Can you describe yourself in three words?
- Pragmatic
- Supportive
- Decisive
You studied Biology at Baker University in Kansas. When did you realise that studying Biology was something you wanted to do?
Before dropping me off at university, my parents encouraged me to take courses that genuinely interested me. They said if I focused on something I enjoyed, it would lead me towards a job I enjoyed too. So that’s exactly what I did. I chose the classes that interested me and found myself gravitating towards biology.
I’ve always been naturally curious about science and the outdoors. Growing up, I spent a lot of time outside around animals and nature, so biology felt like a natural fit for me.
Looking back, I think following my curiosity really shaped the direction of my career. I took courses in microbiology and ornithology simply because I wanted to learn more about them, and that led me to where I am today.
How did your career path lead you to your role at TauRx?
After university, I moved from Kansas to Florida because I thought I wanted to pursue a career in marine biology. I’ve always loved the ocean and wanted to be somewhere close to the beach, so I made the move before fully deciding what I wanted to do next.
Within my first two months, I joined a start-up pharmaceutical company, which ended up shaping the direction of my career in ways I hadn’t expected. At university, I’d convinced myself I would never use chemistry again, but suddenly I found myself working as a chemist.
Because it was a start-up, everyone wore multiple hats and there was always something new to learn. I started out supporting the laboratory team but quickly became involved in validating instruments, writing procedures and supporting a wide range of laboratory activities, so it was a very valuable experience.
From there, I moved into roles across development chemistry and quality control within manufacturing environments, which broadened my experience in testing processes, instrumentation, documentation and regulated ways of working.
Over time, I realised I wanted to move beyond purely laboratory-based work and become more involved in quality systems and compliance. I became particularly interested in how companies maintain high standards and prevent issues before they happen.
That led me into quality assurance roles, including a position at Lancaster Laboratories in Pennsylvania, where I had the opportunity to work across microbiology, virology and chemistry departments, bringing together many of the skills and experiences I’d built throughout my career.
After moving to the UK, I continued building experience across the pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors, including consultancy work, which gave me exposure to a wide range of projects and organisations.
When the opportunity at TauRx came up in 2024, the chance to be involved in the potential commercialisation of what is still an investigational product was particularly exciting to me, as it was something I hadn’t experienced before, so it felt like a natural next step.
Tell us about your role as Head of Quality Assurance at TauRx and what drew you towards quality assurance
Over time, I realised that quality is very much a mindset. Early in my career, I used to read Food and Drug Administration warning letters and think about how many of the issues could have been avoided by following the right processes from the beginning. That was what first drew me towards quality assurance. I wanted to be in a position where I could prevent those issues from happening in the first place.
Something I enjoy about quality assurance is that it’s incredibly diverse and collaborative. A big part of the job is working with people across the business and helping them understand not just what needs to be done, but why certain processes and regulations are important.
No two days are ever the same for me. I support the whole organisation when it comes to Quality, working closely with our Chemistry, Manufacturing and Controls (CMC) team to make sure they have the right input to make informed decisions and meet their objectives in a compliant and effective way. I’m also involved in quality agreements and collaborate with vendors and external partners to ensure quality requirements are clearly defined and maintained throughout projects.
I support our contract manufacturing organisations by reviewing key documentation, including change controls, investigations, batch records and validation reports, helping to ensure everything is aligned and meets the required standards.
At the moment, while we await the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency’s (MHRA) outcome of the Marketing Authorisation Application for our potential oral treatment for Alzheimer’s disease, a key focus for me is preparing for the submission of a Wholesale Distribution Authorisation (Human Medicines) (WDA(H)) licence, which authorises the wholesale distribution of human medicines in the UK. This involves developing a GDP-compliant quality management system across the business and working closely with our named Responsible Person (RP) and Responsible Person for Import (RPi) to bring the submission together and ensure we are successful during the inspection.
A large part of my role is communication and problem-solving. Quality touches every area of the business, from operations to procurement to IT and to even external partners so, collaboration is essential. It’s about making sure the right guidance is in place to support decisions and maintain quality and compliance across everything we do.
What I enjoy most is that there’s always something different happening. It’s a fast-paced environment, but ultimately the role is about supporting colleagues across the business, providing the guidance they need to make informed decisions while ensuring we consistently maintain high standards in everything we do.
You've helped organisations prepare for regulatory inspections. What does that process typically involve?
At a high level, it’s about making sure a company can clearly demonstrate to regulators that it is consistently following the correct regulations and quality standards. For me, it’s about ensuring the business and its quality management systems are prepared at all times and that processes are being followed in a compliant and effective way across the organisation.
A large part of the process comes down to preparation. That includes making sure documentation is organised, procedures are up to date, teams understand their responsibilities and any potential issues have already been identified and addressed before an inspection takes place.
Ultimately, it’s about building quality and compliance into day-to-day operations, so being inspection-ready becomes part of how the business routinely operates.
What has been the main highlight of working at TauRx so far?
Seeing the passion that everybody across the company has for the product and the shared drive to get it to patients.
There’s a real sense that everyone is working towards the same goal and genuinely wants to make a difference for patients in the future.
What are the top two or three priorities for your role in the year ahead?
One of my main priorities for the year ahead is ensuring that we respond thoroughly, accurately and in a timely manner to the MHRA.
Another key focus is preparing for the submission of our WDA(H) licence, including the continued development of a GDP-compliant quality management system and working closely with our RP and RPi to support a successful submission.
Alongside this, I want to continue ensuring that all functions across the business receive the quality support they need to meet their objectives, helping to set the company up for a successful year ahead.
What is the best professional advice you can give, or you have been given?
One piece of advice that has always stayed with me is to be curious and never stop learning. I think it’s important to stay inquisitive, keep learning new things and continue challenging yourself throughout your career.
You never know where a new conversation, experience or interest might lead you, and sometimes the things you discover unexpectedly can end up shaping your path in ways you didn’t anticipate.
Another piece of advice I’ve always followed is the ‘Rule of the Seven Ps’: proper prior planning prevents pretty poor performance. It’s something I’ve carried with me throughout my career, and it still applies to so much of what I do today, particularly in quality assurance, where preparation, organisation and attention to detail are incredibly important.
Can you tell us something about yourself that would be a surprise to most people?
I’ve played golf since I was nine years old and, I co-founded the girls’ golf team at my high school.
In our second year of having the team, a team member and I placed at regionals and went on to compete at state level, which was a really exciting experience and probably something most people wouldn’t expect about me.
