimitri
Director Digital Quality Systems, Thermofisher PSG
Rob lives in Massachusetts with his wife and two children. He has worked for two decades in the BioPharmaceutical industry in various roles, primarily focused on analytics and Digital transformation.
Currently leading a digital and analytics team within the Global Quality Systems organization at Thermofisher. Past roles included Digital Transformation and Innovation Lead for the Takeda Biologics operating unit, and prior to that led the Digital and Data Sciences group at Takeda’s Massachusetts Biologics site.
When did you first connect with International Academy of Automation Engineering, and why?
I had a previously worked with Malcolm in a different capacity and he shared he had joined IAAE. Learning about the purpose of the organization and the needs it helped fill,
I was excited to get engaged and connect
with peers.
What motivates you to participate
on the IAAE® Life Sciences Advisory Board?
I enjoy both connecting with like minded peers to understand the challenges and opportunities they are facing as well as provide IAAE feedback on how best they can support and impact the industry.
What ecosystem role do you see
IAAE® playing?
IAAEs mission and purpose shines a light on the human element and training needs related to technology and analytics. Additionally as a not-for-profit and through its varied engagements with industry and educational institutions, it can play a key role in connecting many groups together.
What excites you about the future
in your work with IAAE®?
As technology continues to evolve, it is imperative as an industry we set up future generations for success and to educate our existing workforce. I appreciate that through IAAE, a diverse group of us have an opportunity to come together to influence this.
Is there any career advice would you like to share with the IAAE community?
Try to always be open to learning in all ways. Through our educational, work and personal experiences, the more you reflect back upon and understand those experiences the better you’ll set yourself up for future success.
My most impactful experiences were those where I was fortunate to work with great people on interesting challenges. It may not always be easy, but those experiences are the ones to seek out.
Daniel Carraher
Head of Digital and Data Science – Takeda Global Manufacturing and Supply (GMS) Massachusetts
Daniel has several decades of expertise in the pharmaceutical industry, focusing on product and process lifecycle, manufacturing science, data science, and analytics. He is passionate about applying AI and machine learning across all pharmaceutical domains.
Daniel resides in Lexington, MA and shares a love for outdoor adventures and board games with his 6-year-old son. His academic background spans Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Chemistry, and Statistics, with programming experience beginning in high school.
When did you first connect with International Academy of Automation Engineering, and why?
The initial connection with the International Academy of Automation Engineering (IAAE) happened in 2018 when participating in a training partnership. The passion, positive attitude, and quality of materials produced by IAAE left a strong impression.
What motivates you to participate
on the IAAE® Life Sciences Advisory Board?
Participation in the IAAE® LSAB is driven by a history of positive interactions with the organization, along with the importance of workforce upskilling and understanding the human element and technologies in digital biomanufacturing.
What is the value to your org?
Engagement with industry peers, obtaining valuable feedback, involvement in intriguing projects, and fostering collaborative relationships all bring value to the organization.
What ecosystem role do you see
IAAE® playing?
IAAE serves as a catalyst for networking, idea sharing, cross-industry team building, and efficient specialization of ideas. The organization also supports gaining insights and realizing the advantages of deploying technology solutions in the pharmaceutical industry.
What excites you about the future
in your work with IAAE®?
The prospect of team building and working across industry boundaries, gaining insights into people and teams working with technologies, and providing the necessary training for the team to leverage technology for patient benefit are all exciting aspects of future work with IAAE.
Is there any career advice would you like to share with the IAAE community?
Embrace an open-minded and flexible approach throughout your career. Persevere and never give up on your vision. Engage your team and colleagues in the journey of digital transformation.
Anthony Le Marre
Head of Manufacturing Systems & Automation at Sanofi
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Greg Bischoff
Director, Manufacturing Automation Architecture and Platforms at Merck
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Kevin Wu
Associate Director, Automation Control Systems at BMS
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PJ Millan
Head of Automation Strategy and Data Analytics at GSK
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Rachelle Howard
Engineering Fellow, Automation and Controls at Vertex Pharmaceuticals
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Rafael Gilot
Director Automation & Metrology at Sanofi
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Rob Guenard
Head of Digital Realization at Biogen
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Tony Farero
HR Director, Global Quality, Pharma Services at ThermoFisher
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Andrew Bird
Executive Director, Business Technology Manufacturing Operations at Organon
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