My Story

I have worked in the Pharmaceutical Industry for the past 25 years. I started my career in R&D, as a Clinical Research Associate and later on a Clinical Operations Lead. A series of serious issues in a trial I worked on, which led to the death of a patient, made me realise I wanted to be one of those who protect those who trust us with their health. I made a move to R&D Quality in 2011.

 

My first couple of years as a QA person were difficult. I had the knowledge and I was technically a high performer, but I couldn't get my message across to those busy clinical study teams, no matter how hard I tried. They felt overwhelmed by the long regulation-filled advice I shared. It felt like they didn't care, like I couldn't get them to hear me. I was the bad guy.

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Then, my manager enrolled me in a course that looked at behaviour styles. She hoped that I would learn about my own behaviour style, but what I discovered changed my approach to quality and my career path completely. I learned why people behave the way they do, and how by listening and adapting to them, I was able to influence them to do the right thing. I gained influence and finally managed to shift the needle. 

 

Things still got tough at times, and issues happened, this is the nature of the difficult R&D business. But thanks to my knowledge of people behaviour styles, and a subsequent change management certification, I made a difference.

 

In the recent years, I led a kind and caring R&D Quality Assurance team. I taught them the tools I learned and they started to thrive and be recognised as a high-performing team. 

 

Now, as an independent consultant, I bring those same tools, and 25 years of hard-won experience, to R&D organisations and Quality Assurance professionals who are ready to do things differently. I offer fractional QA leadership for organisations that need senior expertise on a flexible basis, strategic consultancy for those building or transforming their quality culture, and personal support for QA professionals who want to lead with more confidence and less exhaustion. Because in the end, the health and well-being of patients in clinical research depends on the people who care enough to get this right, and those people deserve real support.