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2022 Program

  • July 11–13, 2022

The 2022 Summit focused on the participating CEOs discussing how to position their companies for growth and success. The Summits are discussion-based meetings led by subject matter experts.

Monday, July 11

2:00 pm

Registration Opens
(Location: Carneros Lobby)

3:00 pm

Pre-Event: Gathering for Female Biotech CEOs
(Location: Farm Dining Room)
  • Ciara Kennedy, CEO, Sorriso Pharmaceuticals
  • Julia Owens, CEO, Ananke Therapeutics

5:00 pm

Welcome Networking Event
(Location: Carneros Courtyard)

6:15 pm

Opening Program
(Location: Carneros Courtyard)
Welcome: Sara Jane Demy, Founder & CEO, Demy-Colton

6:25 pm

CEO Summit Participant Introductions

7:15 pm

Fireside Chat The Purposeful CEO – Fulfilling the Promise
Moderator: Wendye Robbins, MD, President & CEO, Blade Therapeutics
Fireside Chat CEO: Lou Lange, Partner, Asset Management Ventures & Former CEO, CV Therapeutics

8:00 pm

Networking Dinner
(Location: Sonoma – off the Carneros Courtyard)

Tuesday, July 12

7:15 am

Breakfast of Champions
(Location: Farm Dining Room)

8:30 am

Summit Overview & Rules of Engagement
(Location for all discussions: Napa)
  • Sara Jane Demy, Founder & CEO, Demy-Colton

8:45 am

Opening Discussion: The Crystal Ball on the Markets
  • Tim Opler, Partner & Co-Founder, Torreya

9:15 am

Navigating the Current Markets & Getting to the Other Side of this Downdraft
Discussion Leader: K.C. Stone, Managing Director, Head of Healthcare Investment Banking, BTIG
Discussants:
  • Brian Rosenzweig, Partner, Covington & Burling LLP
  • Kate Walsh, Market Manager, Biopharma, Tools & Diagnostics, SVB

9:45 am

Raising New Money Now: IPOs, Private Equity, Venture, Debt, SPACs, PIPEs
Discussion Leader: Michael White, Managing Director, Life Sciences & Healthcare, SVB
Discussants:
  • Lilit Kazangyan, Special Counsel, Covington & Burling LLP
  • Lou Lange, Partner, Asset Management Ventures & Former CEO, CV Therapeutics

10:15 am

Networking Break

10:45 am

Breakout Groups: Extending the Runway – Devilfish Biotech
(Location: Sonoma 1 & Sonoma 2)
  • Introduction: Ben Bonifant, Partner, Triangle Insights Group

11:30 am

Breakout Groups Report Out: A Discussion of Options

Discussion Leaders:

  • Ben Bonifant, Partner, Triangle Insights Group
  • Ted Haack, Vice President, LatticePoint Consulting

12:45 pm

Networking Lunch
(Location: Farm Dining Room and Patio)

1:45 pm

The Licensing Lifeline: Let’s Discuss the Strategies
Discussion Leader: Benjamin Pensak, Partner, Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP
Discussants:
  • Ben Bonifant, Partner, Triangle Insights Group
  • Bassil Dahiyat, President & CEO, Director, Xencor, Inc.
  • Ciara Kennedy, CEO, Sorriso Pharmaceuticals

2:30 pm

Valuation: Understanding the Perspective of Investors & Potential Partners
Discussion Leader: Ted Haack, Vice President, LatticePoint Consulting
Discussants:
  • Laura Randa, Founder & CEO, Toivoa, Inc.
  • Brandi Simpson, Vice President, BD, Voyager Therapeutics (former CEO, Navigen Inc.)

3:15 pm

Networking Break

3:45 pm

Key External Stakeholder Communications: Getting the Story Right
Discussion Leader: Erik Clausen, Managing Partner, CG Life
Discussants:
  • Bill Newell, CEO, Sutro Biopharmaceuticals
  • Nancy Stagliano, CEO, Neuron23, Inc

4:30 pm

Open Discussion: Diversity Equity & Inclusion (DE&I): It’s the Right Thing to do & it’s Good Business
Interviewer: Sara Jane Demy, Founder & CEO, Demy-Colton
  • Paul Hastings, President & CEO, Nkarta Therapeutics – via zoom

5:30 pm

CEO Summit Games

7:00 pm

Take a Breather
 (Relax, change for dinner, make some calls)

7:30 pm

Artisanal Wine Tasting
 (Location: Hilltop Patio)

8:15 pm

Awards & Wine Country Dinner
(Location: Hilltop Dining Room)

9:30 pm

Dessert Reception
(Location: Hilltop Library & Courtyard Firepit)

Wednesday, July 13

7:15 am

Breakfast
(Location: Farm Dining Room)

8:30 am

Considerations for Leadership Teams in the Virtual World – Best Practices for Success
Discussion Leader: Robin Toft, Managing Partner, Global Life Sciences Practice Leader, ZRG Partners
Discussants:

  • Eric Dube, CEO, Travere Therapeutics
  • Sandra Dunn, CEO, Phoenix Molecular Designs
  • Joseph Payne, CEO, Arcturus Therapeutics

9:00 am

Creating a Competitive & Attractive Company in Unprecedented Times
Discussion Leader: David Fortier, Managing Partner, Global Life Sciences Practice Leader, ZRG Partners
Discussants:

  • Luba Greenwood, CEO, Kojin Therapeutics
  • Elizabeth Jeffords, CEO, Iolyx Therapeutics
  • Javier Szwarcberg, CEO, Spruce Biosciences

10:15 am

Networking Break

10:30 am

Business & Boards: Forming Trusted Relationships
Discussion Leader: Robin Toft, Managing Partner, Global Life Sciences Practice Leader, ZRG Partners
Discussants:

  • Benjamin Pensak, Partner, Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP
  • Brandi Simpson, Vice President, Business & Corporate Development, Voyager Therapeutics, Inc.

11:00 am

Breakout Groups: Maximizing Board Effectiveness – Nimitz Biotech
(Location: Sonoma 1 & Sonoma 2)
Introduction: Ben Bonifant, Partner, Triangle Insights Group

11:45 am

Breakout Groups Report Out: Getting the Most Out of Your Board
Discussion Leaders:

  • Ben Bonifant, Partner, Triangle Insights Group
  • Ted Haack, Vice President, LatticePoint Consulting

12:30 pm

Networking Lunch
(Location: Farm Dining Room & Patio)

1:30 pm

Critical Communications to Key Internal Stakeholders: Getting This Right
Discussion Leader: Erik Clausen, Managing Partner, CG Life
Discussants:

  • Julia Owens, CEO, Ananke Therapeutics
  • Robin Toft, Managing Partner, Global Life Sciences Practice Leader, ZRG Partners

2:30 pm

An Unguarded Conversation: Turning Barriers into Opportunities to Fulfill the Promise
Discussion Leader: Wendye Robbins, CEO, Blade Therapeutics
Discussant:

  • Bassil Dahiyat, President & CEO, Director, Xencor, Inc.
  • Chris Gibson, CEO, Recursion

3:30 pm

Closing Reception
(Location: Carneros Courtyard)

Past programs

2025
2024
2023
2022
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015