College of Scholars

Dave Allen

Patron of the College of Scholars

After graduating from Oxford, I joined the Pharma industry as a bench scientist and was awarded successive promotions to eventually spend over two decades as one of the most senior leaders in GSK R&D based in the UK.

I have also led many international business and academic collaborations and alliances (including the Crick-GSK collaboration), has been a member of various university scientific advisory boards, a Board member for the Stevenage science park, a charity Trustee and an Impact Assessor for both REF2014 and REF 2021. He was awarded an honorary Doctorate for his contribution to drug discovery and made a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry.

I am very much looking forward to help lead the College of Scholars and to work alongside talented, forward-thinking individuals dedicated to advancing the future of the chemical industry. I hope we can help shape the next generation of leaders in this field.

Julia Creasey

Strategy Execution Director, Croda

I joined Croda in 2013 in a technical role after completing my PhD, and having since spent a lot of my time in Corporate Sustainability roles, I now work in Strategy Execution for Croda’s Consumer Care business. As an SCI patron, I am very keen to support early career scientists, through connections to industry and mentoring opportunities, to help them develop skills to build a rewarding career, and can’t wait to start meeting members of the College of Scholars.

Stephen East

VP Innovation Efficiency, Evotec

I am a PhD Organic Chemist with a Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt and over 20 years of leadership and management experience in the CRO, Biotech, Charitable, and Academic sectors of the Life Science industry. I currently work for Evotec in Abingdon, UK as VP, Head of Innovation Efficiency. Over the past decade, I have supported the development of more than 300 individuals at Evotec, helping them build new skills and apply these skills to improve efficiency and effectiveness at work. I strongly believe that collaboration and co-operative behaviours facilitate the cross-fertilisation of ideas, which is essential for innovation. I have worked as a volunteer with the SCI in numerous roles over the past 25 years. SCI has supported and enabled my development, and as a CoS Patron, I am committed to encouraging other scientists to network, share experience and develop new skills.

Jacqui Sheridan

Head of Crop Protection Research Biology, CP R&D, Syngenta

I joined Syngenta in 2002 after completing my PhD and post-doc in Plant Nematology. I have worked in technical, strategic, operational, functional and site leadership roles across Seeds, Regulatory and Crop Protection. I currently lead the Global Research Biology function. With a focus on delivery, I have a passion for inspiring and coaching others, working across boundaries, catalysing change and maximizing impact from innovation.

I really enjoy connecting with people, sharing experiences and exploring ideas. Throughout my own career this has always helped me to learn and grow! As an SCI Patron I am very much looking forward to supporting (and also learning from) the next generation of Science Innovators!

Harry Kelly

Director, Med Chem Recruitment & Talent Development, GSK

I am incredibly passionate about supporting the next generation of scientists and so immediately accepted the opportunity to become an SCI Patron. As part of my role as GSK Director of the GSK/University of Strathclyde collaborative PhD programme, I have the privilege of witnessing the development of PhD students over the course of the programme and this is something I look forward to seeing in the SCI Patron role.

Rachel Davis

Head of Analytical Sciences, UCB

I am currently "Head of Analytical Sciences" for a Biopharmaceutical company leading teams that support physical chemical property testing, purification, NMR and Mass Spectrometry for research projects. Having felt and seen the impact that support and guidance can make on early careers I am really looking forward to being an SCI Patron.