Deep Biotech Community Connects

Hannah Regan

Engineering Biology Growth Lead, Department for Science, Innovation and Technology

Hannah is the infrastructure and R&D lead in the Engineering Biology Policy Team in the Department for Science Innovation and Technology (DSIT). She is responsible for ensuring infrastructure and R&D policy for engineering biology support growth of the UK’s sector.

Prior to joining the engineering biology team, Hannah worked in central DSIT, and for the Office for Life Sciences. Hannah holds a doctorate in biological engineering from the University of Sheffield.

Maddie Cass

Policy and Public Affairs Manager, BIA

What does your role at BIA involve?
I work on supporting the BIA's expansion into the deep biotech space. Deep biotech is the use of biotechnology to address some of the world's most pressing challenges, particularly the climate crisis. As a part of this I support the Engineering Biology Advisory Committee.

Previous experience & achievements
After studying genetics at Glasgow University, I gained international experience by living and working in Taiwan during the pandemic. In my previous job I provided policy advice on the education sector to head teachers and school governors.

If you could invite any scientist or entrepreneur to dinner, who would it be and why?
I would invite the remarkable cytogeneticist, Barbra McClintock to dinner. Her pioneering work in genetics and her ability to challenge existing paradigms in the field have always been a source of inspiration.

Jane Wall

Managing Director, BIA

What does your role at BIA involve?
Strategic leadership of the organisation and oversight of P&L to ensure that BIA is a sustainable, successful, and ever-evolving association. Serving the needs of existing members, growing new communities, and increasing member benefit; producing sector-leading thought leadership and events, growing influence, reach and impact.

Previous experience & achievements
25 years of experience managing teams in academic publishing and membership organisations: providing strategic and editorial direction combined with business acumen; driving operational, organisational and community development, profitability, and innovation. Previous roles at Oxford University Press, Taylor & Francis (Informa PLC), Oxford Brookes University, Fire Protection Association and Food and Drink Federation. Jane holds a first degree in Italian and European Literature from Warwick University, MA in Social Anthropology from SOAS and MBA from Oxford Brookes Business School.

If you could invite any scientist to dinner, who would it be?
Galileo Galilei: having been slightly obsessed with Italian culture and the Renaissance, I was fascinated by Florence, the Medicis and their patronage of artists and scientists. I am always in awe of the bravery and foresight of individuals willing to push human understanding beyond what was/is generally acceptable at the time: Galileo was willing to risk the ire of the Inquisition and to live condemned as a heretic in times when the punishment was extreme – to become the ‘father of modern science’.