8th Annual, One-Day, Industry-Led Conference & Networking Exhibition, Grand Connaught Rooms, London, 24th June 2026
Written In Collaboration With Patients, Advocacy Groups & The Pharmaceutical Industry
08.15 Registration & Informal Networking
OPENING REMARKS
09.00 GIC Welcome & Morning Co-Chairs’ Opening Remarks
Narinder Chopra, Patient Engagement XTA Head, Johnson & Johnson
Anthony Cuncliffe, National Lead Medical Adviser, Macmillan Cancer Support
Overcoming Barriers To Patient Centricity
09.10 Put Your Patients At The Core & Break Through Barriers By Streamlining Pathways & Elevating Early Patient Involvement To Truly Drive Patient-Centric Decision-Making
- Prioritise meaningful, patient-centred conversations to overcome heavy workloads, time pressures and short appointments that limit opportunities for shared decision-making
- How can we untangle the “dizzying maze” of pharma and healthcare systems; hospitals, clinics, and pharmacies so patients aren’t met with mixed messages or repeated steps along the way?
- Late-stage involvement leaves patients feeling unheard! Embed patient voices into trial design, endpoint selection and communication planning right from the start
Soraya Clarke, Strategic Participation Manager, Macmillan Cancer Support
Patient Involvement In HTA
PANEL Q&A
09.30 Overcome HTA Obstacles With Earlier Patient Input, Stronger Real-World Evidence & Collaborative Approaches That Elevate What Truly Matters To Patients In 2026 & Beyond
- How can pharma ensure patient voices genuinely influence HTA frameworks, evidence requirements and value assessments, and not just appear as an add-on?
- As HTA bodies demand more patient-centred evidence, unpack how pharma can partner with patients earlier to strengthen dossiers and reflect what truly matters to those needing the support
- Analyse the barriers to effective patient input in HTA to explore how to overcome hurdles and learn from impactful case studies where patient voices have driven change across Europe
Jose Diaz, Global HEOR, Health Systems Economics & Value of Innovation, Bristol Myers Squibb
Hamda Munawar, Senior Manager European Oncology Patient Advocacy, Daiichi Sankyo Europe GmbH
Sujan Sivasubramaniyam, Senior Director, Head of Global Patient Advocacy & Policy, CSL
Olga Alekseeva, Senior Director, Global Digital Innovation, AstraZeneca
Driving Internal Change
PERSPECTIVE 1
10.00 Revitalise Internal Systems & Cultures To Prioritise Patient Voices, Enable Cross-Functional Collaboration & Deliver Inclusive Engagement That Powers More Patient-Centric Outcomes
- Embed patient engagement into everyday decision-making across organisations, rather than treating it as a standalone activity
- From intent to action! How can we overcome internal resistance, siloed working, and competing priorities to create aligned, patient-centred ways of working that accelerate meaningful change?
- With rising expectations for diverse patient representation, create and reinforce internal processes that ensure inclusivity is prioritised early and consistently across programmes
Ilaria Grisoni, Executive Director, Head of International QPPV Office, Jazz Pharmaceuticals
10.15 Bonus Session Reserved for Exclusive Conference Partner
Patient Experiences
PERSPECTIVE 1
10.30 Prepare For The Next Era Of Healthcare By Understanding Evolving Patient Expectations & Building Sustainable Systems That Support Patient Self-Management From The Get-Go
- From long waiting times to access issues, deep dive into what truly drives patient perceptions and how these shape the overall experience of health services.
- Beyond “do it yourself” healthcare; how can healthcare teams better support patients as they take on increasing responsibility for monitoring, digital tools, and long-term condition management?
- As demand grows for personalised, partnership-based healthcare, how can teams close the personalisation gap by strengthening shared decision-making and communication so every patient feels heard and understood?
Geoff Rollason, Patient Advocate
10.45 Patient-Centric Content Increases Outcomes For Health Systems & ROI For The Healthcare Brands: Research & Evidence
Rohin Malhotra, Managing Director, FIXING US
11.00 Morning Refreshment Break With Informal Networking
Patient Trust
DOUBLE PERSPECTIVE
11.30 Restore & Reinforce Patient Trust By Tackling Root Causes, Building Confidence In AI, & Tailoring Engagement To Diverse Generational & Cultural Needs Across All Levels
- Go beyond surface-level discussions and identify the true roots of distrust, by analysing the underlying experiences, expectations, and system gaps that continue to erode patient confidence today
- As AI becomes embedded in healthcare, how can pharma address concerns around accuracy, bias, and privacy to strengthen patient trust in digital decisions?
- What does “trust” really mean across different patient groups? Unpack generational, cultural and experiential differences, instead of treating trust as a one-size-fits-all concept
11.30 Perspective 1
Swati Bhagat-Jones, Expert by experience/patient carer/physiotherapist
11.45 Perspective 2
Tom Bishop, Head of Patient Information, Anthony Nolan
Louise Jones, Health Information Manager, Anthony Nolan
Patient Perspectives In Treatment
PANEL Q&A
12.05 Transform Treatment Experiences By Prioritising Quality Of Life, Clear Guidance & Joined-Up Support That Mirrors The Real Challenges Patients Face In 2026
- From meaningful involvement in decisions to support that improves everyday life, and not just clinical outcomes, uncover what patients truly expect from pharma today
- As ageing populations prioritise quality of life over longevity, adapt and strengthen healthcare systems and pharma to deliver care that supports independence, comfort, and day-to-day wellbeing
- Unpack how patients define “real value” in 2026! What do clarity, joined-up care, and real-life solutions look like for people managing chronic conditions?
Isabelle Lonjon-Domanec, VP Clinical, Medical & Regulatory Affairs France, Novo Nordisk
Debra Montague, President Lung Cancer Europe, Founder & Chair ALK Positive UK, Lung Cancer Europe
Geoff Rollason, Patient Advocate
Victoria Clare, CEO, Ovacome
Anita Powell, Founder, Menopause Alliance CIC
Patient Centricity in Action: Best Practices for Internal Cultural Transformation
12.35 Patient-centricity Succeeds When Strong Leadership Drives Organization-Wide Engagement, Supported By Solid Policies, Tools, And Training, Resulting In Initiatives That Deliver Real Value To Patients’ Lives.
- Establishing the essential foundations; policies, toolkits, and training, to enable effective patient engagement
- Securing strong executive committee backing to drive an organization-wide patient-centricity campaign
- Delivering direct patient-impact initiatives that create meaningful value in patients’ lives
Ravindra Deore, Senior Medical Director, Global Medical Affairs, Mundipharma
12.50 Lunch & Informal Networking For Speakers, Delegates & Partners
13.20 Informal Discussion: The Future Of AI In Patient Engagement
What Should AI In Patient Engagement Actually Look Like? Exploring Barriers & Opportunities To Improving Patient Experiences With Strategic AI Support
- From ensuring information is evidence-based and accurate to increasing support or enabling speedier triage… what are the potential advantages and disadvantages of AI applications in patient support?
- Multi-stakeholder designs to determine how can AI be best used by pharma organisations to improve patient experiences and care
- What are patient sentiments around AI? How can fears be alleviated, trust increased and common pathways around AI adoption built?
13.50 Afternoon Co-Chairs’ Opening Remarks
Gunnar Schroefel, Senior Director Global Patient Advocacy, Daiichi Sankyo Europe GmbH
Cheryl Tackie, Lived Experience Patient Partner, SELCA
Driving Internal Change
PERSPECTIVE 2
13.55 Revitalise Internal Systems & Cultures To Prioritise Patient Voices, Enable Cross-Functional Collaboration & Deliver Inclusive Engagement That Powers More Patient-Centric Outcomes
- Embed patient engagement into everyday decision-making across organisations, rather than treating it as a standalone activity
- From intent to action! How can we overcome internal resistance, siloed working, and competing priorities to create aligned, patient-centred ways of working that accelerate meaningful change?
- With rising expectations for diverse patient representation, create and reinforce internal processes that ensure inclusivity is prioritised early and consistently across programmes
Sally Dews, Director Global Patients Partnerships, Pfizer
Patient Advocacy Collaboration
14.10 Maximise Long-Term Patient Advocacy Impact By Strengthening Transparent Communication, Unifying Efforts Against Misinformation & Powering Partnerships That Amplify Every Patient Voice
- Clarity builds trust! As patient expectations evolve, how can pharma and advocacy groups build stronger, more transparent communication channels that genuinely elevate patient needs?
- Steps to level-up communication strategies between pharma, healthcare providers and patient advocates, to eliminate the friction that still holds progress back
- Ensuring pharma is delivering the best practical support to advocacy groups to amplify diverse patient voices and drive their impact in health system conversations
- With misinformation and health inequalities on the rise, how can pharma better equip advocacy groups to amplify patient voices and drive meaningful changes?
Peter Goulding, Patient Advocate
Stakeholder Collaboration
PANEL Q&A
14.30 Secure Patient-First Partnerships Through Smarter Collaboration & Continuous Co-Design Strategies That Break Down Silos & Ensure Every Decision Reflects Real Patient Needs
- Break down long-standing communication silos between pharma, healthcare providers and patient groups, to build faster, clearer and more coordinated partnerships with all-round benefits
- With digital health, AI, and decentralised care reshaping the landscape, investigate how stakeholders can co-create solutions, share data responsibly, and streamline decision-making to improve patient experiences and outcomes
- Patients as co-designers… how can pharma shift from one-off consultation to continuous co-creation, making patients genuine partners in trial design and comms?
Valeria Nicoli-Carr, Director Patient Engagement, Roche
Calvin Johnson, Head of International Patient Safety, Bristol Myers Squibb
Peter Goulding, Patient Advocate
Abigail Amit, Senior Director – Patient Innovation & Engagement EUCAN, MSD
Subrenie Thomas-Smith, Executive Director, Global Lead Patient Engagement, Kyowa Kirin
Patricia Jones, Client Partnership Team Lead, Amiculum
Patient Experiences
PERSPECTIVE 2
15.00 Prepare For The Next Era Of Healthcare By Understanding Evolving Patient Expectations & Building Sustainable Systems That Support Patient Self-Management From The Get-Go
- From long waiting times to access issues, deep dive into what truly drives patient perceptions and how these shape the overall experience of health services.
- Beyond “do it yourself” healthcare; how can healthcare teams better support patients as they take on increasing responsibility for monitoring, digital tools, and long-term condition management?
- As demand grows for personalised, partnership-based healthcare, how can teams close the personalisation gap by strengthening shared decision-making and communication so every patient feels heard and understood?
Mila Ogalla Toledo, Patient Advocate, Board Member, Digestive Cancers Europe
15.15 Bonus Session; Reserved For Exclusive Conference Partner
15.45 Afternoon Refreshment Break With Informal Networking
Patient Engagement in Clinical Trials
PANEL Q&A
16.15 Ignite Trial Innovation Through Patient-Led Design, Seamless Experiences & 2027-Ready Metrics That Deliver Faster Recruitment, Better Retention & Stronger Outcomes
- As we shift from patient “reviewers” to patient “authors,” empower participants to co-create trial protocols, endpoints, materials, and digital tools from the very start
- How can pharma embed lived experience into early trial design to reduce burden, improve recruitment and retention, and ensure studies reflect real patient priorities?
- Deep-dive into 2027-ready KPIs that go beyond activity metrics, to uncover the real impact of engagement on outcomes and shift from counting participants to measuring true quality!
Gregory Makris, Senior Director in Global Medical Affairs, Cardiovascular and Thrombosis, Bayer
Anita Powell, Founder, Menopause Alliance CIC
Chelsea Moran, Senior Director, Patient Partnerships, Astellas
Nikul Bakshi, Research Involvement Lead, Parkinson’s UK
Patient Advocacy Collaboration
PERSPECTIVE 2
16.45 Maximise Long-Term Patient Advocacy Impact By Strengthening Transparent Communication, Unifying Efforts Against Misinformation & Powering Partnerships That Amplify Every Patient Voice
- Clarity builds trust! As patient expectations evolve, how can pharma and advocacy groups build stronger, more transparent communication channels that genuinely elevate patient needs?
- Steps to level-up communication strategies between pharma, healthcare providers and patient advocates, to eliminate the friction that still holds progress back
- Ensuring pharma is delivering the best practical support to advocacy groups to amplify diverse patient voices and drive their impact in health system conversations
- With misinformation and health inequalities on the rise, how can pharma better equip advocacy groups to amplify patient voices and drive meaningful changes?
Debra Montague, President Lung Cancer Europe, Founder & Chair ALK Positive UK, Lung Cancer Europe
Patient Engagement, Voice & Sensitivity
DOUBLE PERSPECTIVE
17.00 Boost Holistic Patient Engagement Through Genuine Listening, Authentic Understanding & Meaningful Actions That Truly Reflect Diverse Patient Needs
- Match the pace of engagement to patient needs and not industry timelines, while recognising that patients are also managing their own conditions
- Patient engagement grows when people feel genuinely heard and respected, so how can we train our staff to better listen and act on what truly matters to them?
- AI with a heart! Design and implement AI-driven engagement that supports, not replaces, compassionate and sensitive communication across diverse patient groups
- With patients wanting more control over how and when they engage, how can pharma create flexible approaches that respect individual needs and reduce burdens?
17.15 Perspective 1
Neil Betteridge, Patient Advocate, Senior Director, Global Alliance for Patient Access
17.30 Perspective 2
Victoria Clare, CEO, Ovacome
Measurement & Impact
17.45 Supercharge 2026 Success & Move Beyond Activity Metrics & Shift Towards Patient-Driven Standards, By Leveraging Transparency, Outcome-Led Measurement & Proof Of Real-World Change
- Patients often give feedback without seeing meaningful change, so how can pharma create clear transparency loops that show exactly how patient insights shaped decisions, priorities, and outcomes?
- Outcomes over outputs! Analyse the metrics that truly capture the impact of patient engagement beyond activity counts, and how organisations can measure what actually matters to patients, clinicians and regulators
- Quality not quantity… 2026 demands a new approach to measurement, where engagement success is defined by patient-defined quality outcomes and not the volume of touchpoints
Catherine Brant, Advocacy and Engagement Lead, Novo Nordisk
18.00 Afternoon Co-Chairs’ Closing Remarks & Official Close Of Conference
Gunnar Schroefel, Senior Director Global Patient Advocacy, Daiichi Sankyo Europe GmbH
Cheryl Tackie, Lived Experience Patient Partner, SELCA