Leadership Changes Announced for the 2026 ISPE Annual Meeting and Expo

The International Society for Pharmaceutical Engineering (ISPE) has recently unveiled significant leadership appointments for its upcoming Annual Meeting and Expo, scheduled to take place from October 18 to October 21, 2026. This premier event, which will be hosted in Washington, D.C., alongside a virtual attendance option, marks a pivotal moment for the ISPE community.

Appointments for 2026

Jose Caraballo-Oramas, the Founder and Principal of JCO Global Advisory LLC, has been appointed as the Executive Chair of the 2026 ISPE Annual Meeting and Expo. With his extensive background in quality systems and regulatory compliance, Caraballo-Oramas brings a wealth of knowledge that he accumulated during his tenure as Vice President of Global Compliance at Kite Pharma, a Gilead Company. His leadership is expected to guide the conference towards addressing the ever-evolving challenges in the pharmaceutical engineering sector.

Connie Langer, who currently serves as the Regulatory Intelligence Lead for Pharma Quality, Safety, and Environmental Operations at Pfizer, will assume the role of Conference Chair. Langer's expertise in regulatory affairs and her commitment to ensuring the industry's alignment with scientific advancements underline the significance of her appointment.

Theme and Objectives of the Meeting

Langer expressed the importance of the upcoming meeting, stating, "As scientific innovation accelerates and regulatory expectations evolve, organizations face the urgent need to adapt quickly. This year's conference aims to equip leaders with essential tools, insights, and connections to navigate uncertainties effectively." The primary theme, 'From Science to Systems to Patients,' is a testament to ISPE's commitment to ensuring that innovation ultimately benefits patients. This objective is of the utmost importance, as the pharmaceutical industry continues to evolve rapidly in response to a globalized environment.

The 2026 ISPE Annual Meeting will feature a diverse array of learning opportunities including keynote speeches, general sessions, technical discussions, and panel debates. Attendees can engage in specialized workshops and participate in the Global Regulatory Townhall, which encourages dialogue about regulatory challenges faced by the industry today.

The technical sessions will span five integrated program tracks, namely:
1. Digital, Data, and Decision Integrity
2. From Breakthrough to Bedside
3. Governance, Risk, and Readiness
4. People, Capability, and the Workforce of Delivery
5. Systems That Deliver Reliably

Caraballo-Oramas also emphasized the unique value of this conference by highlighting that it provides a valuable forum where professionals from various sectors—including science, engineering, quality, operations, and regulatory strategy—can interact and exchange ideas in real-time, tackling the industry's pertinent challenges collaboratively.

Ancillary Events

In addition to the core conference sessions, a variety of ancillary events will be featured to enhance the experience of participants. This includes the ISPE International Emerging Leader Hackathon, where fresh ideas and solutions are tested, as well as the 17th Annual ISPE 5K Run/Walk, promoting fitness and networking among attendees. Social events such as the Sunday Social, Women in Pharma Networking Event, and Thursday's Facility of the Year Awards Banquet will further contextualize the meeting's collaborative spirit.

For those interested in diving deeper into specialized topics, hands-on training courses on GAMP and commissioning and qualification are scheduled to occur directly after the conference on October 22 and 23.

Conclusion

The ISPE Annual Meeting and Expo serves as the largest gathering for professionals in the pharmaceutical engineering field, and with the recent leadership announcements, it is poised to deliver a valuable experience that is relevant and timely. To learn more about the event and to register, visit ISPE.org/26AM.

About ISPE

The International Society for Pharmaceutical Engineering is a global nonprofit organization committed to advancing scientific, technical, and regulatory practices across the pharmaceutical industry. With over 25,000 members around the globe, ISPE offers innovative solutions to complex industry challenges and fosters professional development in more than 120 countries. Established in 1980, the organization operates its headquarters in North Bethesda, Maryland, USA, alongside an operations center in Tampa, Florida.