The BioStrata Team

Clare Russell BSc, PhD

Co-founder & Chair of the Board

With a physiology, immunology and medical research background, coupled with many years in agency, Clare dovetails in-depth scientific understanding with extensive commercial insight to provide targeted and effective campaigns. She truly understands the challenges and needs of the sector from the bench scientist and PI, to the pharmaceutical executive and investor. This allows her to create informed marketing strategies that communicate the ‘true’ benefits, directly to the decision makers. Clare brings with her significant knowledge of strategy development, branding and creative development, public relations, advertising and lead generation programmes on a global level. Ultimately though, Clare is a networker and a people person whose wholehearted approach excites others. Her smile, energy, and drive make things happen for her clients, whatever their needs.

Clare has experience across a multitude of CRO/CMO, healthcare and pharmaceutical technology clients, including Thermo Fisher Scientific, WIL Research, Olympus Diagnostics (now part of Beckman Coulter), Regent Medical (now part of Molnlycke Healthcare), Dow Microbial Control, ATCC, Bioquell and Axis Shield, to name just a few, Clare is well equipped to lead winning marketing strategies across a broad range of sectors.

Paul Avery BSc, PhD

Co-founder & CEO

With over 10 years of biology experience spanning a degree in Genetics, a PhD from Cambridge University in molecular biology, medical research into the pathology of arthritis and the study of gene regulation during fruit fly development, Paul truly understands the research environment. After turning his attention to marketing, he quickly developed an in-depth understanding of what it takes to help make a success of products and services in the areas of life science and biotech. Molecular biology is one of his sweet spots, having worked with companies such as Oxford Gene Technology, Toray Inc, Plexpress and Illumina.

Paul lives and breathes marketing strategy. That’s great for both BioStrata and our clients, as we can tap into his dedication to learning about the latest tactics and use it to help drive cutting-edge programmes for our clients. When it comes to creating interesting and engaging stories, delivered in novel ways that truly capture audience attention, he’s your man. His goal is to make the expertise and value you offer so well known and respected in your industry that your customers start seeking you out… not the other way around.

Kris Davies

Managing Director & COO

Kris's drive and can-do attitude coupled with his extensive understanding of agency operations and EOS® (entrepreneurial operating system) has allowed him to build award winning, high performing agency teams. With a background of competing internationally in athletics before moving into sales and marketing, and eventually the independent agency space, Kris has a wealth of experience in successfully growing and scaling an agency from its first recruits through to industry leaders.

As a qualified coach and mentor, Kris is passionate about enabling teams and individuals to achieve their potential. Kris describes himself as a textbook EOS® Integrator adept at resolving issues, removing obstacles and heightening accountability. A strategic thinker with a firm grip on day-to-day operations, Kris is well placed to ensure that BioStrata's people are happy and successful, that it's clients receive the best services and results, and its reputation is enhanced within the wider industry.

Outside of work, Kris is passionate about spending time in the mountains having been born and raised in beautiful Wales, whether that's rock climbing and hill walking with his 2 children or taking on more challenging ascents in Europe. He has also been spotted covered head-to-toe in mud at the occasional Tough Mudder and Spartan race.

Simon Guest

Client Services Director

A skilled team leader, creative thinker and strategic marketing professional, Simon has planned and delivered multimillion-dollar international marketing programmes for leading brands across a wide variety of industry sectors.  

His drive for marketing effectiveness, combined with his brand development and multi-channel communications experience, enables Simon to support BioStrata’s clients with data-driven insight, strategic planning and campaign activation to amplify their message, inspire audience engagement and optimise response.

Building and nurturing high performing teams is Simon’s mission. His primary motivation is to bring together client and agency specialists to collaborate, plan and create marketing solutions that overcome business challenges and achieve commercial objectives.

In his free time, Simon enjoys spending time with his family, travelling, supporting his football team, attempting to play golf and motivate himself to exercise.

Jo Butler

Senior Account Director

Jo has worked with many multinational organisations within B2B technology industries, focusing on the creation of quality content and ensuring this is maximised within a campaign to drive results, whether the objective is inbound leads, nurture or pure brand awareness. A cross-platform media specialist, Joanne’s straightforward and considered approach helps clients to focus on how to best engage with their target audience. She believes that any campaign should begin with a solid understanding of the audience and the differing personas within it, bringing a strategic, insight-based approach to all activities.

Her calm, honest and down-to-earth approach along with a sense of responsibility, fun and excitement, make Joanne a trusted advisor to her clients and colleagues alike.

Adrienne Walder

Senior Account Director

Starting her career in London in one of the world’s most prestigious advertising agencies, Adrienne gained a strong grounding with a particular focus on brand positioning, advertising strategy and delivering campaigns tailored to target market behaviour. She has a uniquely rounded marketing skillset honed through working for renowned multinational advertising, media, and public relations agencies, in addition to boutique healthcare and life science marketing companies. Adrienne's skillset encompasses strategic marketing planning, brand development, market research, advertising, digital and inbound marketing, public relations, sponsorship and events.  

Jessica Grant

Senior Account Director

With 15 years of experience in tech B2B agencies, Jess has a background in developing full-service marketing plans with expertise in strategic program development, public relations, advertising, demand generation and nurturing, social media and content strategy. She believes that any program should start with a strong strategy and clear objectives that serve as the North Star for all activities. Jess uses her years of experience to drive impactful results for her clients and is always looking for ways to go above and beyond expectations. She loves translating complex technologies into engaging stories and is excited to use her marketing skills to help companies make positive impacts in the healthcare and medical fields.

Oliver Anscombe-Cox BSc, MRes, DIC

Senior Account Manager

Ol graduated from Imperial College London in 2015, where he completed a master’s degree in cancer biology. His research background is based on understanding how cancer spreads throughout the body, including the roles played by microRNAs and transmembrane proteins in the cascade. Nowadays, Ol can be found helping his clients set the strategy for their inbound and digital marketing initiatives – whether for lead generation or nurturing via a range of content marketing approaches, or for turning their website into an SEO and conversion powerhouse.

Jean-Pierre Joubert BSc (Hons)

Senior Account Manager

With a background in biological sciences, majoring in microbiology at the University of KwaZulu Natal in Durban, South Africa, JP worked as a laboratory manager in public aquaria for 12 years.

When he moved to the UK in 2016, JP went on to make a career change to product management and marketing within start-up biotechnology companies. Since then, he has brought multiple disruptive technologies to market as product manager, whilst as a marketeer managing a range of projects from marketing campaign design and social media engagements to overseeing the implementation of CRM systems.

Rachael Young BSc

Senior Account Manager

Before graduating in 2017, Rachael wrote her dissertation on personalised cancer therapies and is particularly interested in health care and the regulatory environment of the pharmaceutical industry. While studying for her degree, Rachael developed a love for communicating science to a wide audience, involving herself in science outreach projects in schools around the UK. After graduating, she taught science as a teaching assistant and tutor, inspiring her students with her enthusiasm and passion.

With her broad background in biochemistry, diverse experience in talking about complex science in an engaging way, and drive to get to the heart of the technologies and solutions advancing the industry, over the last 5 years Rachael has been utilising her skills to help her clients communicate their work effectively and make an impact in their field. 

Harkiren Kooner BA

Account Manager

Following the completion of her degree in marketing at Nottingham Trent University, Harkiren has gained experience of successful marketing practices across a variety of sectors in both SME and corporate environments. 

In her previous role at an events service organisation, she created and executed marketing strategies for clients across a number of different verticals, including the life sciences. Harkiren has experience ranging from developing effective marketing plans and raising brand awareness through both digital and traditional marketing methods, to supporting growth through lead generation activities.

After undergoing theoretical and practical training, Harkiren completed her Chartership with the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM).

April Taylor BSc

Account Manager

Upon completion of a Biomedical Science degree from Anglia Ruskin University, April set out to explore the drug development industry by working in a CRO as a microbiologist before transitioning into the large molecule bioanalysis team. Working on regulated pre-clinical and clinical sample analysis projects using immunoassays to detect and quantify levels of drug in the body, April eventually specialised in observing the immune response and detecting the presence of anti-drug antibodies produced from compound exposure. Her keen understanding of the drug development process allows April to really get to grips with the industry’s challenges, which helps her connect to her clients’ audiences.

Nicole Anscombe-Cox BSc, MSc

Account Manager

Nicole’s dissertation research centered around monitoring the side effects of nutritional supplements taken before and during physical activity. Following her degree, she found that her proficiency for applying a detail-oriented scientific approach was applicable to a wide range of disciplines, from procurement to customer service. Now she is utilising her diverse toolkit to help her clients maximise the reach of their marketing efforts.

Anna Willis BSc, MSc

Junior Account Manager

Anna completed a degree in chemistry for drug discovery at the University of Bath before studying for her master’s in management at Loughborough University. During her undergraduate degree, she spent a year in industry gaining technical experience. Anna’s final year project was focused on the synthesis of antiretroviral drugs for the treatment of HIV.

With a diverse background combining her scientific knowledge, analytical skills, and business acumen, this enables Anna to approach her work with a unique perspective to meet the dynamic needs of our clients.

Abby George

Senior Content Editor

As Content Editor, Abby is responsible for ensuring the quality of the content we create for our clients is ridiculously good. By combining her extensive account management and writing experience, she is a multi-skilled individual who uses her proven content strategy and copywriting expertise to scrutinize Inbound marketing and PR collateral, from animations to technical trade articles.

Dedicated to delivering value to our clients, Abby works closely with the account teams to identify where we can repurpose content to improve efficiencies and help budgets go further. She also keeps up-to-date with the latest best practices and trends, such as the ever-changing requirements for SEO copywriting. Abby thrives in the busy, varied atmosphere of agency life and gets a real buzz from being able to combine her love of all things science with her passion for communication.

Tom Hope BSc

Science Writer

After completing his degree in Neuroscience at King’s College London, Tom worked as a research assistant at the University’s Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience. During his dissertation, Tom explored the efficacy of delayed responses to Single Pulse Electrical Stimulation (SPES) as a biomarker of the epileptogenic zone and published a short research abstract on the topic. His research poster was also presented at the 32nd International Epilepsy Congress in Barcelona. As a research assistant, Tom gained a deeper insight into the world of academic research and its associated challenges. Tom now brings his analytical mindset and natural flair for communications to BioStrata to ensure that innovators in the life science sector are engaging with their audiences in the most impactful way.

Emma Radoux MChem, PhD

Science Writer

As a Science Writer with a strong background in scientific publishing, Emma enjoys writing across a range of styles and topics. She has experience producing a diverse range of materials including educational resources, general interest pieces and news articles. Emma is driven by engagement with the scientific community and co-organised one of the largest global Twitter poster conferences for researchers in the chemical sciences.

Prior to starting her writing and editing career, Emma obtained an MChem degree in Chemistry from the University of Liverpool which included an industrial placement at AstraZeneca. She went on to complete a PhD from the University of Cambridge, where her research focused on developing new chiral organocatalysts. Outside of the office, Emma enjoys experimenting with new cooking recipes, growing chillies and looking after her mischievous cats.

Leigh Dilley

Paid Media Manager

With over 15 years’ marketing experience, including eight dedicated to the Life Science arena, Leigh prides herself on building strong professional relationships with clients and suppliers alike to successfully fulfil objectives and deliver quality results every time. Dedicated and meticulous; from campaign planning, creative development and studio management, through to advertising, sponsorship and events, Leigh is always seeking new innovations to help drive and improve business practices and procedures whilst maintaining a tight focus on requirements.

Lauren Barham

Senior Marketing Manager

As Senior Marketing Manager, Lauren plays a leading role in managing BioStrata’s internal marketing strategy, ensuring our own marketing is as ridiculously good as we deliver for our clients.

With over a decade of hands-on​ marketing experience and a CIM qualification from the Cambridge Marketing College, Lauren’s breadth of skills includes building brands, leading marketing strategies and developing integrated campaigns across the full marketing mix.

Blending her interests in psychology with the world of marketing, Lauren is passionate about connecting audiences and driving results. Prior to joining the team at BioStrata Lauren spent nearly 4 years within the life sciences software industry managing multi-channel marketing.

Lynne Thompson ACMA

Finance Manager

Lynne’s aim is to provide BioStrata with a finance service that is efficient and effortless for all those who interact with us. She strongly believes that growing confidence in the services that finance provides is the key to a successful team. She says: “If we can do a ridiculously good job and try to get it right the first time, confidence grows and the wider team can focus on the business deliverables”. She is passionate about the positive impact a well-run finance function can bring and will strive for continual improvement through her energy and enthusiasm for success.

Caroline Barley AssocCIPD, MHFA

People & Culture Manager

Caroline has expertise in a range of HR, People and Culture disciplines. These include mentoring managers and advising on processes and procedures to ensure consistency and compliance in line with current legislation, as well as planning and implementing a HR strategy that is aligned with BioStrata’s business goals and vision.

Caroline also champions change in workplaces to encourage and promote good mental health amongst a business’ most valuable asset: its people. She does this by focusing on employee engagement and wellbeing, including mental health awareness. With experience in international business, Caroline has learnt to adapt to multicultural needs, ensuring best practice is always at the forefront. As Caroline says: “People are my passion and seeing a motivated and driven team succeeding in their roles is the biggest reward I can imagine”.