October 2022 - New England Life Science Ecosystem

We are thrilled to return to an in-person event.

The New England Life Sciences community is a center of innovation and entrepreneurship for global biopharma and medical device technology. We have a unique ecosystem of university research, venture funding, research hospitals, state-funded initiatives, and deeply experienced life sciences technology companies that nurture and build this community.

This program looks at how our ecosystem works and why it works.

Our Keynote speaker is Mike Kennealy, Secretary of Housing and Economic Development for the State of Massachusetts. Following Sec. Kennealy’s remarks, we will have a panel discussion of how the key elements of technology development and entrepreneurial innovation work together. Rick Williams will moderate the panel including Chris Coburn, Chief Innovation Officer, Mass General Brigham, and Brian Johnson, President, Massachusetts Medical Device Industry Council. Audience comments and questions will be an important part of the conversation.

Secretary Mike Kennealy,

As Secretary of Housing and Economic Development, Mike Kennealy leads the Baker-Polito Administration’s efforts to strengthen Massachusetts’ leadership in the innovation economy.

Rick Williams, Managing Director,

Rick serves on the board of directors of technology companies in the B-to-B space. His soon-to-be-published book, Create the Future – for your company and yourself, is a leader's guidebook for thinking creatively about where to take your company without big consulting fees.

Chris Coburn, Chief Innovation Officer,

Chris leads a team of more than 140 people tasked with the worldwide commercial application of the unique capabilities and discoveries of all Mass General Brigham 80,000 employees. His unit’s business development responsibilities include investing, company creation, innovation management, industry collaborations, and licensing.

Brian Johnson, President, Massachusetts Medical Device Industry Council

Brian was named president of the Massachusetts Medical Device Industry Council (MassMEDIC) in July 2018. An accomplished author and media entrepreneur, Brian manages its day-to-day operations and works with medical device industry executives and its 300-member companies in developing its policy agenda.

Foley Hoag requires anyone that visits their office to be fully vaccinated, including the booster, if eligible (per CDC guidelines) that is, 14 days past the second Moderna or Pfizer shot or 14 days past the single J&J. They also require confirmation on your registration ticket of such vaccination status. In addition, no one will be permitted to come into thier offices who have within the last ten days either tested positive for Covid or been in close contact with someone who tested positive for Covid. Masks are optional at this time, but guests should have one with them in case they are asked to wear one.

* Visitors cannot claim a religious or medical exemption to this policy.

* Walk-ins are not permitted at this time.

Chris Coburn, Chief Innovation Officer,

Chris Coburn is Chief Innovation Officer, Mass General Brigham, an integrated health care system that consists of Harvard University affiliates Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital, Massachusetts Eye and Ear, and McLean Hospital. Mass General Brigham is the nation’s largest academic research enterprise with over $16 billion in annual revenue, 1.5 million patient visits and more than $2 billion in research expenditures. It also has a managed care organization, out-patient facilities and community hospitals. Its 6,200 faculty are appointed at Harvard Medical School.

Mr. Coburn leads a team of more than 140 tasked with the worldwide commercial application of the unique capabilities and discoveries of Mass General Brigham’s 85,000 employees. His unit’s business development responsibilities include investing, company creation, innovation management, industry collaborations, and licensing. Commercialization revenue exceeds $160 million annually and more than 300 companies have been spun-off from Mass General Brigham in the last decade. Large-scale industry collaborations have been established in areas such as AI and drug development. His group also manages a nearly $500 million venture fund.

Prior to joining Mass General Brigham, Mr. Coburn was founding director of Cleveland Clinic Innovations and served for 13 years as its executive leader. During his tenure, Cleveland Clinic spun off 57 companies that raised more than $700 million in equity financing. There were none before Coburn’s arrival. His team also managed an innovation alliance network in which Cleveland Clinic directly supported technology commercialization for healthcare systems throughout the United States.

Mr. Coburn has been a member of numerous corporate and community boards including Explorys (acquired by IBM), Autonomic Technologies, and the U.S. Enrichment Corporation (NYSE:USU).

If you would like to contact Chris Coburn, please email him at [email protected] and follow him on Twitter at @ChrisMarkCOBURN

Brian Johnson, President, Massachusetts Medical Device Industry Council

Brian Johnson was named president of the Massachusetts Medical Device Industry Council (MassMEDIC) in July 2018. An accomplished author and media entrepreneur, Brian serves as the association’s second chief executive officer in its history, managing its day-to-day operations and working with medical device industry executives in developing its policy agenda. Since its establishment in 1996, MassMEDIC has grown to 300 member companies – manufacturers and developers of medical products, suppliers, research institutions and academic health centers – and has advanced the public policy interests of the New England medical device sector on Capitol Hill, Beacon Hill, and before various federal agencies.

In 2007, Brian conceived and later launched MassDevice.com, where he been responsible for the strategic vision of the company, from inception through the summer of 2018, including leading the company through an acquisition in 2015 by WTWH Media.

As publisher, Brian spearheaded the growth of MassDevice from 0 to 100,000+ readers each month and led the company to profitability in just 3 years and more than $2.8M in annual sales. In 2011, Brian conceived and launched DeviceTalks, a live-interview series featuring leaders in medicine. The event, which is held three times annually in Boston, Minnesota and Orange County, California, has attracted thousands of medical device executives to date and featured leaders from some of the world’s largest medical technology companies. Since 2015, Brian also founded and launched two additional magazines, Medical Design & Outsourcing and Drug Delivery Business News, bringing total readership under his supervision to over 1.5 million.

Under Brian’s direction, MassDevice and its associated properties were widely recognized for its commitment to quality journalism. The editorial boards of the New York Times, NPR, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post have cited MassDevice’s coverage of issues pertaining to the medical device industry. In 2012, MassDevice won a prestigious Communicator award in 2012 for excellence with its live web video series “Disruptors.”

An experienced reporter and author, Brian has worked for The Associated Press, Boston Globe digital and The Eagle-Tribune newspaper, covering business and economics, local government and crime. In 2017, his critically acclaimed first novel “MWD: Hell is Coming Home” was released by Candlewick Press.

Brian resides in Brookline, Massachusetts with his wife and two young children.

Secretary Mike Kennealy,

As Secretary of Housing and Economic Development, Mike Kennealy advances the Baker-Polito Administration’s agenda to create economic opportunity and new housing for residents. He leads the Administration’s efforts to strengthen Massachusetts’ leadership in the innovation economy while overseeing significant investments in affordable housing, and he shepherded through the Legislature the Administration’s third economic development bill, which included the most important zoning reform in decades. In response to the pandemic, Kennealy helped launch the state’s Manufacturing Emergency Response Team and co-chaired the Reopening Advisory Board. He is directing the state’s economic recovery by supporting small businesses and getting people back to work.

Kennealy combines a successful track record in business with a strong commitment to public service. He began his career in private equity at TA Associates. In 1997, he joined Spectrum Equity, a firm founded in 1994. During his more than 15 years at Spectrum, he helped grow the firm to become an established market leader with nearly $5 billion in assets under management and investments in over 100 high-growth companies in the information economy. After his career in private equity, Kennealy spent two years as Special Advisor to the Receiver at Lawrence Public Schools, working with the state-appointed superintendent/receiver on the school district’s turnaround plan.

Prior to joining Governor Baker’s Cabinet as Secretary at the end of 2018, Kennealy served as Assistant Secretary for Business Growth at EOHED beginning in early 2015, playing an integral role in advancing the Administration’s strategy for job creation and business development.

Kennealy and his family live in Lexington, where they have been highly involved in town government, education and youth sports. He previously served as Chairman of the Board of Trustees at St. John’s Prep in Danvers. Kennealy received an A.B. in Government from Dartmouth College and an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School.

Rick Williams, Managing Director,

Rick Williams is Managing Director of Williams Advisory Partners, LLC. He has a breadth of experience as a company founder, board of directors member, and management consultant. In addition, he has been board chair of a medical device company and a bank/VC firm. His board service is usually with technology companies in the B-to-B space, including medical technology, software, and financial services.

Rick is a nationally and internationally published thought leader with a CEO and board of directors' point of view. Rick's soon-to-be-published book entitled "Create the Future – for your company and yourself" is a "how to field guide" for leaders who want to think creatively about where to take their organization without paying a hefty consulting fee. He is a frequent speaker and program moderator.

Rick founded The Equity Company, Inc., an award-winning real estate investment and development company. He is past President of the Harvard Business School Association of Boston. He was a management consultant with the global consulting firm Arthur D. Little, Inc. Rick is a physics graduate of the University of Pennsylvania.

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