Life Sciences Industry Conference 2026

The AI-Ready Manufacturing Site

This year’s conference brought together the best of the sector for a day of meaningful discussion, expert insight and valuable networking. Thank you to everyone who attended and we look forward to welcoming you back in 2027.

Save the date — 2027 → See the 2026 programme →

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Keynote

Setting the tone.

The keynote frames the day ahead — a candid look at what it really takes to put AI to work across pharma manufacturing, from the plant floor to the enterprise.

William Fahey.

Data Science Lead · Pfizer

Leads data science in Pfizer’s Manufacturing Intelligence organisation, scaling AI, machine learning and generative AI across its global biopharmaceutical manufacturing network.

Speakers

First on the stage.

Practitioners shaping AI-ready manufacturing — sharing what works on the plant floor, not just the theory.

Brendan McGrath

Conference Chair — Former Site Head & VP Manufacturing

WuXi Biologics Ireland

Former Ireland Site Head and VP of Manufacturing at WuXi Biologics Ireland, where he was the company’s first employee in Ireland and served as Managing Director. An accomplished pharmaceutical executive with earlier senior roles across Organon, Schering-Plough and MSD.

Meg Leahey

Senior Director, Global CMC Biologics

Sanofi

A seasoned regulatory professional with over 20 years in biotech CMC and clinical regulatory affairs across multiple therapeutic areas. Senior Director of Global CMC Biologics at Sanofi, with earlier roles at MSD, Pfizer and Bristol Myers Squibb. Her expertise spans regulatory strategy, compliance and mentoring.

Dr Hisham Al-Obaidi

Associate Professor, Pharmaceutics & Translational Drug Delivery

University of Reading

A practising Advanced Clinical Pharmacist Practitioner in the NHS whose interdisciplinary research bridges pharmaceutical sciences, digital health and AI. An inventor on several patents and an editorial board member (incl. PLOS Digital Health), with awards including the FRAME Innovation Award.

Domhnall Carroll

Chief Executive Officer

Digital Manufacturing Ireland (DMI)

Joined Digital Manufacturing Ireland in 2021 and led its establishment and scale-up as a national centre of excellence for advanced manufacturing transformation. Previously led the Digital Industries business in Ireland for Siemens, spanning manufacturing automation, software and digital services, and driving data-driven solutions for Industry 4.0 and the Factory of the Future.

Tom Quinn

Vice President & Site Head

Novo Nordisk Production Ireland

Leads Novo Nordisk’s multi-product, FDA- and HPRA-approved biopharmaceutical facility in Athlone, home to more than 260 employees. Over 30 years in the sector, with senior leadership roles in general management, business transformation and operations across large multinational companies, from green-field start-ups to optimising major manufacturing sites and integrating businesses post-acquisition.

Cormac Byrne

Head of Digital

APC / VLE

Head of the iAchieve Business Unit at APC, leading digital products for pharmaceutical development and manufacturing. A Cornell PhD in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, his work focuses on applying digital technologies and AI across CMC and pharmaceutical development, and on the trust, context and adoption challenges that come with it.

Susan Costello

Network Director

BioPharmaChem Skillnet

Network Director of BioPharmaChem Skillnet and founder and CEO of Rubix Consultancy, with over 20 years in learning, skills and workforce development. Leading the Skillnet since 2007, she brings employers, educators and industry bodies together to close skills gaps, supporting the upskilling of more than 18,000 life sciences employees since 2020 across workforce strategy, digital transformation, leadership and future skills.

Fergal Wall

Director of Technology, Digital & Data

NIBRT

Leads NIBRT’s transformation agenda across digital, data and AI, including its new Digital Academy and the digitisation of its GMP-like training and research facility. Previously 20+ years in senior technology roles at Glanbia plc, culminating as Global Head of IT.

James Murphy

Chief Operating Officer

Eirgen Pharma

Joined Eirgen Pharma in 2021 as Head of Engineering, expanding its high-potency development and manufacturing. Appointed COO in 2026, overseeing manufacturing, supply chain, engineering and operational excellence, with 20+ years across Terumo, Cook Medical and Boston Scientific.

Alice Redmond

Chief Risk & Quality Officer

CAI

Regulatory compliance, commissioning, qualification and validation expert with 25+ years across pharma and biotech. Deep knowledge of aseptic processing, biotech products and medical devices, applying FDA and ICH guidance to build risk-based approaches.

Matt Moran

CEO, Matt Moran Consulting

Former Director, BioPharmaChem Ireland (Ibec)

Independent Life Sciences & Pharma consultant who founded and led BioPharmaChem Ireland at Ibec for three decades. Now a strategic advisor to Innoglobal and Innopharma.

Dinny Crowe

Vice President, Ireland Operations

ABM

Joined ABM in 2025 as Vice President of Ireland Operations, bringing more than 30 years’ experience in facilities management. Drives growth, operational excellence and service innovation across ABM’s manufacturing, pharma, data centre and healthcare clients.

Araz Raoof, PhD, MBA

Executive Director

ARC Hub for Therapeutics

Biopharma R&D executive with three decades driving innovation from ideation to post-market approval. Former President of Ferring Research Institute and Global Head of Drug Discovery at Janssen, with four product approvals and 80+ projects progressed to development.

Ger McCabe

Managing Director & Co-Owner

Biostor Ireland

Leads Biostor Ireland, an EU-licensed cell bank and biobank for certified storage and worldwide distribution of biological materials. Brings a compliance-first view to AI adoption; his talk, Building Trust in AI, covers the governance, validation and transparency frameworks regulated life science organisations need.

Prof. Damien Thompson

Professor of Molecular Modelling, University of Limerick

Director, Rinn Pharma & Biopharma

Leads the research team in computational design of advanced materials at UL’s Bernal Institute, partnering with world-leading experimental and industry groups on nano-enabled products for health and sustainability. Author of 180+ articles in journals including Nature, Nature Materials and Nature Nanotechnology.

Colm Bambury

Director of Digital Technology

Amgen

Advancing digital manufacturing across a global GMP-regulated network. Works across manufacturing systems, automation, MES, data and analytics, applying technology and AI to create value for manufacturing teams.

Trevor Marshall

Head of Consulting, Life Science Manufacturing

Cognizant

More than 25 years partnering with life science customers worldwide to design and deliver manufacturing and digital technologies. Leads Cognizant’s life science manufacturing consulting practice and sits on its AI Adoption Council.

Advisory Committee

Shaping the conversation.

Industry and academic leaders are steering the programme — making sure every session earns its place on the agenda.

Matt Moran

CEO

Matt Moran Consulting; Former Director, BioPharmaChem Ireland (Ibec)

Independent Life Sciences & Pharma consultant who founded and led BioPharmaChem Ireland at Ibec for three decades. Now a strategic advisor to Innoglobal and Innopharma.

Dr Bernadette Whelan

Lecturer in Pharmaceutical Science

SETU Waterford

Lecturer and Programme Leader in GMP & Technology at SETU Waterford, with 12 years in the Irish pharma industry. Her PhD framed sustainable competitive advantage for the sector.

Prof Radi Haloub

Professor of Interdisciplinary Health Education

University College London (UCL)

Professor of Interdisciplinary Health Education at UCL’s Global Business School for Health, leading its Biotech & Pharmaceutical management programme. A Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.

That’s a wrap on 2026

22 Oct2026, Dublin

19Speakers

4Themed Sessions

1Day of insight

Part of something bigger

You’ll be in good company.

This conference is brought to you by BusinessRiver — the team behind Ireland’s leading life sciences awards and events, as well as the Fit Out Awards, Green Awards and Irish Construction Industry Awards.

0Market reach

0Years of the Pharma & Life Sciences Awards

0Attendees at our life sciences events

Partners & Suppliers

Get involved at the Life Sciences Industry Conference 2026

Companies that supply products or services to the sector partner with us rather than attend as delegates. Tell us about your business and we’ll be in touch about exhibiting, sponsoring or supporting the conference.

Become a partner →

The awards & events behind the community

Our Partners & Supporters

Platinum Partner

Gold Partner

Collaboration Partner — Gold

Collaboration Partner — Bronze

Communications Partner

Supported by

Organised by

Platinum Partner

Gold Partner

Collaboration Partner — Gold

Collaboration Partner — Bronze

Communications Partner

Supported by

Organised by

In partnership

The organisations behind the conference.

Panel Partner — Platinum

Cognizant

Cognizant is an AI builder and technology services provider, building the bridge between AI investment and enterprise value by building full-stack AI solutions for our clients. Our deep industry, process and engineering expertise enables us to build an organization’s unique context into technology systems that amplify human potential, realize tangible returns and keep global enterprises ahead in a fast-changing world.

Panel Partner — Gold

ABM Ireland

ABM (NYSE: ABM) is one of the world’s largest providers of integrated facility, engineering, and infrastructure solutions. Every day, our over 100,000 team members deliver essential services that make spaces cleaner, safer, and efficient, enhancing the overall occupant experience. ABM serves a wide range of market sectors including commercial real estate, aviation, mission critical, and manufacturing and distribution. With over $8 billion in annual revenue and a blue-chip client base, ABM delivers innovative technologies and sustainable solutions that enhance facilities and empower clients to achieve their goals.

Collaboration Partner — Gold

Mason Technology

Established in 1780, Mason Technology is one of Ireland’s leading providers of scientific instrumentation, technical services and compliance solutions. Supporting the pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical industries, we deliver technologies that help organisations improve operational efficiency, strengthen data integrity and maintain regulatory compliance. Our solutions span laboratory automation, sample management and storage, digital equipment management and autonomous disinfection technologies, supporting increasingly connected and efficient operations. Working with world-leading manufacturers, we combine innovative technologies with local expertise, ISO 17025 accredited calibration and specialist technical support to help customers improve productivity, maintain quality and advance digital transformation across laboratory and manufacturing environments.

Collaboration Partner — Bronze

ALS Identify

ALS Identify is a trusted identification and traceability solutions provider, supporting over 40 Life Sciences companies across Ireland. We deliver labelling, printing, barcode, scanning, automation, and traceability solutions for pharmaceutical, medical device, and healthcare environments. Our team works closely with customers across production, packaging, warehousing, and distribution to improve accuracy, compliance, and operational efficiency. From individual equipment and consumables to fully integrated solutions, we combine leading technologies with experienced local support. ALS Identify helps Life Sciences organisations reduce risk, strengthen traceability, streamline processes, and maintain reliable, compliant operations in demanding regulated environments.

Supported by

Amárach Research

Amárach Research is Ireland’s leading market research consultancy and provides detailed analysis of consumer and business trends to Ireland’s blue-chip companies. In uncertain times, Amárach Research provides the insights that give a firm foundation on which to base key investment and purchase decisions. Amárach’s Chairman Gerard O’Neill is a member of IBEC’s Sustainable Enterprise Committee and has co-authored several studies and reports on business and economic trends in Ireland.

Brought to you by

BusinessRiver

BusinessRiver is the B2B events company behind Ireland's industry awards and conferences, including the Pharma Industry Awards, Life Sciences Industry Awards, Women in Pharma Awards and the Pharma Industry Awards UK. It engages a community of more than 24,000 professionals across Ireland and the UK.

Now confirmed

The agenda is setFull programme and speaker line-up now confirmed for 22 October in Dublin.

Book your place

Who was in the room

Companies in attendance.

Industry professionals and leaders from across Ireland’s life sciences community were represented on the day — from pharma and biotech manufacturers to medtech, academia and partners.

46Organisations represented

Abbott Ireland
ABM
ALS Identify
Amgen
APC / VLE
Aramex
ARC Hub for Therapeutics
Astellas
AstraZeneca
BioPharmaChem Skillnet
Biostór Ireland
Boston Scientific Clonmel
Bristol Myers Squibb
CAI
Cognizant
CSL Seqirus
Digital Manufacturing Ireland
Dublin City University
Ecolab
Eirgen Pharma Ltd
Exempt Medicinal Products Limited
Fannin Ltd
Forvis Mazars
Johnson & Johnson
Körber Pharma Software
Lilly
Mason Technology
MCR Group
Merck
Merck Sharp & Dohme
NIBRT
Novo Nordisk
PCI Pharma Services
Pfizer
Phibro Animal Health Care
PMTC, UL
PSC Biotech
Sanofi
SETU Waterford
SSPC - Pharmaceutical Research Centre
STERIS
Takeda
The Irish Times
UCL
University of Reading
WuXi Biologics

Inside the room

Where the community meets.

Scenes from the day: the keynote, the panels, the questions from the floor and the networking in between.

Recent Conference Experiences

In their words.

“

Having a forum like this where everybody can share their views, brainstorm and problem-solve together — it’s a great opportunity.

June KohHead of Workplace & Transformation

“

A wonderful mix of delegates and speakers, everyone bringing their own perspective. Great engagement, and we’ve moved beyond trends — we’re looking to the future.

Colin FalconerAssociate

“

We all have the same challenges and the same opportunities. Platforms like this are a great chance to meet up and collaborate head-on.

Graham O’DonnellFounder & Design Director

From the BusinessRiver Fit Out Conference

Save the date for 2027

Life Sciences Industry Conference 2027

Returning to Dublin · Autumn 2027

Be first to hear when the programme and booking open.

This event is for site and operations teams working directly in life sciences manufacturing. Suppliers and service providers should complete the Partners & Suppliers form to discuss Supporter options with our Partnerships team.

Built for

Pharma
MedTech
Medical Devices
Biotech

Site & Operations Leaders
Quality & Compliance
Engineering & Technical
Commercial & BD
Supply Chain
People & Talent