Keynote Speakers

Martin Warman
Martin Warman Consultancy Ltd

Advanced Fiber Spectroscopy for Process Analysis in-line

Martin is Director of Martin Warman Consultancy Ltd, providing consultancy services to many of the largest global healthcare. MWC Ltd has its own PAT lab to support this work. Previously he spent 7 years at Vertex, initially leading their PAT Team before becoming the technical lead developing their continuous manufacturing (CM) platform (used for the first approved CM products). He has over 25 years’ experience in the field having previously led the Global PAT Development Team at Pfizer Global manufacturing. Martin is also an Associate Member of Centre for Process Analytics and Control Technology (CPACT), having recently stepped down as a Professor at University Strathclyde where he was the Research Director for the UK’s Medicine Manufacturing Innovation Centre (MMIC).

Peter Hamilton
AstraZeneca

Enhanced Control Strategies - Rebranding or Revolution

Peter is a proud CPACT graduate and completed his PhD under the primary guidance of Prof. David Littlejohn. He continued to work with CPACT as a post-doc initially based at GSK in research Triangle park, USA followed by a short spell back at the University of Strathclyde working with both CPACT and CMAC. He then spent almost 7 years GSK as a senior investigator in PAT before taking more advanced roles in analytical modernisation and automation prior to joining AstraZeneca as an analytical project expert in late 2018. In early 2023, he moved back into a PAT focussed role joining the Oral Product Development function as a principal scientist. He then moved into his current role where he was given the privilege to lead a new unit focussed on product and process control, with a view to making real-time release testing and advanced process control business as usual in commercial manufacturing operations.

Dongda Zhang
University of Manchester

AI-Enhanced Optimal Robust Operational Space Identification under Process Uncertainty

Dr. Dongda Zhang is a Lecturer in the Department of Chemical Engineering at the University of Manchester and a Royal Academy of Engineering Industrial Fellow. His group focuses on the development of methodologies and practical applications for industrially focused mathematical modelling and data analytical techniques, aimed at understanding and operating complex chemical and biochemical processes. They are interested in exploring how advanced digital technologies, particularly when integrated through interpretable machine learning and data intelligence techniques, along with rigorous mathematical analysis and physical modelling approaches, can accelerate novel process development, optimisation, and automate industrial process manufacturing.

Ewan Mercer
Applied Materials

When flowcharts meet reality: Implementing the GAMP 5 Machine Learning Framework for regulated processes

Dr Ewan Mercer is the Principal Technology Consultant for the APC group within Applied Material’s Pharmaceutical and Nutrition group. His role is to work with the software team to introduce new modelling techniques and functionality to the PerceptiveAPC software suite in order to meet customers’ needs. This is with a particular focus on Multivariate Analysis and batch modelling. Prior to joining Applied Materials, he worked as an Advanced Process Control Engineer implementing Model Predictive Control on petrochemical plants. Ewan has an MEng in Chemical Engineering and an PhD in the area of Multivariate Statistical Process Control for dynamic manufacturing processes gained under the supervision of Julian Morris and Elaine Martin at CPACT Newcastle.