In her current role, Emily partners with biotechnology companies to bring new and emerging life science technologies to market. She frequently works on projects that require creative solutions to scale up from preclinical development to commercial production. Emily holds degrees in both engineering and science, providing her with a unique and well-rounded technical perspective.
Emily is an active member of ISPE. She currently serves as Secretary of the Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products Community of Practice and is part of the authoring team for the ISPE mRNA Good Practice Guide. She is also a frequent presenter at ISPE, Parenteral Drug Association, and other international conferences.
Outside of work, Emily is busy raising six children, ages 8 to 18. When not chauffeuring them to various activities, she enjoys traveling. In the last couple of years, she has traveled to bucket-list destinations including Japan, Peru, and Colombia.
How did your career journey unfold?
By degree, I am a double major in chemical engineering and biochemistry. I began my career straight out of school at a consulting engineering firm as a process engineer. I learned the business by taking on a wide variety of projects and roles, including two years supporting facility start-up on a construction site, which provided practical, hands-on experience across the project life cycle.
Over the years, my work has focused first on design of biologics facilities, including mAbs and vaccines, and later on new modalities, including C>s, RNA therapeutics, and other emerging technologies. My most recent challenge is understanding the nuances of regulatory expectations when designing facilities that have to meet international compliance standards.
What do you enjoy most about your work?
What I enjoy most about my work is being in a central role that has allowed me to collaborate and learn from engineers across every life sciences office in our company. This position keeps me in a constant state of learning, which I value both professionally and personally.
I also take great satisfaction in mentoring and developing junior engineers, helping them build the skills and confidence needed to advance in their careers. As a woman in a traditionally male-dominated industry, I’m proud to serve as a role model and to support other women in engineering, contributing to a more inclusive and diverse community.
What is a project you’re proud of?
Over the past year and a half, I have served as one of the Chapter leads and authors for the ISPE mRNA Good Practice Guide, an international collaboration with a diverse team from many countries and backgrounds. Working with this group has been an invaluable learning experience; I have broadened my technical knowledge and formed meaningful new connections and friendships. I was proud to have been a part of the team that presented the guide to the industry at the 2026 ISPE Europe Annual Meeting in April.
What do you enjoy most about being a member of ISPE?
The best part of being an ISPE member is the opportunity to connect with others in the industry, which has led to lasting professional relationships as well as personal friendships. I have been a member for more than 25 years (since my college days!), and ISPE has been a constant part of my career journey and evolution.
Through conferences, committee work, and content development, I have gained countless learning opportunities and exposure to new ideas, best practices, and diverse global perspectives.
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