BeVard Group — Deirdre BeVard

Deirdre BeVard · BeVard Group LLC

I have spent more than thirty years in life sciences because the work matters in the most concrete sense. At the end of every development decision is a patient waiting for a treatment that does not yet exist. Collectively we must solve for trials that could reach them but don't, and a system with more capacity to change than it typically allows itself.

What slows it down is rarely the science. It is the distance between what an organization designs and what it is built to deliver. I advise life sciences leadership on closing that distance: at the enterprise level, where strategy meets operating model, and at the delivery level, where trials reach the patients they were designed for.

Book a conversation deirdre@bevardgroup.com

Areas of Expertise

Transformation and Operating Model

For organizations whose strategy has outgrown the structure meant to deliver it.

Organizational complexity, or even comfort, can surprisingly take over without realizing it until it shows up in longer cycle times, phase transition times or outdated approaches. I help recognize the patterns and work with your teams to design the changes that matter. Together we will move quickly without losing rigor, translating ambiguity into clear actionable direction while effectively engaging the people with purpose.

Enterprise and R&D transformation, design through execution
Operating models that convert portfolio strategy into delivery
Governance and decision frameworks
Organizational design and workforce reshaping
Transformation management offices that hold execution together

Development Operations and Trial Modernization

For organizations whose delivery capability, and whose reach to patients, has not kept pace with the pipeline.

Many clinical operations organizations and methods were built based on an organization's past rather than its ambition. I work with your team on solutions designed to reduce friction, to engage your external partners effectively, and to embed the site and patient perspective into your trial operations.

Clinical development operations capability and organizational design
CRO and externalization strategy
Feasibility, enrollment and design realism
Patient engagement and participant representation, built into trial design
Independent assessment ahead of a Phase 2 or Phase 3 build

How I Engage

Diagnostic

A fixed-scope, fixed-fee assessment of where your organization stands against what you intend to do. Structured conversations across your team, your partners and your stakeholders, and a prioritized read on what your operation can and cannot carry, with a recommended sequence.

Advisory

Retained counsel to executive/senior teams and a thinking partner to the leaders who own delivery. A defined number of days per week or month. I bring frameworks, perspective and directness. Your team holds the decisions and owns the outcome.

About

I spent more than thirty years in life sciences, building and leading R&D capabilities including clinical development operations, portfolio & project management, outsourcing & business operations, R&D enabling technology and more at Otsuka, Endo, Nektar, and CSL. I also built from scratch and early stage, the capabilities to bring clinical research into community practices.

Most recently I led enterprise R&D transformation at CSL as Senior Vice President, Strategic Transformation, accountable to the CEO and Executive Team for a program delivering multi-million dollar recurring annual benefit, a 50 percent fixed-cost reduction, and a substantial reshaping of the organization and its geographic footprint. I am driven by the patient impact and am proud to have been part of the team that led the operations behind trials that delivered approved products such as ABILIFY, PLETAL, HEMGENIX, ANDEMBRY and KOSTAIVE.

Having seen drug development from multiple perspectives: the sponsor, the service provider, and the clinical trial site, has been a privilege and equips me to quickly assess whether a problem is design, talent, model or vendor.

PharmaVoice 100 Most Inspiring People — Change Agents

The WHY

Simply put, the patients are the why, most especially the patients for whom there were no good options. I continue for them...for Eric, Craig, Joelle, and so many others.

In addition to my work, I serve on the board of Rona's FUN LAB, a nonprofit working to improve how care is delivered to critically ill children. I also volunteer locally in patient care settings. Throughout my career I have co-chaired industry initiatives, served on advisory boards, etc. related to patient access to clinical research. I am drawn to mission driven organizations in both my career and volunteer opportunities.