Speakers at Pre conference course D. The gift of failure – learning from accidents, incidents and near-misses
Pre conference course D. The gift of failure – learning from accidents, incidents and near-misses
About the speakers
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Jane Shallcross
Dr Jane Shallcross is the Senior Biosafety and Biosecurity Oversight Lead at the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), based in London. At CEPI, Jane is leading on writing the CEPI Biosecurity Policy to support vaccine development against emerging infectious diseases. Jane leads the development and implementation of risk management frameworks for high-consequence pathogen research, advising international partners and CEPI-funded laboratories on best practices for safe and secure operations.Prior to joining CEPI, Jane held senior leadership roles at the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA, formerly Public Health England), where they directed the Novel and Dangerous Pathogens Training Team. In this capacity, Jane designed and delivered biosafety training programmes for UK and international audiences, including hands-on courses, elearning and hybrid courses. Jane was instrumental in the UK’s Ebola response, establishing training for outbreak laboratories, contributing to PPE protocols, and leading the training over 400 scientists for deployment to West Africa. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Jane contributed to the rapid establishment of national RT-PCR testing services and led the first schools’ trial of lateral flow testing in the UK.Jane has collaborated extensively with the World Health Organization, serving as lead author for the “Laboratory Biosafety Manual, 4th Edition: Outbreak Preparedness and Resilience Monograph,” and delivering biosafety workshops across Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. Jane is also an active member of the European Biosafety Association and has contributed to numerous international initiatives to strengthen laboratory capacity and emergency response.Through these efforts, Jane has become a recognised leader in global biosafety and biosecurity, advancing responsible science and reinforcing preparedness for biological threats worldwide. -
Jonathan Gawn
Academic Education and Degrees
- ILM Level 5 Certificate in Effective Coaching and Mentoring - November 2020
- NVQ Level 5 Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety Practice - January 2019
- Ph.D. in Tumour Virology (Imperial College, London) - April 1999
- B.Sc. (Hons) in Biological Sciences - First class (University of Birmingham) - July 199
Present Professional Position
- Independent Biological Safety Consultant and Director, GMBSC Ltd
After gaining ten years experience in research virology, Dr Gawn joined the UK Government Health and Safety Executive (HSE) Research Laboratory in Buxton as the senior virologist, CL3 lab manager and Biological Safety Adviser.
In 2009, he transferred to the HSE’s Microbiology and Biotechnology Unit as HM specialist Inspector of biological agents. He was promoted to the position of HM Principal Specialist Inspector of Health and Safety in 2013 and managed the UK‘s biological agents and GMO inspection and investigation programme.
He later joined the University of Manchester as Deputy Head of Safety and University Biological Safety Officer. The University is the largest in Europe, with over 50,000 staff and students and a sprawling city-centre campus.
Since 2020, Dr Gawn has been an independent biological safety consultant. He now has over 45 active clients across the UK with small biotech companies, as well as some of the biggest names in biological research, biopharma, and global technology.
Dr Gawn is also Chairs the Executive Committee of the Institute for Safety in Technology and Research (ISTR), an organisation that aims to enhance the knowledge, competence and professional development of its members through networking, accreditation, knowledge exchange, workshops and symposia and partnerships with other safety organisations, including EBSA.