09:30-10:00 Registration & Networking Breakfast 

10:00-10:05 Welcome remarks 
Siobhán Dean, Deputy Director, BioPharmaChem Ireland  

10:05-10:20 Opening Address
TBC 

10:20-11:00 Skills for Biopharma: Policy, Funding, and the Talent Landscape
Chair: Orla Callan, Managing Director, Innopharma Education
Professor Stephen Kinsella, Professor of Economics, University of Limerick
Helen McMahon, Skills Policy & Strategic Partnership Lead
Dr Kara McGann, Head of Skills & Social Policy, Ibec 

11:00- 11:10 Tea and Coffee Break

11:10-11:50 Tackling the Skills Gap: Innovative Training, Skills Development and Delivery
Chair: TBC
Dr John Milne, Director of Bioprocessing Training Alliances and Innovation, NIBRT
Justin Purcell, Development Advisor, Skillnet Ireland
Breda O’Toole, Head of Talent Transformation & Innovation, IDA Ireland
Dr Sarah Hayes, Chief Operating Officer, SSPC

11:50- 13:00 Breakout Discussions on Skills Challenges & Opportunities
Digital Skills & Innovation
Sustainable & Green Skills
Regulation
Leadership & Transversal Skills
Core STEMM

Facilitators:
Jamie Guidera, Business Development & Commercialisation Manager, SSPC
Damon Warnock, Centre Director, PMTC
Dr Tracey Larkin, Senior Lecturer Applied Science, Technological University
Ciaran Crosbie, Associate Director RDU Quality Learning Process Champion, Alexion Pharmaceuticals

13:00-13:45 Lunch 

13:45- 14:05 Skills Framework Launch
Susan Costello, Network Director, BioPharmaChem Skillnet

14:05-14:25 Case Study: Takeda Ireland
Paula Kearney, Site Learning Lead, Takeda Ireland

14:25-15:05 Building a Culture of Lifelong Learning
Chair: Dr Rabah Mouras, Centre Manager, PMTC
Paul Deasy, Learning & Capabilities Lead, Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine
Mary Lyons, Director of Enterprise, Employees and Skills at SOLAS
Paula Kearney, Site Learning Lead, Takeda Ireland

15:05- 15:30 Closing

 

 

Start Date November 06, 2025
Time 9.30am
Duration 6hrs
Delegate Price Free
Location Radisson Blu, Little Island, Co Cork, T45 WF53
Type Forums and workshops
Contact eimear.curran@ibec.ie