Preconference course F - The Biocontainment Challenge: BSL2 to BSL3 Upgrade Simulation Game - Instructors
EBSA course
Preconference course F - The Biocontainment Challenge: BSL2 to BSL3 Upgrade Simulation Game
About the speakers
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Faye Litherland
Educational qualifications:
- BEng (Hons) Chemical Engineering, Aston University
- Chartered Engineer (Engineering Council)
- Chartered Scientist (Science Council)
- Fellow of the Institution of Chemical Engineers
- NEBOSH General Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety
Current Position:
- Managing Director – Blue Sky Process Engineering Limited
- Consulting Process Engineer – Specialist in Biological Containment, GMP and Research Facility Design
Experience
Faye is an experienced process engineer specialising in biocontainment facility design and retrofit projects, including upgrades from BSL2 to BSL3 and BSL4. She has delivered complex retrofits where legacy infrastructure, operational continuity, and regulatory compliance posed significant challenges. Her work focuses on developing upgrade strategies that integrate architectural, HVAC, process, and clean utility modifications into constrained spaces, ensuring compliance with international biosafety standards.
She has chaired structured risk assessments (SWIFT, HAZOP) and advised on phased construction strategies to sustain partial operations during upgrades. Faye has overseen crisis scenarios involving commissioning delays and operational readiness challenges, translating technical risks into practical solutions for stakeholders.
Examples of her work include:
- Bavarian Nordic, Denmark – Led the upgrade of an existing vaccine manufacturing facility from BSL2 to BSL3, integrating retrofit and new-build components within strict timelines and regulatory requirements.
- Ministry for Primary Industries, New Zealand – Peer review and compliance strategy for a new BSL2/BSL3 laboratory and greenhouse complex.
- UK Health Security Agency, UK – Subject Matter Expert for contained utilities, contained drainage, and effluent decontamination systems in BSL3/BSL4 laboratories during a major site consolidation project.
- Institute of Animal Health, UK – Designed and integrated solid and liquid effluent treatment systems for BSL3 and BSL4 containment levels within a high security animal research facility.
Faye is also an experienced trainer and mentor, having designed and delivered technical courses and interactive workshops on containment design, risk assessment, and operational readiness. Her approach combines engineering rigour with practical solutions, making her well-equipped to guide participants through the complexities of BSL2 to BSL3 upgrades.
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Vibeke Halkjaer-Knudsen
Current Position
Independent BRM consultant
Experience
30 years in the biorisk management field, involved in BRM training and lab design in the Americas, Europe, Asia, Middle East and Africa.
With a multifaceted expertise spanning animal welfare, GMP, stem cells, GMOs, environmental health, and safety, Vibeke excels in conducting comprehensive impact and risk assessments. Her extensive experience encompasses laboratory, plants, and animal facility design, emphasizing sustainable solutions across global locations.
Since 2006, Vibeke has offered her services as a GMP and Biorisk Management Consultant, balancing consultancy with her regular employment until dedicating herself to private consulting full-time in autumn 2022. She aids clients worldwide in making informed risk decisions for designing sustainable laboratories, production facilities, and animal centers.
Her focus is multifaceted, from supporting and mentoring individuals from early career professionals – who need to get a foothold in the containment field, to seasoned BRM officers – who might need additional templates and systems to be effective. She supports institutions during hard times when additional skills and support are needed and inhouse capacity is missing, and she assists if the inspections failed and the project needs to get back on track.