Transforming ScubaTx: My Journey as CEO
When I first joined ScubaTx as COO in late 2022, more than two years after it was founded, the company already had its spark: an innovative approach to human organ preservation and transport, spun out from Newcastle University. What it needed was focus, structure, and the ability to turn a brilliant scientific concept into a scalable business.
By April 2023, I had the privilege of stepping into the role of CEO. Since then, my journey has been about helping ScubaTx evolve from an early-stage spin-out into a company ready to grow, secure investment, and make a meaningful impact in healthcare.
How I Got Here
My career has always been at the intersection of science, strategy, and leadership. I began in academia as a Senior Research Fellow in molecular medicine at the University of Leeds, before moving into senior R&D roles at SmithKline Beecham and GlaxoSmithKline, where I ultimately became Director and Head of Molecular Genetics in Europe. Those years grounded me in the rigour of science and the challenge of translating discovery into real-world outcomes.
Over time, I shifted into leadership and strategy roles, serving as Chief Scientific Officer at Etiologics, Managing Partner at Catenion, Senior Principal at IMS Consulting, and later Vice President at Charles River Associates, leading life science strategy in markets across the globe. In these roles I honed my ability to connect science with business, guiding organizations through complexity and change.
I went on to lead Magnus Life Science as CEO, founded and co-founded several ventures including West Square Science, Insyt, and Decision Flow, and worked with companies at various stages of growth as both an advisor and operator. Across all of these experiences, one constant emerged: my passion lies in helping science-driven businesses find clarity, build resilience, and scale effectively.
So when the chance came to join ScubaTx, it felt like the natural next step. First as COO, I worked with the founders to secure seed funding and strengthen day-to-day operations. Then, as CEO, I’ve had the privilege of taking the baton fully and guiding ScubaTx through its next phase of transformation.
The Transformation Journey
The ScubaTx I lead today looks very different from the one I joined. Together with the team, we’ve taken deliberate steps to reshape the business and prepare it for growth:
Sharpened our vision. We clarified our mission, aligning the company around the problem we are solving and the impact we want to deliver.
Secured critical funding. From pre-seed to seed (with a large amount of grant funding along the way!), we built investor confidence by combining scientific excellence with operational discipline.
Strengthened operations. We professionalized processes and governance so the company can grow sustainably, not just survive.
Built the right team. We invested in talent and culture, prioritising resilience and values alongside technical expertise.
Engaged deeply with the market. By listening to customers, partners, and stakeholders, we’ve adapted our approach and positioned Scubatx to meet real-world needs.
The transformation hasn’t always been easy. It’s involved hard choices, pivots, and the resilience to keep moving forward when the road was steep. But it’s been worth it: today, ScubaTx is stronger, clearer, and better prepared to deliver on its mission.
Lessons Learned While Leading Change
1. Leadership is about clarity, not certainty. Teams don’t expect you to have all the answers—they expect you to create direction and momentum.
2. Change demands courage. Every company reaches a point where the old playbook stops working. Leaders must be willing to challenge assumptions.
3. Culture scales before strategy. Without trust, values, and communication, even the best strategy falters.
4. Cash is strategy in action. Fundraising isn’t just about survival—it’s about buying time and space to execute.
5. Progress is cumulative. Transformation doesn’t happen overnight; it’s the result of hundreds of consistent, deliberate steps.
Advice for Other Leaders
For those stepping into a leadership role after a company’s founding, I’d share this:
Respect the past, but focus on the future. Founders create roots—your role is to help the tree grow.
Pick your priorities. Don’t spread yourself thin. Identify the few levers that will unlock the most progress.
Balance speed with sustainability. Urgency is vital, but long-term resilience matters more.
Invest in people early. A strong team and culture are the ultimate competitive advantage.
Lead with energy. Your resilience and clarity as a leader set the tone for the entire organisation.
Looking Ahead
ScubaTx is still in the middle of its story, and that’s what excites me. We now have the science, the structure, and the team to scale with purpose. The next phase will bring new challenges, but we’re ready—and the potential impact on patients’ lives is what drives us forward.
Closing Reflection
I didn’t start ScubaTx—but I’ve been privileged to help transform it. From COO to CEO, my journey has been about turning promising science into a stronger, more resilient business, and helping a talented team believe in what’s possible.
For others stepping into leadership midstream: know that your role can be just as transformative as founding. What matters most is not how the story began, but how you help shape what comes next.
Here’s to resilience, transformation, and building something that lasts.