ISPE Unveils 2026-2027 International Board of Directors Election Results Amid Industry Expectations

ISPE Announces New Board Members for 2026-2027

The International Society for Pharmaceutical Engineering (ISPE) has officially revealed its newly elected International Board of Directors for the term of 2026-2027. These leaders are poised to take on their roles during the upcoming ISPE Annual Meeting and Expo, which will be held both in Washington, D.C., USA, and virtually, from October 18 to 21, 2026.

Executive Committee Appointments

At the helm of the board, Ylva Ek has been appointed as the Chair, bringing her expertise as the Founder of Robur Life Science Advisory AB. Joining her is David Churchward, who will serve as the Vice Chair, and is currently the Head of Operations Quality Compliance and External Affairs at AstraZeneca. Supervising financial matters will be Georg Singewald, PhD, serving as Treasurer and Global Head of Quality and Compliance at Roche/Genentech. The position of Secretary will be held by Gunter Baumgartner, Senior Vice President at Takeda Pharmaceuticals International AG. Rounding out the executive committee is Vivianne Arencibia, whose experience as Vice President at Lonza AG will assist in guiding the board as Past Chair.

Newly Elected and Re-Elected Board Members

The election also brought several other notable figures onto the board. Michele Ghinizzini, Senior Vice President at Sanofi, and Paige Kane, PhD, Associate Vice President at CAI, are among the newly elected members who will contribute their invaluable perspectives. In addition to them, Shanshan Liu from Fedegari and Vivien Santillan from Novatek International have also secured positions as board directors. Furthermore, some directors will be continuing their impactful work from previous terms, such as Jose Caraballo-Oramas, Liz Dooley, and Francesco Intoccia.

These appointees bring a wealth of knowledge and diverse experiences from various sectors of the pharmaceutical industry, fostering a robust leadership team to drive ISPE's initiatives forward during these pivotal years.

Leadership Transition and Ongoing Commitment

As the new members come on board, several directors are completing their service. Notably, Jeffrey Biskup, Victor Cruz, Norman Goldschmidt, and James Grunwald will step down after their dedicated contributions to ISPE. Their collective efforts have significantly shaped the organization and the pharmaceutical engineering landscape.

The elections were conducted by an independent third party, ensuring transparency and credibility in the process. ISPE remains committed to excellence in pharmaceutical engineering by incorporating innovative solutions and fostering collaboration across over 120 countries.

To find out more about ISPE, potential attendees are encouraged to visit ISPE.org and register for the imminent 2026 ISPE Annual Meeting and Expo. This event is not just a gathering but a platform for sharing knowledge and pioneering advancements in the pharmaceutical sector.

With the newly appointed board set to take the reins, ISPE is positioned to navigate the intricacies of the pharmaceutical landscape, addressing both challenges and opportunities with strategic foresight and collective expertise.

Conclusion

The 2026-2027 ISPE International Board of Directors promises to be a remarkable assembly of professionals dedicated to advancing pharmaceutical engineering. As they prepare to lead ISPE into a new era of innovation and regulation, their commitment to addressing industry challenges and fostering collaboration remains a top priority. This new governance represents a critical investment in the future of pharmaceutical engineering, aimed at making a significant impact on public health worldwide.