Our Board

I see the Proud Science Alliance as being a strong collective voice for the LGBTQ+ community in the health and life sciences sector. As a communications professional and member of GSK's LGBTQ+ networks leadership team, I see the power of like-minded individuals coming together to support one another and be a catalyst for change. I truly believe through the Proud Science Alliance we can raise the bar on LGBTQ+ inclusivity and increase awareness on the issues our community face.

Through the Proud Science Alliance, we have an incredible opportunity to collaborate across the pharma and life sciences industry to share best practices in breaking down barriers. By working together, we can stretch ourselves and our industry to become leaders in creating a culture of openness, tolerance, inclusion and diversity. I'm committed to ensuring that our current and future employees are equally valued, irrespective of their gender identity or sexual orientation, so they can bring their true self to work.

I believe we must go beyond a cultural baseline of tolerance to truly engage the full potential of LGBTQ+ employees. The inclusion goal must move toward an employee culture that positively celebrates the diverse perspectives brought to the workplace. Through the shared learning of the Proud Science Alliance network, we can enable a work environment across the sector that ensures psychological safety and supports positive visibility for LGBTQ+ employees, so that their diverse contributions can be celebrated.

As an LGBTQ+ Network Leader, I have seen how we can influence our organisations and actively work to ensure we are even more LGBTQ+ inclusive. Through stories told over the years by individuals who have benefited from these improvements, I know they have real, lasting impact to people, particularly those who identify as LGBTQ+. The Proud Science Alliance is a great opportunity to raise the bar of LGBTQ+ inclusion across our industry by sharing good practice and working together to achieve more than we could alone.

Proud Science Alliance - Space holder.

As Senior EDI Manager at the Academy of Medical Sciences, I've seen the transformative power of embedding equity, diversity and inclusion into every aspect of our work. From supporting marginalized groups in biomedical research to shaping internal culture and policy, I understand how intentional efforts create lasting change. The Proud Science Alliance allows us to amplify this work across the sector, ensuring LGBTQ+ voices are heard and valued in science and healthcare, while building partnerships that drive meaningful progress for our community.

James Kusena, PhD is a scientist, entrepreneur, and coach whose career spans the full arc from laboratory research to commercial leadership and people development. With deep expertise in cell and gene therapy, regenerative medicine, and bioprocess scale-up. He brings both scientific rigour and lived perspective about how innovation really happens — in people, teams, and systems He is the founder of RE:Works, an integrated coaching and consulting venture focused on helping individuals and organisations unlock clarity, alignment, and sustainable performance. He is also a visiting Biomedical Engineering Lecturer at UCL, and serves as an advisor for biotech and medtech companies such as CellClar and ReproGO. Most recently, he served as VP of Bioprocessing and Operations at a bioprocessing start-up, leading bioprocess R&D, quality management and company operations. He is a Royal Academy of Engineering Shott Scale Up Accelerator awardee and holds executive education credentials from the University of Oxford’s Saïd Business School and Harvard’s Division of Continuing Education. A qualified coach and committed EDI advocate, James is passionate about empowering people to achieve their personal and professional potential. As an openly queer Black man who has navigated science, entrepreneurship, and leadership across multiple contexts, he brings both rigorous evidence and lived experience to his work.