Independent Non-Executive Director
BSc – Chemistry and Business
Skills and experience
Ms Whitaker brings valuable expertise to the Board as a seasoned healthcare leader and advisor with over 30 years’ global corporate experience spanning large pharmaceutical, biotech and speciality pharmaceutical companies, including clinical research and manufacturing organisations. She has held Board positions on a range of Nasdaq-listed clinical and commercial stage life sciences companies.
Ms Whitaker is an accomplished C-suite leader, most recently as Chair and CEO of Aerami Therapeutics. During her executive career she has held senior leadership roles at GlaxoSmithKline, Sanofi and Bausch Health Company. Ms Whitaker holds a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry and Business from the University of North Alabama.
Career summary
Ms. Whitaker serves as the Chair of QurAlis Corporation (from June 2022) and as a Non-Executive Director of Byrn Pharma LLC (from September 2021), Trinity Life Science Partners (from January 2022), Bespak Limited (from May 2024) and ICON Plc (from July 2024). She most recently served as Non-Executive Director on the boards of Lisata Therapeutics Inc (from October 2020 to August 2022), Curio Digital Therapeutics Inc (from April 2021 to May 2023), Orasure Technologies Inc (from November 2021 to May 2023), Faron Pharmaceuticals Ltd (from April 2021 to September 2023) and Ergomed Plc (from June 2022 to November 2023).
Ms Whitaker was previously CEO and Chair of Aerami Therapeutics Holdings Inc (during October 2018 to July 2024), CEO and Director of Vast Therapeutics Inc (formerly Novoclem Therapeutics Inc) (from February 2018 to April 2018) and earlier in her career, Ms Whitaker held senior executive leadership positions at GlaxoSmithKline (from 1992 to 2011), Sanofi (from September 2011 to July 2014), Bausch Health Company (from May 2015 to January 2017), Synta Pharmaceuticals (now Madrigal Pharmaceuticals) (from July 2014 to May 2015) and held multiple senior roles for private and public development-stage companies.
Committee memberships
- Audit and Risk Committee
- People Committee