Join us for a panel discussion featuring women leaders in science and technology as they explore the critical topic of AI ethics in the regulated life sciences. Our panelists will address transparency, bias, compliance, and responsible innovation.

Those with positions at the Director-level and above are invited to our pre-event panel with Slalom Consulting Beyond Transformation – Evolving into an Adaptive Organization with AI. Our speakers will share their insights on how AI is revolutionizing research, operations, and innovation, empowering professionals to work smarter, faster, and more effectively.

Note: Each ticket includes two drink vouchers.

Program 

Pre-event Executive Panel (Director-level and above only)
5:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.  Check-in and Networking
5:30 p.m. – 6:20 p.m.  Slalom Executive Panel: Beyond Transformation – Evolving into an Adaptive Organization with AI

Panel Discussion (all)
6:15 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.  Check-in and Networking for Main Panel Discussion
6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.  Panel Discussion: AI Ethics in the Life Sciences Industry
7:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.  Networking

Speaker Bios

Main Panel

Sharmila Bristol, Technology Strategist, Global Healthcare & Life Sciences at Slalom

Sharmila is an industry executive with global, multi-sector experience leveraging advanced technology to drive innovation and create substantial business value. She has leadership experience driving transformation at Fortune 500 and PE backed growth firms including McKesson, IQVIA, Microsoft and Javara Research. A strategic thinker, she has led the design and delivery of large-scale digital transformations and is recognized for her ability to simplify complex scenarios with practical execution strategies, for sustainable business success.

Paula Ramos, PhD, Senior DevRel and Applied AI Research Advocate at Voxel51

Dr. Ramos is a Senior Computer Vision Advocate Lead at Voxel51 and an expert in Computer Vision, Machine Learning, and Edge AI, with over 20 years of experience building technology that works in the wild — from Colombian coffee farms to international smart deployments. Her mission is to make AI accessible, practical, and impactful, with a focus on agriculture, healthcare, and sustainability. She's a passionate advocate for open-source, real-world applications and building solutions that empower people, not just machines.

Bina Thakkar, IT Manager for Observability and Monitoring at SAS

Bina spent over 30 years in software and IT across India and the U.S. and recently stepped back to master the AI revolution. As an AI strategist, she helps business owners translate complex artificial intelligence into clear roadmaps and competitive advantage. Most businesses know AI is important but don't know where to start and she helps bridge that gap with responsible implementation and practical results. Bina is deeply passionate about community, mentoring, and giving back. She volunteers with ekal.org, mentor youth and emerging women leaders, and love exploring new cultures through travel.

Heather Fraser, Director, Carolinas Life Sciences Industry Lead at Slalom, Moderator

Heather is a go-to-market leader with over 20 years of experience helping companies transform how they operate to achieve meaningful business outcomes. As the Life Sciences Industry Lead for Slalom in the Carolinas, she works with pharma, biotech, and clinical research organizations in the Triangle and beyond to drive better patient experiences, enhance the value of data, simplify processes, and drive value out of technology and AI. Heather brings deep expertise from both consulting and enterprise SaaS, with a passion for turning strategy into action and building high-performing teams. Outside of work, she’s also a certified 500-hour Power Yoga teacher who brings intention and a growth mindset to everything she does. 

Slalom Executive Panel

Sharmila Bristol, Technology Strategist, Global Healthcare & Life Sciences at Slalom

Sharmila is an industry executive with global, multi-sector experience leveraging advanced technology to drive innovation and create substantial business value. She has leadership experience driving transformation at Fortune 500 and PE-backed growth firms, including McKesson, IQVIA, Microsoft, and Javara Research. A strategic thinker, she has led the design and delivery of large-scale digital transformations and is recognized for her ability to simplify complex scenarios with practical execution strategies for sustainable business success.
 

Kerryn Cress, Senior Vice President, Operational Excellence & Delivery at Parexel

Kerryn has extensive experience in the pharmaceutical and clinical research industry. She has been the Senior Vice President, Operational Excellence & Delivery at Parexel since November 2022. Prior to this role, Kerryn worked as a Vice President at Premier Research, where she held two different positions: Vice President, Clinical Data Sciences and Vice President, Strategic Business Optimization. Kerryn has a Master of Business Administration and a Master of Sports Administration from Ohio University and a Bachelor of Science in Sociology from Virginia Polytechnic and State University.

Johanna DeYoung, Global Industry Lead, Healthcare & Life Sciences at Slalom

Johanna is a distinguished leader who spearheads the strategy and go-to-market direction for Slalom Life Sciences. With 20 years of dedicated experience, she has consistently demonstrated a customer-obsessed approach and partners with some of the world's leading Life Sciences companies to create compassionate patient experiences, drive top-line growth, and maximize the value of data, technology, and innovation. Johanna’s strategic acumen is instrumental in supporting the needs of Life Sciences customers across the value chain, delivering transformative value from molecule to market. Her expertise spans commercial strategy, M&A, customer experience, transformation, launch strategies, data strategies, market access, and field force enablement. Johanna’s strong executive-level relationships and ability to stay ahead of industry and therapeutic trends solidify her reputation as a thought leader and an international industry speaker.

Heather Fraser, Director, Carolinas Life Sciences Industry Lead at Slalom, Moderator

Heather is a go-to-market leader with over 20 years of experience helping companies transform how they operate to achieve meaningful business outcomes. As the Life Sciences Industry Lead for Slalom in the Carolinas, she works with pharma, biotech, and clinical research organizations in the Triangle and beyond to drive better patient experiences, enhance the value of data, simplify processes, and drive value out of technology and AI. Heather brings deep expertise from both consulting and enterprise SaaS, with a passion for turning strategy into action and building high-performing teams. Outside of work, she’s also a certified 500-hour Power Yoga teacher who brings intention and a growth mindset to everything she does.

Pricing Information

• Members: $25
• Slalom Team Members: $25
• Non-members*: $35

*Not a Member? Click here to purchase a WIB membership and gain access to our video library, mentorship opportunities, and more.  

Please read WIB's Code of Conduct and Refund Policy.

Note: A confirmation email will be sent after registration has been completed.

Maximum Capacity

120