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The BioIndustry Association (BIA) has appointed Steve Bates as its Chief Executive Officer. Steve will take up the role from 2 July 2012.
Steve has worked both in biotech and the highest levels of UK government for 15 years. He was Senior Director, External Affairs and Market Access at Genzyme UK and Ireland, during which time he worked on the establishment of the Office for Life Science and was a member of the BIA’s Communications Advisory Committee.
Prior to joining the industry, Steve was special advisor to John Reid MP in his time as Home Secretary, Secretary of State for Health, Northern Ireland Secretary and Defence Secretary and helped deliver policy initiatives as diverse as “Our inheritance, our future: realising the potential of genetics in the NHS 2003” to the implementation of the Serious Organised Crime Act of 2005.
Earlier in his career, Steve led the Labour Party media team into the general election of 2001 and was formerly a broadcast business journalist at Dow Jones and ITN. Steve is a Cambridge University graduate.
Tim Edwards, BIA Chairman, said:
“We are delighted that Steve is joining the BIA. I am certain that his experience in the bioscience sector and within government will prove to be invaluable. Steve will work with BIA members to engage government on our policy initiatives, such as the Citizens Innovation Fund, and to ensure that the Coalition government delivers on the Strategy for UK Life Sciences.
“I would also like to express the BIA’s gratitude to Glyn Edwards for his contribution to the BIA as interim Chief Executive.”
The BIA’s new Chief Executive Officer, Steve Bates, added:
“UK bioscience is at the heart of the new global economy. The sector’s talented and visionary researchers, developers and executives are producing the treatments and innovations to help patients in the future. The sector is also providing highly skilled jobs and growth for the UK. That is why I am so excited to have this opportunity to lead the UK’s trade association for bioscience companies.
“Having worked both in government and biotech, I know how to be an effective voice for the sector and look forward to working in partnership with government, academia and the health service to enable bioscience companies in the UK to succeed.”
