Event
BHBIA Virtual Event 2025 - Sustainability in the Pharma Industry
Virtual Event - via Zoom
Thursday 04 September 2025, 14.30-17.00
Hear from pharma and agency experts on reducing emissions, tackling supply chain challenges, and progressing toward Net Zero. Learn what pharma needs from its partners — and how agencies can lead the way. Whether you're just starting out or already driving change, this session offers practical insight, inspiration, and support.
Sustainability is no longer just a “nice to have” — it’s both a business and a societal imperative. As healthcare business insights evolves, so too must our priorities, our practices, and our partnerships. This virtual event, hosted by the BHBIA Sustainability Committee, brings together pharma leaders, agency pioneers, and the business insights community to share real-world approaches to sustainable transformation in our sector. Whether you're leading change, just getting started, or simply feeling a personal responsibility to do more, this event is for you. It’s an opportunity to build a more sustainable future together. We encourage shared learning and honest reflection. Let’s lead by example — for our industry, our clients, and the planet.
Who should attend?
Anyone working in the healthcare business insights community who:
- Wants to understand the impact of sustainability on our industry
- Aims to support their company’s Net Zero goals
- Feels a personal drive to help protect the planet
- Wants to show leadership on sustainability
- Is looking to build community and collaborate across the industry
What you'll learn
- Why sustainability matters for our industry
- What’s happening across Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions and why the supply chain is critical
- What pharma companies need from their partner agencies and suppliers
- What difference all this effort is making
- Why collaboration is key to industry-wide change
Agenda and Speakers
To see full details of the day and detailed timings please expand the section below:
14:30 - BHBIA Introduction - Paula Scott, BHBIA Engagement Officer
14:35 - Pharma’s path to Net Zero - Industry Roundtable and Q&A
A panel of pharma experts will discuss industry-wide sustainability efforts, including key priorities, common challenges, and progress being made around Scope 3 emissions and decarbonising the supply chain. You’ll gain practical insight into what pharma companies are doing to drive sustainability and what this means for the agencies and partners they rely on to help meet their goals.
Speakers - Koen Union, Anja Møller Asgaard and Darren Smith
Moderator - Lorna Kirman
15:35 - Break
15:45 - Walking the talk – Agency Case Study and Q&A
Purdie Pascoe will candidly share their journey as an agency navigating sustainability, from internal commitment to tackling challenges and achieving EcoVadis certification. This will be a powerful, practical look at the agency-side sustainability journey with opportunities to ask questions and share your experiences.
Speakers - Guy Pascoe and Gemma Williams
16:15 – BHBIA Sustainability Guidance: Re-introduction & next steps
The BHBIA will reintroduce its Sustainability Guidance with
a renewed call for collective action across the insights community.
Speakers include:

Koen Union, Global Head of Market Research - UCB
Koen is Global Head of Market research & Insights at UCB after joining in 2007 as National Sales Manager in Belgium. Prior to UCB, he worked for Therabel and AstraZeneca for 16 years in different commercial roles. He made the shift to the insights space in 2012, first leading market research initiatives across Northern Europe, after which he led the NPS program on a global level. In 2016 Koen became European Head Market Research & Insights, transitioning into the Global Head of Market Research role early 2023.

Anja Møller Asgaard, Senior Project Manager - H. Lundbeck A/S
With over 20 years’ experience working at Lundbeck, Anja is currently responsible for the company’s climate strategy and strongly involved in double materiality assessments and CSRD reporting and requirements. She is skilled in project management, stakeholder management, climate strategy, footprint and reporting, EHS management system, EHS audits, EHS advising, EHS communication (Internal and external), environmental legislation and contact with authorities.

Darren Smith, Global Procurement - Astellas
Darren has 35 years’ experience in Procurement, both direct and indirect, and latterly 20 years in the pharmaceutical industry in varying Global Procurement and Procurement capability roles. In the last 6 years with Astellas, he has been managing their global 3rd party risk management system and Supplier Relationship Management Programme incorporating Sustainability GHG and scope 3 reduction. Darren is currently in a joint role with the company’s corporate sustainability team, supporting and establishing primary data collection and reporting capabilities.

Bors Hulesch, Captain – Brains&Cheek, BHBIA Sustainability Committee Chair and Board Director
I'm a social scientist, a change management consultant, a climate hawk on a mission, and a dad of three raucous boys. I enjoy explosive activity, whether at work or in sports. The most challenging aspect of my job is to sit still and be quiet. I have been a researcher since 1997 and some have called me a qualitative maestro. Understanding the inner workings of people is what I enjoy the most.

Lorna Kirman, Senior Director - Healthcare Research Worldwide (HRW)
Lorna has always been curious, making her well suited to a career in market research. She has been getting to the crux of the issue for clients for over 15 years, enjoying digging deep not only with doctors or patients to understand the answers, but also turning those skills to determining what the key questions are at the outset. With a strong focus on integrated insights, Lorna thrives on developing long-term strategic partnerships with her clients. Inside and outside of work, Lorna is a passionate advocate for a more sustainable world, committed to her own Zero Waste journey, and passionate about gardening.

Guy Pascoe, Director - Purdie Pascoe
Before co-founding Purdie Pascoe in 2008, Guy led the medical device practice of Synovate Healthcare for six years, now part of Ipsos. He has managed over 200 multinational studies in the medical device and diagnostics industry, including extensive work with 7 of the 10 largest companies. His experience is evenly split between qualitative and quantitative research. Recurring themes in Guy’s work include evaluating device implantation versus surgery, testing new therapy delivery methods and assessing next generation diagnostic techniques. In recent years, he has also gained significant pharma experience, including intravitreal therapies.

Gemma Williams, Business Services Executive – CSL CompuFile Systems Ltd
Gemma has 15 years’ experience across a range of disciplines including recruitment, sales and marketing, HR, and office management. Her qualifications include a first class BA (Hons) degree in English Literature and a Level 5 CIPD Diploma in Human Resources Management.
Online booking
BHBIA Summer Virtual Event is free for members to attend. Click on the register for event button below. Please note you must be logged in as a member to book online. If you belong to a BHBIA member company but don't yet have a log in please register now to join your company's membership.