Mary Gunn
PhD, MBA, LLM, CEO and Co-Founder – Topia Life Sciences; Chair of the Board of Advisors.
Mary is a global board leader with 30 years of public and private governance experience in high growth life science, financial services, and education sectors; during which she provided fiduciary and strategic oversight, identified areas of growth (including organic international expansion, licensing agreements, co- development with strategic partners, global M&A), supported fundraising, worked with activists, led successful exits, leveraged debt and other financial instruments, ensured compliance and ethics, and hired/evaluated the CEO/CCO/CMO. Gunn has been an advisor and partner to publicly traded diversified funds, private equity, venture capital, sovereign wealth, and family offices for 15 years supporting the deployment of $20B+ across 150 investments. She also served on the advisory board of Brown University, Neurogensis Life Science, Modelis, Lumiio, and as the Chairman for SpotArt Foundation (Cultural Diplomacy). Gunn currently serves on the Board of Directors of Edinburgh Worldwide Investment Trust, Burst Therapeutics, Welwaze Medical, the University of Edinburgh, as a Senior Advisor for Hillhouse Capital, and as a US National Security Fellow at NWC. Gunn’s background is that of a scientist, lawyer, and global CEO with 27 years of leadership, ranging from startups to Fortune 100 in private and public companies (Pfizer, Becton Dickonson, Crucell/J&J, Health Decisions, and ICON Plc), operationally overseeing up to 75 countries, 4200 employees, and a $2.4 Billion portfolio. She has a network of more than 54,000 contacts in life science, completed 11 corporate M&A transactions, and helped develop a biologic human cell line from which several mAbs and vaccines derive. Dr. Gunn is passionate about market access to innovation and started a MedTech trade association (APACMed) in Asia. Gunn is a value creation/turnaround/transact and commercialization expert and serves as an industrial advisor for private equity, supporting the full investment cycle from deal sourcing, due diligence, board representation, managing external consultant engagements, post M&A activity, interim management, deal execution, to liquidity events. She is an author (10X10 Women’s Health) and renowned speaker for news organizations and conferences such as BBC World News and the Financial Times. Dr. Gunn has contributed to the development of many lifesaving medicines, biologics, diagnostics, and medical devices in oncology, neurology, vaccines, women’s health, and other therapeutic areas. Her global business expertise includes leading international expansion while based out of Europe (UK, Austria, Germany, Switzerland), Asia (China, Singapore), and the USA. She has served on the executive leadership, governance, enterprise risk management, strategic planning, and tax committees as well as country legal representative. Prior to healthcare, Gunn worked for US Senator Jeff Bingaman, as a journalist for the Albuquerque Journal, and in conservation for the Smithsonian Institute. Gunn was an Eve and Simon Colin Foundation Scholar, a US President’s Scholar, and a NM Regent Board Scholar.