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BGMA Names First Women’s Working Group Chair

• Accord’s Clara Carter takes up the role supported by Elaine Holisz from Advanz

The British Generic Manufacturers Association (BGMA), the representative trade association for off-patent medicines, has elected Clara Carter to be the first chair of the organisation’s new women’s networking group.

Clara, who is the UK Country Manager, Generics for Accord Healthcare, will lead the group supported by Elaine Holisz, Strategic engagement director at Advanz, who has been voted in as vice-chair.

The aim of the new group is to create learning and networking opportunities for women in the generic and biosimilar industry and to support them in their career development.

Clara said: “This is a really important association initiative which will cover a wide range of topics and issues. At its heart, I want it to be about identifying and nurturing talent and breeding confidence in future industry leaders. We will offer mentoring and speaker opportunities among a wide range of potential activities. I hope my own experience of working in the off-patent industry for more than 20 years will provide participants with practical insight and guidance.”

Diane DiGangi Trench, Country Head UK & Ireland for Sandoz and current chair of the BGMA, added: “Diversity is one of my personal and professional passions and I wanted to use my time as chair to support initiatives which would encourage and support this. The Women’s Networking Group will be a brilliant platform to encourage new voices in our industry and I am really looking forward to participating in the planned programme.”

Mark Samuels, Chief Executive, of the BGMA, said: “While the principal function of the association is focused on advocacy for the industry with Government and other key partners, it is also important we can facilitate other networking and shared experience opportunities. This will be a valuable working group which we hope will be a springboard for future leaders in our industry.”

ENDS

For further information about the BGMA please contact Jeremy Durrant on 07792918648 or email Jeremy.durrant@britishgenerics.co.uk

To read the BGMA Manifesto in full please visit here

About the British Generic Manufacturers Association (BGMA)

• The BGMA comprises members of the generic manufacturing supply industry, who account for approximately 85% of the total UK generic market by volume.
• They supply 4 out of 5 drugs used by the NHS.
• BGMA members include eight of the ten largest medicine suppliers to the NHS.
• A key feature of the strong generics industry in the UK is that it introduces competition to the supply of prescription medicines, making them more affordable to the NHS and enhancing their availability to patients.
• According to NHS figures (NHS Digital), more than a billion items are prescribed generically every year. The competition provided by generic medicines saves the NHS around £ 15 billion annually.