Working for us: Staff profiles

Profiles of some of our staff.

Zamshed Harun, Quality Standards & Research Specialist, Pharmacovigilance Signal Management, Vigilance and Risk Management of Medicines Division

Joined the MHRA as
Pharmacovigilance Information Analyst.

Background
I graduated from university with a MEng in Medical Engineering.  Before starting at MHRA, I worked at the Ministry of Defence and was an officer in the British Army.

My next career goal
Together with my team members, I want to develop our information systems into a robust and authoritative source, in order for the MHRA to be a world leading centre of excellence that raises the profile of its vast knowledge base and IT platforms.

What I like most about my job
The variety of work is impressive: ranging from providing information to expert committees through to assisting management in corporate governance.  The work is mostly project based, which keeps me motivated to ensure a successful and timely outcome.

My greatest career challenge
The greatest challenge to date was managing a team of experienced colleagues in order for them to achieve their potential as individuals and as a team.  Considering a variety of constraints they accomplished great things and far exceeded expectations and targets.

If I could share one tip with a new employee, it would be
Always strive to be the best.  This requires creativity, momentum, flexibility, and above all a can-do attitude.  Achieve this and keep your stakeholders at the heart of all you do.

Andrew Gill, Business Intelligence Coordinator, Information Management Division

“Being a reporting specialist allows you to work for some interesting companies, and this is certainly one of them."

Joined the MHRA
In 2006 to lead the Business Intelligence team

Background
I graduated from UMIST with a Bachelor’s in Pure & Applied Physics in 1997.  As a recent graduate working for a life assurance and pensions company, I was introduced to databases and reporting tools.  I have spent much of the intervening years applying these skills to areas from finance to marketing to commercial property management.  I joined the MHRA in April 2006, with no experience of the pharmaceutical industry, to take on the role of Business Intelligence Co-ordinator. 

My next career goal
Having recently achieved goals of exposing myself to a totally new industry and becoming a manager, I am currently adjusting to the new position.  In the medium-term, I would like to train the BI team to work more proactively to meet the needs of the agency.

What I like most about my job
I get to work with people from almost every department within the agency, so the work is always varied.

My greatest career challenge
Keeping up-to-date with the advances in reporting tools and database technology. Existing skills can become redundant very quickly in IT.

What my role involves
Meeting people from divisions across the agency, to find out what questions they would like to be able to answer, advising them on reports that would answer their questions, and finally designing, building and implementing the system to support such reports.

If I could share one tip with a new employee, it would be
Find out what people do in departments outside your own, because you’re bound to be involved in their work at some point.

Clare Headley, Regulatory Affairs Specialist, Policy Division

Background
I spent most of my working life in Industry, starting out in Exports and Customer Service, then moving on to logistics and project planning. Whilst in these roles I also trained to be an auditor for Quality Management Systems and for the regulations on Medical Devices in Europe and the USA. I was then given the opportunity to move into quality systems and regulatory affairs and spent several years learning to enjoy the complexity of the requirements and regulations for medical devices worldwide from an Industry perspective.

I joined MHRA three years ago as a Regulatory Affairs Specialist for medical devices. My primary role is to monitor and audit the UK Notified Bodies for Medical Devices, who are designated by MHRA to issue CE certificates to manufacturers under the Medical Device Regulations. I also act as the main regulatory contact for medical device ‘borderline’ issues, as well as providing general regulatory advice to those who require it.

Working for the MHRA
Working for MHRA is varied and interesting and stretches ones knowledge and capabilities. To be successful here you need to be able to deal with people at all levels and from different areas and be confident in your own abilities.

The biggest challenge for me was the change from being ‘regulated’ to being a ‘regulator’ and coming to terms with the responsibilities that this involves.

Background
I studied Chemistry at Westfield College (University of London) and after graduating, worked there as a research assistant.  After taking a break in my career to have my two daughters, I joined the British Pharmacopoeia Laboratory at Canons Park. After fourteen years as an analyst, in 2003 I moved to the British Pharmacopoeia Secretariat at Market Towers. 

What I like most about my job
I like the variety and the different strands of my job. From liaising with the European Pharmacopoeia Secretariat in Strasbourg, France, developing new national monographs and the satisfaction of seeing my work published to giving advice to users of the Pharmacopoeia means that every day presents a new challenge.  I enjoy troubleshooting and answering questions.

Next career goal
I have really enjoyed my first two years at the BP Secretariat and I want to develop my understanding of how the different divisions of the MHRA interact.  In the coming years I hope to make an even greater contribution to the work of the BP.

Nick Wilson, Senior Technical Analyst, General Practice Research Database (GPRD)

Background
I first came to the MHRA three years ago after completing an MSc in Computing and Information Systems at the University of Greenwich. Prior to this I worked within the Royalties department of Warner Music helping process the vast amount of data associated with their products.

Current post
As a Senior Technical Analyst within the GPRD (General Practice Research Database) Group I have found my time at MHRA to be challenging but rewarding. My daily duties involve helping customers with the technical aspects of accessing and using the GPRD system. I am also involved in developing in-house solutions that can more efficiently manage the huge volumes of data that make up GPRD.

What I like about working for the MHRA
GPRD is used by academics and healthcare organisations, including pharmaceutical industry, to conduct population base medical research. It's not hard to see how this research contributes towards safeguarding public health - the watchword of the MHRA mission statement - and it's rewarding to see how our work helps in this way. Personally I enjoy working for the MHRA within the small and relatively independent team of GPRD; goals are clear and the team ethic we have always produces the correct results.

Diane Leakey, Head of Information and Communications, Communications Division

Career history
I graduated as a pharmacist and currently work in our Communications Division, managing our Information Centre. I first started work as a pharmacist in hospital, then, after a brief spell in community pharmacy, joined the Agency as a validation pharmacist. This involved checking all the medicine licence applications for completeness and preparing short summaries of these for assessment. I then moved into medicines information and currently manage the Information Centre.

Current post
My current role involves me in some degree in all the many, very varied aspects of the work of the Agency, both in medicines and medical device regulation. I have helped design and implement our new web site, restructured the intranet, worked with our communications director on the Agency’s first communications strategy and am currently helping implement it and often get to even work in our press office covering some of the Agency’s media issues. I also work regular shifts on our telephone Central Enquiry Point. I regularly attend conferences and other speaking engagements to help explain the role and remit of the MHRA and explain how we carry out our responsibilities in regulation.

Why I love working for the MHRA
Everyday at the Agency is different for me, from helping individual patients with their queries, to working with international specialists in their field of expertise, to briefing national journalists. I have the great privilege and opportunity helping improve the daily life of everyone in this country whilst at the same time working with some wonderful colleagues. I really love my job and wouldn’t change it. I’m very glad I ended up working at MHRA.