Pharmaceutical Manufacturing - Towards a Sustainable Future

Join the PDA West Coast Chapter in Foster City at Gilead’s campus for a Full-Day Conference: Sustainable Innovations in Biopharmaceutical Development and Manufacturing. This content-rich program will feature expert presentations and dynamic panel discussions centered on eco-friendly advancements and sustainable practices within the biopharmaceutical industry. Attendees will have the chance to explore innovative strategies aimed at reducing environmental impact and promoting sustainability across various aspects of biopharma.

The event will delve into industry efforts to improve resource efficiency, reduce waste, and integrate greener practices in manufacturing, process development, and quality assurance. Industry experts will provide insights on regulatory expectations and the rising demand for sustainable practices, while addressing common challenges and sharing innovative solutions. This is an invaluable opportunity for those dedicated to a more sustainable biopharma sector to learn, engage, and network with key players committed to a greener future in biotechnology.

Due to security measures, all attendees must be pre-registered on Eventbrite prior to attending.

Please Note: Everyone attending must have a ticket registered under their own name.

Will is dedicated to fostering innovation and delivering high-impact solutions in the cleanroom, bioprocessing, and contamination control industry. With a strong focus on compliance and risk mitigation, Will works to support pharmaceutical manufacturers, gene and cell therapy companies, and medical device businesses in achieving operational excellence in highly regulated environments.

As the Western Region Director at Benchmark Products, Will manages operations across eight states, building meaningful partnerships and providing tailored contamination control strategies and single-use bioprocessing systems to meet the unique needs of clients. Throughout Will's career, the emphasis has always been on creating value through collaboration and strategic insight. Will has consistently demonstrated a passion for driving growth and solving complex challenges. Will holds a Bachelor's Degree in Finance from the University of Denver's Daniels College of Business.

Dr. Ravi Chawla is a scientist, engineer, and entrepreneur with over 15 years of interdisciplinary expertise in research and technology development. His work spans chemical engineering (process engineering and safety), life sciences (microbiology, molecular and cell biology), and materials science (polymer physics, characterization, and microfabrication). His pioneering research at the intersection of biology and engineering has led to over 10 high-impact publications and breakthrough discoveries. He has been recognized with numerous prestigious fellowships and awards, including the American Heart Association Postdoctoral Fellowship, the American Institute of Chemical Engineers Research Excellence Award, and the Biochemical Engineering Research Excellence Award.

As the Founder of ChakraTech, he is pioneering carbon-negative biomanufacturing, using synthetic biology and biotechnology to create next-generation biomaterials that replace fossil-based plastics and drive the circular economy. His work drives cross-sector partnerships to scale solutions that accelerate supply chain decarbonization and adoption of sustainable biomaterials.

Regina is trained as a Mechanical and Chemical Engineer and currently serves as the Site Engineering/Sustainability Lead and Site Energy Manager. With over 17 years at Bayer, she has held responsibilities in infrastructure and utilities, corporate internal audit, and sustainability. Her professional experience spans the automotive, biotechnology/pharmaceutical, and legal industries. She has a strong interest in continuously learning about new technologies and scientific topics, mentoring and coaching others in their professional development, and watching international programs.

Joydeep Ganguly serves as Senior Vice President of Corporate Operations and Interim Chief Information Officer at Gilead Sciences. In his current role, he is accountable for several strategic functions, including corporate engineering; capital and operations strategy; corporate real estate; risk management; global procurement, and Information Technology. Joydeep also serves as the Board Chair of the Gilead Foundation, as well as spearheading the company’s Sustainability efforts globally. Prior to Gilead, Joydeep spent 10 years at Biogen, in roles of increasing responsibility in the areas of process sciences, manufacturing and supply chain. In his role as Vice President and Global Head of Biogen’s Technical Operations function, he oversaw the company’s multi-scale biologics and small molecule operations, as well as led general operations for the company’s presence in North Carolina, Denmark and Switzerland. A past board member of the North Carolina Biosciences Organization (NCBIO) and the NC Museum of Life and Sciences, he currently serves on the Board of Directors of Bay Area Council, Biocom, and is a trustee at Town School for Boys. He also serves on the Board of Advisors for Culture Biosciences, as well on the Advisory Board for NC State University’s Supply Chain program. He earned an M.S. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Notre Dame, an M.B.A. from North Carolina State University, and an MHA from Cornell University.

Matt Hancock is an industry veteran of over 20 years focused on the efficient development and manufacture of pharmaceuticals. Currently, he is the business management director for API at Thermo Fisher Scientific whose mission is to enable their customers to make the world healthier, cleaner, and safer.

Matt has a Ph.D. in organic chemistry and focuses his passion for drug development in the areas of small molecule API manufacturing, amorphous spray drying, and sterile fill-finish.

Dr. King is currently the Chief Sustainable Supply, Ethnobotanical Research, and IP Officer at Jaguar Health, where he is focusing on the integration of traditional ethnomedical knowledge to develop novel therapeutics. He has focused on reciprocity with local collaborating communities and the conservation of biocultural diversity as part of this process.

Over the past 3.5 decades he has dedicated himself to the sustainable harvest and management of the Croton lechleri tree, also known as the Dragon's Blood tree, found in the Amazon rain forests of Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia. Steve’s efforts have been crucial in developing Crofelemer from this tree into an innovative plant-based prescription Medic*tion (Mytesi), which is the first FDA-approved oral Botanical Drug. Crofelemer is also in development for cancer therapy-related diarrhea (CTD) and several other gastrointestinal indications.

Most recently he and many ethnobotanical colleagues who were scientific strategy team (SST) advisors to Shaman Pharmaceuticals, formed the Entheogen Therapeutics Initiative (ETI) that has led to the formation of Magdalena Biosciences, a joint venture between Jaguar/ETI and Filament Health in Vancouver, Canada that is also focusing on developing new drugs under FDA Botanical Drug Guidance.

more info at www.bayer.com

more info at https://www.biomerieux.com/

more info at https://bionovascientific.com/

more info at https://www.boehringer-ingelheim.com/

more info at https://www.element.com/

more info at https://www.emerypharma.com/

more info at https://www.eurofins.com/

more info at https://www.gene.com

more info at www.gilead.com

more info at https://globalcompliancepartners.com/

more info at www.nelsonlabs.com

more info at https://www.ntint.com/

more info at www.thermofisher.com

more info at https://www.sterile.com/

How can I contact the organizer with any questions?

You can contact the event organizer by sending an email to [email protected]. Please allow a few days for the response, emails will not be monitored on the day of the event.

Is my registration fee or ticket transferable?

Tickets are not reimbursable, however you can transfer your ticket by 21APR25 to whomever would like to attend on your behalf.

My company would like to become a PDA WCC Sponsor, do you have a sponsorship program?

Yes, our offers a unique opportunity for companies that want to strengthen brand image, increase visibility, and gain access to leaders of the San Francisco Bay Life Science Community.

Cancellation & Refund Policy:

Tickets are non-refundable. Seating is confirmed and reserved in advance. All sales are final and no refunds will be provided, including but not limited to non-attendance at the event. If a registrant cannot attend, substitutions are welcome no later than 10 days before the event (21APR25). The Chapter reserves the right to cancel an event if the minimum number of attendees is not met by the Monday prior to the event. The Chapter reserves the right to not answer emails or phone calls on the day of the event.

Privacy Policy:

We manage your personal data responsibly and align with PDA Privacy Policy.

REGISTRATION AGREEMENT: By registering to this event, I consent to PDA WCC recording and/or photographing me and using those recording(s) and/or photograph(s) in the future PDA WCC promotional and marketing material, and to send me promotional information via email.

Info: The Role of Digital Transformation and Industry 4.0 Technologies in Sustainability Excellence

Info: Green Chemistry in the CDMO world

Info: Amgen’s Life Cycle Strategy for Sustainable Drug Substance Manufacturing

Info: Roche’s 10-Year Ambition: Halving Our Environmental Footprint by 2029

Info: Sustainable Harvesting, Reforestation, and the Conservation of Biocultural Diversity: the Story of Crofelemer, the API in the First Oral Drug Developed under US FDA Botanical Drug Guidance

Host or Publisher Parenteral Drug Association West Coast Chapter