A conversation with Fernando Diez, Scientific Business Development Manager and Justin Kalafat,  Business Development Manager – ACG Worldwide.

Fernando Diez

Fernando Diez holds a degree in chemistry followed by an MBA. He is responsible for creating new business opportunities outside of the formal review/tender process and collaborate with external researching institutes and R&D centres. Major part of his career was dedciated to pharmaceutical industry and have worked with renowned multi-national companies in past.

Justin Kalafat

Justin Kalafat is responsible for collaborating with pharmaceutical industry for capsule business. Prior to joining ACG in 2014, his background includes degrees in chemistry and roles within the generic pharmaceutical industry in quality control and procurement. His experiences enable key strategies to be developed with customers, R&D focused institutions and universities on the technical aspects of capsules as a dosage form solution.

BRW: What do you hope the audience will learn from this webinar?

Fernando / Justin: This webinar has been designed to enable audience to understand the capsules based inhalation technology. The webinar will provide a comprehensive overview of the benefits of capsules in dry powder inhalation.

Also, wide acceptance of cDPI over other inhalation techniques would be highlighted. cDPI is not only being used for the treatment of COPD and Asthma, but, it is also being explored as an effective option for treating many other systemic diseases.

Through this platform we wish to showcase ACG’s ability to offer end – to – end solution when it comes to Capsule Based Dry Powder Inhalation.

BRW: What discussions do you look forward to having with the audience? 

Fernando / Justin: It would be interesting to discuss challenges that the audience is facing while developing products / techniques for capsule based dry powder inhalation. We, at ACG are capable of substantially contributing to the needs of our customers.

BRW: What do you enjoy most about your role? 

Fernando: The possibility to make understand and explain a sophisticated technology to all the audience.

Join Fernando Diez and Justin Kalafat on the 9th November for a webinar entitled ‘Capsule Based Dry Powder Inhalation: A Holistic Approach for Effective Pulmonary Drug Delivery’  at 3PM London/10AM New York.

Register Here!

1.         What do you hope the audience will learn from this webinar?

The primary purpose of the webinar will be to help prepare participants for their clinical manufacturing projects by identifing the primary reasons why projects are delayed and the methods to avoid them.  Participants will learn about planning steps characteristic in clinical manufacturing and how to create a plan for choosing the right packaging and materials. We will also review legal aspects that are often stumbling blocks to advancing a project, as well as how to choose a high-quality CDMO for clinical scale-up manufacturing.

2.         What discussions do you look forward to having with the audience?

I would like to engage participants in a discussion about the specifics of their particular project, what they have experienced as major road blocks and how they have solved the problem. By openly sharing our experiences we can better anticipate our own clinical manufacturing problems and, hopefully, have a plan in place to avoid them before they occur.

3.         What do you enjoy most about your role?

I am in the unique position working hand-in-hand with many of the world’s leading innovative biotech firms that are responsible for bringing new and exciting products to the market. Every day brings new challenges and I enjoy not only having a front row seat, but also being an active participant in helping to resolve these challenges.

4.         How did you get into the industry?

My background is in clinical biochemistry having studied Biological Sciences at the University of East Anglia in the UK. I received an MBA at the University of Bayreuth, Germany and a PhD in Biochemistry at the Imperial College in London. I entered the biotech industry following postdoctoral roles in cancer and diabetes research. Since 2015, I have been Team leader of Product and Service Management for Vetter. In this role, I am responsible for the development of Vetter’s service offerings to optimally fit customer requirements.

5.         Where is your favorite place in the world and why

There are so many wonderful places around the world that it is difficult to pick just one. However, I am particularly fond of the Oberlausitz in Saxony, Germany. It is a wonderful, wild place with incredible wildlife and landscapes; a real hidden jewel.

A conversation with Nigel Ashton – European Specifications & Projects Team Leader at Hempel

Experienced Project Team Lead & Manager with a demonstrated history of working in the Protective Coatings industry. Skilled in Steel Protection Solutions, Process Control, Energy, O&G, Civil Infrastructure, Coatings Technology, and Engineering. Strong customer oriented approach, program and project management professional with an Engineering education focused on problem solving solutions.

What do you hope the audience will learn from this webinar?

I believe it will help the audience understand the importance of the update. How the changes will impact how Protective Coatings are specified and the importance of how Hempel, as a Global Manufacturer, can assist from our value proposition ensuring the additional changes can add an advantage of how to view Protective Coatings in the overall value chain. Updates to the Standard does not me extra costs but better value with the right partner.

What discussions do you look forward to having with the audience?

It’s imperative that the audience recognises and understands the importance of the update. Hempel have all the bases covered to enable the update to be a benefit and not a merely an issue, after all we are in a problem solving & solutions business so we welcome the issues that customers may have for discussion during and after the Webinar.

What do you enjoy most about your role?

My role & my Teams role is very diverse from supporting my internal customers & colleagues with support, direction & guidance every day. However the best part is enlightening our external customers how we can help improve the  way they think about preventing corrosion and why it should be considered very early in the value chain to make a significant and beneficial difference to the entire project design. Many of my customers welcome the fact that a specification service within Hempel exists supporting Sales when a long term project needs early impetus but may not result in a benefit to Hempel for some time, that’s why our Team exists.

How did you get into the industry?

A UK Protective Coating Industry leading Applicator offered me an apprenticeship in 1984 so I could also study my Engineering HNC, because it was 2km from my house helped but it is a really interesting industry that applied to all levels of Engineering and Industry once I learnt the effects & Cost of Corrosion on a global scale.

Where is your favourite place in the world and why?

That’s a tough one…I love Wales my place of birth and home for the last 50 years it’s outstanding natural beauty and beaches means I don’t have to travel far for vacation. However I have travelled throughout Europe and I was inspired by Athens, astonished by Istanbul, welcomed passionately by Barcelona, comfortable in Copenhagen, Brno, Gothenburg, Vienna & Frankfurt but London is a fantastic place, we as a family visit regularly so it has to be London.

Join Nigel Ashton on 7th November for a webinar entitled ‘ISO 12944 Revision Update’  at 2PM London/9AM New York.

Register Here!