With the recent establishment of BioInnovation Institute as an independent foundation the Board of Directors was established. A total of nine profiles each with extensive experience from both business and science, nationally and internationally form the board that is chaired by Sten Scheibye.

While seven of the members have been part of BII’s Board of Directors during the establishment phase, two members have joined by December 2020. Among the “newcomers”, Marianne Philip takes the position as the Vice-Chair and Birgitte Nauntofte joins as a member of the Board of Directors.

Regarding the composition of the board the Chairman, Sten Scheibye, says:

”BII has developed a competence profile for the Board, and many different skills are needed to guide BII in the right way and in the desired direction. To mention just some of the skills necessary, it is very important to have individuals with direct experience from start-up companies, it is also crucial to have board members with life science research as well as industrial experience. Understanding of finance, accounting and stakeholder relationship management are also important. I believe that we have all of this nicely balanced in our current board, where diversity in terms of gender and culture is also considered”.

Read the profiles of all members of the BII Board of Directors:

Sten Scheibye
Chairman, Ph.D., Chemistry and BCom

Member of the Board of Directors of Novo Nordisk A/S from 2003 and Chairman 2006 to 2013, member of the Novo Nordisk Foundation’s as well as Novo Holdings A/S Board of Directors and Chairman from 2013 to 2018. From 1995 to 2008, Sten Scheibye was President and CEO of Coloplast A/S, Denmark. Before joining Coloplast in 1993, he served as Senior Vice President, Sales & Marketing in Leo Pharma A/S, Denmark.

Marianne Philip
Vice-Chair, Partner at Kromann Reumert, Lawyer, JD, L.M.

Member of the Novo Nordisk Foundation’s Board of Directors from 2014 and Vice-Chair since 2018. Marianne Philip serves on several boards including as Chair of The Committee on Foundation Governance and is among others experienced in company and foundation law, investments and corporate governance.

Bo Ahrén
Board member, Pro Vice-Chancellor, Lund University, Ph.D, MD.

Member of the Novo Nordisk Foundation’s Board of Directors from 2005 to 2017. Bo Ahrén has previously been Chief of Medicine at Region Skåne in Sweden, head of the research clinic at Skåne University Hospital in Lund and Dean of Faculty of Medicine, Lund University. He conducts research on diabetes and has been involved in developing new drugs to treat type 2 diabetes.

Hans Schambye
Board member, CEO at Galecto, Inc. MD PhD

Serial entrepreneur with a background in drug discovery and development, corporate strategy, financing, and management. Hans Schambye has an extensive experience in managing biotech companies, based on in depth biological understanding of diseases and pharmaceutical R&D.

Martin Bonde
Board member, CEO at Inthera Bioscience, Ph.D., Chemistry

With + 25 years of international experience from the biotech industry, Martin Bonde has held several leadership positions as CEO for e.g. Vaccibody, Epitherapeutics, Natimmune, Combio, Torsana Biosensor, and Ostemeter Biotech.

Regina Hodits
Board member, Managing Partner, Wellington Partners, Ph.D.

An influential investor in the European VC industry with + 20 years of experience, focusing on early-stage and growth deals in life sciences. Regina Hodits serves as the Spokesperson for the Board of the German PE and VC Association.

Robert G. Urban
Board member, Ph.D., Microbiology and Immunology

Former Global Head of Johnson & Johnson Innovation LLC. Robert G. Urban was also the founding Executive Director of the Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and he has served on the board of various companies and non-profit organizations.

Thomas Schäfer
Board member, EVP & CSO & board member, Chr. Hansen A/S, Ph.D.

Senior management professional with +25 years of R&D and business development experience from the bacteria and enzymes industry. He is a co-inventor on a number of patents as well as publisher of several scientific papers and publications with WWF, WEF, and the German Bioeconomy council.

Birgitte Nauntofte
Board member, CEO of The Novo Nordisk Foundation, Ph.D.

Birgitte Nauntofte has served on several boards and science committees. She currently serves as committee member of Recommendations on foundation governance. Before joining the Novo Nordisk Foundation, she had the position of Vice Dean at the Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Copenhagen.