Name: Emma Sutcliffe

Position: Chief Patient Officer at ISPEP

Bio: A global leader in patient-focused medicine development, a medical biochemist, and a psychotherapist and volunteer counsellor, Emma is a true example of where science meets empathy. From starting her career as a medical writer working in HIV, Emma has gone on to win a multitude of awards and speak at countless conferences as a champion for patient engagement over the past 30 years. With experience working across biopharma, agencies, and now more recently a patient organization, Emma is a firm believer in the importance of patient engagement professionals coming together—regardless of background or ‘title’—to learn from each other, co-solve challenges, and advance best practices. In 2024, Emma founded the first and fastest growing professional society for Patient Engagement Professionals—ISPEP—which has been frequently described as ‘remarkable’ by industry leaders in its momentum and mission to professionalize the work of all Patient Engagement Professionals and create systemic amplification of the patient voice in healthcare.

Why I’m passionate about patient engagement: “Just to be shortlisted as a leader in Patient Engagement means such a lot to me so to be an award winner is truly astonishing! I feel honored to receive this award and accept on behalf of the amazing 1,500 Patient Engagement Professionals who are a part of the ISPEP community who are dedicated in their work to amplify the patient voice in all healthcare systems. We are all winners when we best serve patients.”