ZA

About

A career built across disciplines—and borders.

I bring scientific depth, investment judgment, and global operating experience to the work of identifying and advancing consequential life-sciences innovation.

I am an internationally experienced executive operating at the intersection of biotechnology, pharmaceutical manufacturing, medical technology, and venture investment. Over more than 15 years, I have helped global businesses discover, assess, fund, and commercialize technologies with the potential to improve how healthcare is developed and delivered.

As Head of External Innovation for Integrated Biologics at Lonza, I shape the early external innovation portfolio and lead the path from strategic opportunity to partnership or investment. My mandate spans technology scouting, scientific evaluation, commercial assessment, transaction leadership, governance, and portfolio engagement.

My career combines board-level influence with hands-on execution. I have built senior teams, led global product organizations, worked alongside founders and venture investors, negotiated across legal and financial functions, and cultivated partnerships with leading universities and innovation centers.

This breadth is reinforced by my deep academic preparation: an Executive MBA from Cambridge Judge Business School, a PhD in Human Biology, and master’s degrees in Computational Engineering and Biomedical Engineering.

Career overview

Experience timeline

2022—Present

Head of External Innovation, Integrated Biologics

Lonza AG · Basel, Switzerland

I lead a senior transatlantic team responsible for external innovation and co-investment across biologics. I established portfolio governance, direct search and evaluation, and align R&D, licensing, venture, legal, finance, and business leaders through investment and partnership decisions.

2018—2022

Senior Investment Manager, Corporate Venture Capital

Carl Zeiss AG · Oberkochen, Germany

I developed investment strategies in digital health, AI-enabled diagnostics, and ophthalmology. I led scientific and financial diligence, startup valuation, investment committee recommendations, and transaction execution for Series A and B opportunities.

2016—2018

Global Product & Innovation Manager

Materialise N.V. · Leuven, Belgium

I directed strategy and growth for medical image-processing and digital surgical-planning software. I managed a 30-person global team, built academic collaborations, and introduced a pricing strategy that increased revenue by 50%.

2012—2015

Patent Engineer

Grünecker · Munich, Germany

I supported patent prosecution across medical technology, industrial applications, and life sciences, interpreting technical objections and advising clients on effective paths forward.

Education & executive development

My multidisciplinary foundation

  • Executive MBACambridge Judge Business School · 2026
  • Pharmacology: Drug Discovery & DevelopmentHarvard Medical School · 2024
  • Corporate FinanceLondon School of Economics · 2019
  • PhD, Human BiologyLMU Munich · 2012
  • MSc, Computational EngineeringTechnical University of Munich · 2008
  • MSc, Biomedical EngineeringAzad University, Science & Research · 2006

Core competencies

Deal-flow sourcingScientific due diligenceFinancial valuationDeal executionVenture investmentStrategic partnershipsPortfolio governanceBusiness developmentTeam buildingMulti-stakeholder leadership

Board & ecosystem leadership

I serve as a Board of Trustees and Economic Board Member at Switzerland Innovation, and hold board and advisory roles with Oxartis, Disulfican, Virtonomy, Elavity, Nucleate, and the Zürich venture ecosystem.

Recognition

I received the Cambridge University Directors Award (2026), the Cambridge Judge Director’s Scholarship (2024), and second place in the Biel/Bienne startup competition for Medicode VR (2018).

Professional philosophy

Rigor before momentum. Alignment before scale.

I approach innovation as both an evidence-led discipline and a human enterprise. I believe the strongest opportunities emerge when scientific merit, strategic relevance, commercial logic, and stakeholder conviction are tested together.

Mission statement

Accelerate science that matters.

My mission is to connect promising science with the partnerships, capital, governance, and leadership required to become durable platforms for growth and better healthcare.

Executive résumé

Review the full professional record.

Download the résumé for detailed career, education, award, and board information.

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