Following a BA in mathematics Sir Walter Bodmer did his Ph.D. in population genetics under Sir Ronald Fisher at Cambridge University and then post-doctoral work in molecular biology under Joshua Lederberg at Stanford. Sir Walter was on the faculty of the Genetics Department in the Stanford University Medical School from 1962 until 1970, ending up as a Full Professor and returned to England in 1970 to become Professor of Genetics at Oxford University. In 1979 Sir Walter became Director of Research, and later Director General, of the Imperial Cancer Research Fund. Sir Walter was Principal of Hertford College Oxford from 1996-2005. In 1974 he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society, an International Member of the US National Academy of Sciences in 1981 and Knighted in 1986. In 2013 Sir Walter was awarded a Royal Medal from the Royal Society for seminal contributions to population genetics, gene mapping and understanding of familial genetic disease.
Sir Walter Bodmer’s current major research interests are in (i) the fundamental genetics and biology of colorectal cancer and their potential applications, and ii) the characterisation and population distribution of genetic diversity in human populations.
His laboratory uses a panel of well characterised colorectal cancer (CRTC) derived cell lines to study the molecular basis of control of differentiation in CRC and explore the nature of the tumour micro-environment using mesenchymal and other normal cells derived from biopsy material. They are also developing T cell attracting bispecific monoclonal antibodies for CRC immunotherapy
Sir Walter has recently written on models that relate the ageing process to cancer and which predict the reasons for the decline in function of adult tissue stem cells. Another long-standing area is effective study of complex human multifactorial diseases and the approaches need to find their molecular basis.
Keynote
Thought Leadership
Biotech, Healthcare, Medtech, Academic
Simon Gottelier
Natixis Global Asset Management
With 20 years of industry experience, Simon is the Co-Manager of the Thematics Asset Management Water Fund. He is also a founder and owner of Thematics Asset Management. Prior to establishing the Company, he was the Co-lead manager of Pictet Asset Management’s Eur 5bn Water Fund. He joined Pictet in January 2016. Before joining Pictet, Simon worked for Impax Asset Management for over 12 years managing the Impax Water strategy, the BNP Paribas Investment Partners ‘Aqua Fund’ and a range of broader Environmental and Thematic equity products.
Keynote
Asset Management - Boutique
Thematic, Water, AI, Technology
Dr. Tobias Speck
Canvirex
Vice President of Product Development at CanVirex, Tobias is an experienced scientist in virology and cancer immunology specialised in the development of immunomodulatory oncolytic measles viruses.
Keynote
Private Company
Biotech, Healthcare
Mark Pearson
Fuel Ventures
Mark Pearson is an award-winning entrepreneur and investor. In 2006, Mark began his career in e-commerce. From an initial investment of £300 Mark grew MyVoucherCodes into the second biggest voucher code brand in Europe. The network served over 2 million users in 8 territories across Europe and South America. In 2014, Mark exited MyVoucherCodes for £55 million. He then went onto exit Lastsecondtickets, Playlists.net and Paddle, one of the UK’s fastest growing software companies. In 2015, Mark founded Fuel Ventures and has since invested in 40+ companies.
Keynote
Venture Capital
SaaS, Technology, Fintech
Douglas Polunin
Polunin Capital Partners
Prior to co-founding Polunin Capital Partners in 2001, Douglas was with Pictet Asset Management UK Limited for 13 years where he was initially tasked with setting up the emerging markets operations. As Head of Emerging Markets Investments and a Director of the firm, he was responsible for managing the PTF Emerging Markets Fund and the Eastern European Trust. Under Douglas’ direction, Pictet became a pioneer in investments in many Frontier Markets. Prior to joining Pictet in 1988, Douglas spent seven years with UBS, including time spent working in the firm’s Geneva and Zurich offices, and two and a half years in charge of Discretionary Portfolio Management in London. Douglas was brought up in Nigeria and Switzerland and graduated from Edinburgh University with a BSc (Honours) in Biochemistry. He also worked in forestry and is bilingual in English and French.
Keynote
Asset Management - Boutique
Thematic, Technology, Emerging Markets
Corporates
Company backgrounds and useful links.
Sir Walter Bodmer
"Following a BA in mathematics Sir Walter Bodmer did his Ph.D. in population genetics under Sir Ronald Fisher at Cambridge University and then post-doctoral work in molecular biology under Joshua Lederberg at Stanford. Sir Walter was on the faculty of the Genetics Department in the Stanford University Medical School from 1962 until 1970, ending up as a Full Professor and returned to England in 1970 to become Professor of Genetics at Oxford University. In 1979 Sir Walter became Director of Research, and later Director General, of the Imperial Cancer Research Fund. Sir Walter was Principal of Hertford College Oxford from 1996-2005. In 1974 he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society, an International Member of the US National Academy of Sciences in 1981 and Knighted in 1986. In 2013 Sir Walter was awarded a Royal Medal from the Royal Society for seminal contributions to population genetics, gene mapping and understanding of familial genetic disease.
Sir Walter Bodmer’s current major research interests are in (i) the fundamental genetics and biology of colorectal cancer and their potential applications, and ii) the characterisation and population distribution of genetic diversity in human populations.
His laboratory uses a panel of well characterised colorectal cancer (CRTC) derived cell lines to study the molecular basis of control of differentiation in CRC and explore the nature of the tumour micro-environment using mesenchymal and other normal cells derived from biopsy material. They are also developing T cell attracting bispecific monoclonal antibodies for CRC immunotherapy
Sir Walter has recently written on models that relate the ageing process to cancer and which predict the reasons for the decline in function of adult tissue stem cells. Another long-standing area is effective study of complex human multifactorial diseases and the approaches need to find their molecular basis.
" WFB photo in Lab copy.tiff ()
Keynote
Thought Leadership
Biotech, Healthcare, Medtech, Academic
Natixis Global Asset Management
Simon Gottelier
Thematics Asset Management is a specialist equity investor in actively managed global thematic strategies. It invests in a collection of markets that have the potential to grow at a rate superior to that of the broader global economy due to the long-term secular growth drivers that underpin them.
These drivers are supported by four global “primary forces” that are transforming our world: demographic changes, globalization, innovation and resource scarcity. With a complementary risk/return profile, the Thematics strategies are managed by a highly experienced and established team of investment professionals.
Thematics Asset Management are an affiliate of Natixis Investment Managers.
Keynote
Asset Management - Boutique
Thematic, Water, AI, Technology
Canvirex
Dr. Tobias Speck
CanVirex is a next generation immunotherapeutics company developing a platform technology for the treatment of cancer and for vaccination against infectious diseases.
The vector technology is based on the common measles virus vaccine that has proven to be one of the safest and most effective human vaccines in 50+ years of clinical reporting. As such, measles-vectored immunotherapeutics have demonstrated highly promising therapeutic potential for multiple cancer entities.
CanVirex is also leveraging this technology to develop a second-generation vaccine that conquers the shortcomings of existing COVID-19 vaccines.
Keynote
Private Company
Biotech, Healthcare
Fuel Ventures
Mark Pearson
Fuel Ventures is a prominent early-stage tech VC based in London; they have raised five funds and invested in 40+ portfolio companies over the last five years. The fund gives investors exposure to a diverse selection of 10-15 companies that they will invest in over the next 12 months. Fuel Ventures invests the most ambitious entrepreneurs building market leading companies. They have pioneered an all under one roof approach, with most of the portfolio companies based in the same office space meaning Fuel Ventures can provide hands on support and mentoring. They already have an impressive track record with their first fund having a 5.6x valuation uplift after 5 years. They are currently raising capital for their latest fund which is EIS eligible.
Keynote
Venture Capital
SaaS, Technology, Fintech
Polunin Capital Partners
Douglas Polunin
Polunin Capital Partners is an independent institutional asset manager specialising in emerging market equities. Established in December 2000, the founding investment team have been executing the strategy for over 25 years. With a distinctive and hard to replicate investment methodology, using a proprietary database developed over decades, the team creates diversified portfolios with an uncorrelated performance profile. Constructed from the bottom up, using a distinctive Replacement Cost valuation methodology, the portfolio aims to complement investors’ core emerging market exposure. The Firm’s clients comprise private and public pension funds, endowments, foundations, sovereign wealth funds and banks across the world.
