June 2026 • PharmaTimes Magazine • 22-24

// PHARMATIMES AWARDS //


Triumph of the heart

A Night of Excellence – the 2026 PharmaTimes International
Clinical Researcher of the Year Awards. Editor John Pinching reports

The prestigious Royal Lancaster Hotel in London once again played host to the crown jewel of the clinical operations calendar – the PharmaTimes International Clinical Researcher of the Year Awards.

Bringing together industry titans, pioneering researchers and dedicated teams from across the globe, the event – in the time-honoured tradition – celebrated excellence, innovation and dedication in clinical research.

Against the backdrop of a rapidly evolving clinical trial landscape, this year’s ceremony felt particularly electric – fizzing with the intoxication of possibility.

Needless to say, this was further lifted by the reassuring tones of the Alan Dedicoat; voice of the balls and peerless pharma linguist. This year he was joined by broadcaster, journalist and author Babita Sharma.

As usual the awards marked the culmination of a rigorous process designed to challenge the brightest minds and teams in the sector.

As the names were revealed the decibel level grew to new, uncharted heights.

These celebrations were the joyful choruses of people who operate in serious, life-transforming arenas.

A chance to reflect and revel in a job well done is infrequent in our industry and it was a reminder that beyond the heavy science was humanity and heart. And this was a triumph of the heart (in some cases, quite literally).

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Perhaps what makes these awards so unique is the profound learning and development opportunities, and the prospects they create for the future.

Beyond the trophy, every finalist walked away with invaluable qualitative and quantitative feedback from the independent judging panel. This feedback serves as a critical benchmark for personal growth and a powerful catalyst for career progression.

After decades of shaping careers, the International Clinical Researcher of the Year Awards continues to set the standard – recognising the people behind the products and highlighting the symbiotic link between science and society.


‘These celebrations were the joyful choruses of people who operate in serious, life-transforming arenas’


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Roll of honour – following the dinners, it was time for the winners

    Aspiring and Junior Clinical Research Associate 
    Gold: Josephine Kisato – PPD
    Silver: Carlota Cabeza – Parexel
    Bronze: Mikołaj Rojek – PPD

    Clinical Research Associate
    Gold: Lydia Johnston – Syneos Health
    Silver: Tryphosa Mitoko – PPD
    Bronze: Jessica Cilliers – PPD

    Clinical Trial Administrator
    Gold: Leah Williams – Panthera BioPartners
    Silver: Ian Lee – Fortrea
    Bronze: Svjetlana Novkovic – Worldwide Clinical Trials

    Clinical Project Manager
    Gold: Luke Johnson – Syneos Health
    Silver: Kirstyn Warren – Evestia Clinical
    Bronze: Lara Faraj – Parexel

    Start Up Individual
    Gold: Livia Nicoleta Capatina – Fortrea
    Silver: Myriam Grim – Worldwide Clinical Trials
    Bronze: Marta Rzadkosz – Worldwide Clinical Trials
    Christoph Werner – PPD

    Team Leader
    Gold: Kereen McDairmant – IQVIA
    Silver: Zoe Kingston Griffiths – IQVIA
    Bronze: Gavin Phan – Precision for Medicine

    Innovation in Clinical Trial Design and Conduct
    Gold: Holly Shaw – Evinova
    Silver: Maja Omiecińska – AstraZeneca
    Bronze: Valentina Rashkova – Freelancer

    Clinical Research Team
    Gold: PPD
    Christina El Khawand
    Amalia Leonard
    Pavlos Papadopoulos
    Joséphine Parisot
    Sandra Sembo Backonly
    Silver: Caidya
    Gaelle Bernier
    Liliana Golanska
    Kevin Hughes
    Katarzyna Kalisiak
    Charline Moreau
    Bronze: PPD
    Ruth Deschepper
    Renata Prieschl Teixeira
    Sandi Somo
    Siobhan Waiting
    Start Up Team
    Gold: Premier Research
    Andrea Canazzo
    Cristina Fernandez
    Virginie Morbitzer
    Silver: Fortrea
    Clare Campbell Cooper
    Elisa Di Nunzio
    Anne Hage Hulsmann
    Hristina Petrova
    Vladimir Stranski
    Bronze: Worldwide Clinical Trials
    Minh Le
    Simone Lee
    Ranga Siriwardhana

    Clinical Research Company of the Year
    Winner: PPD


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