Nicola Blackwood

Nicola Blackwood is a senior leader driving the translation of scientific innovation into scalable healthcare impact, with experience spanning government, regulation, and industry across global health systems. Baroness Blackwood is Chair of Genomics England and Chair of the UK’s Health Data Research Service, where she is advancing the use of health data and genomics to improve patient outcomes and enable more data-driven healthcare.

She is also a member of the House of Lords, contributing to national and international policy on health, science, and technology. She sits on the boards of BioNTech and RTW Biotech Opportunities Ltd, supporting the translation and commercialization of next-generation therapies addressing areas of high unmet need.

She also chairs Oxford University Innovation, one of Europe’s leading engines for university spinouts, IP commercialisation, and venture creation. Her work focuses on accelerating the adoption of genomics, digital health, and advanced therapeutics at scale.

Nicola previously served as a Minister in the UK Department of Health and Social Care under two Prime Ministers, leading efforts on life sciences, health data, and access to medicines, including international collaboration on global health and regulation. She was the first female Member of Parliament for Oxford and the first female Chair of the House of Commons Science and Technology Committee, and remains one of the youngest committee chairs in British parliamentary history. She brings a cross-sector perspective on translating scientific innovation into real-world health