New perspectives on ethics ….
Doing novel, difficult and dangerous – perfectly ….
In conversation with Fiona Cruickshank and Ian Davis of SCM Pharma
Date: 11 September 2012, registration 12:00, for - 12:30 start (with a light lunch) 2pm close
Where: Research Beehive, Level 2, Old Library Building, Newcastle University
Free
“Involvement in a company like SCM Pharma requires both moral courage and a good brain. Ian and I will be sharing some of the personal ethical dilemmas we’ve faced in a highly regulated industry, and the opportunities an innovative company like ours offers to resourceful and clever people. Please join us for a thought-provoking lunchtime session.”
Fiona Cruickshank
Newcastle University Business School and the Bridge Club Ltd to host the latest instalment in the Ethics Forum series:
The next Ethics Forum will provide a revealing insight into the ethical dilemmas faced within one of the region’s most innovative drugs companies; one that prides itself on doing novel, difficult and dangerous – perfectly.
Fiona Cruickshank OBE and Ian Davis, from SCM Pharma, will take the audience through the ethical dilemmas this pioneering and agile company has faced, within their highly regulated industry. Fiona Cruickshank OBE, is the founder of SCM Pharma, a North-East based contract drug manufacturer that acts as an outsourced partner to pharma, biotech, medical device and other healthcare firms.
Ian Davis is the senior technologist and was newly qualified as a pharmacist when he chose the fast-paced, medium-sized company, SCM Pharma, as his first employer.The drugs that SCM Pharma manufactures make a difference to some of the sickest and most vulnerable individuals in society. The business lives of the SCM Pharma team are finely balanced between social responsibility and the need to produce revenues in the cut-and-thrust world of innovative business.Fiona and Ian have both made bold career choices. Though highly qualified, each rejected the PhD journey and made industrial pharmacy, and innovative business, their career of choice.
Entrepreneur Fiona Cruickshank started her career in large multinational corporate pharmaceutical companies and, as she was on the way up the management ladder, she rejected ‘the corporate shape’ as it didn’t suit her. Instead she learned the ropes of smaller business, eventually starting up on her own with The Specials Lab, which she built up and eventually sold. She spun out SCM Pharma in 2008, and is a non executive chairman of the company.
We live in a climate where only 10% of postdocs get permanent jobs in academia while industries say they lack qualified job applicants – and the world of multinational pharmaceutical business has changed radically.In SCM Pharma Ian has discovered a stimulating and varied career; from the earlist stages of this job he has had to hit the ground running: both applying his training to real industry problems and the weight of decision making. Like his colleagues who were doing PhDs, he was driven, committed and self-motivated, but he wanted to make a difference.
Fiona Cruickshank qualifications
Fiona Cruickshank OBE is a qualified pharmacist and Fellow of the UCL School of Pharmacy
Fiona’s current role as a non-exec director at SCM Pharma involves her supporting the board on strategic aspects such as the long term vision for the company, brand communications, alliances and breaking into new markets. Committed to supporting North East England’s local knowledge economy, Fiona is a member of the Advisory Board at Newcastle University Business School, a business mentor at Durham University and a former David Goldman Visiting Professor of Business Innovation at Newcastle University Business School. In 2010, she was awarded with an OBE following the unveiling of the Queen’s annual Birthday Honours List for services to business in the North East.
Ian Davis qualifications
Ian holds a masters in pharmacy (MPharm) and is a fully registered pharmacist with the GPhC (General Pharmaceutical Council). His current study is towards another MSc through Manchester University in industrial pharmaceutical sciences.
Attendance at this event is free but will be guaranteed on a first-come-first-served basis, click here Ethics Event Registration to book.
Operating under the ‘Chatham House Rule’ to encourage open discussion, the event will not be streamed or recorded for media purposes, and attendees are respectfully requested not to publish event commentary on social media channels.
Published: 6th August 2012
