5 Questions With Robert Perks, Senior Director, Business Development, PQE Group
November 28, 2023
| This article is part of our 5 Questions With series, one of our ongoing People & Places Features. We love it because despite the consistent questioning, the answers are all unique. Be sure to FOLLOW us on LinkedIn to tell us what you think. |
Robert Perks is Senior Director, Business Development with PQE Group, and served as the moderator for PQE Group’s most recent TEQ Talk, AI and Cybersecurity: the future is now! Speakers for this fascinating TEQ Talk included PQE Group SME Gaurav Walia and AI and Cybersecurity experts Matthew Eggers and Jordan Crenshaw, both with US Chamber of Commerce. Be sure to watch this on demand beginning December 15, 2023 at https://www2.pqegroup.com/webinars/.
1. What did you want to be when you grow up? How’d you get from there to here?
I grew up in Sheffield, England, and earned a BSc in Control Engineering Sheffield Hallam University, UK. I began my career in the metals industry, developing and commissioning automation systems for steel and aluminum rolling mills. This early phase of my career enabled me to explore many different parts of the world – North America, Europe, and Asia – where I gained invaluable experience working with different cultures and expectations.
In 1994, I was transferred to the US, and in 2002, I entered the pharmaceutical industry, joining Baxter Healthcare as manager of a corporate engineering and automation group working with facilities in North and South America and Asia. Again, I had the good fortune to continue expanding my experience with and understanding of different cultures. I also completed an MSc in Management in 2009, from Sheffield Hallam University, to develop my management and leadership skills. I moved to a life sciences software supplier in 2015, Werum (now Körber Pharma), as Head of Operations, leading a group that was responsible for the deployment of MES platforms. In 2020, I joined Cognizant’s Life Sciences Manufacturing Group as a consultant before changing my focus to business development.
I’ve been involved with ISPE since 2008, serving on multiple steering committees – PAT/LCS Community of Practice (COP) (past chair), GAM MES COP, Annual Meeting Planning Committee (past chair), Knowledge Committee (current chair), and Pharmaceutical Engineering Magazine publication committee. As a Chartered (professional) engineer in the UK, I am also the secretary of the Institute of Measurement & Control’s (InstMC) Digital Transformation SIG currently developed DT guidelines for publication.
In early 2023, I met Gilda D’Incerti, PQE Group’s CEO and Founder, and following discussions with other PQE Group team members, who I knew from my industry association and committee participation, I joined the company in May 2023, and I’m very happy to be part of the PQE Group family.
2. Can you share more about your specific role at PQE Group? What are your main goals in this role, and what’s your favorite part about your job?
My role at PQE Group focuses on developing additional business for PQE in North America by leveraging my existing industry contacts and utilizing my background and solid understanding of pharmaceutical manufacturing operations to identify potential professional client/consultancy relationships; I must also ensure, throughout the business development process, that trust is developed with these prospective clients through the knowledge that PQE will provide services that will add value to their day-to-day operations and provide cost-effective, experienced professionals that will provide solutions to their businesses’ needs. I am also responsible for increasing brand recognition of PQE in North America by representing the company to current and potential clients as well as at industry events and conferences. And, throughout it all, I mentor the PQE sales team in North America to help them grow and succeed in their roles by sharing my experiences – both good and bad!
I’m not sure that I have one favorite part about my job. I enjoy meeting new people, developing relationships that offer the opportunity for open discussions about their concerns and priorities, and being able to offer potential solutions that will address their concerns and bring about a successful outcome. Perhaps the most rewarding part is being able to continue that relationship once the solution has been deployed.
3. Can you tell us more about why companies should consider partnering with PQE Group and what type of services you offer to your clients?
PQE Group, which celebrated its 25th anniversary of its establishment this year, is a leading provider of quality solutions for the pharmaceutical and medical device industries, with a global presence and solid expertise in various regulatory and compliance areas. The company, which is headquartered in Italy, has more than 40 offices located around the world. It is a women-owned Contract Quality Organization and Complete Quality Solution provider for GCP, GLP, GMP & GDP areas in the Life Sciences, has a long history of supporting companies of all sizes and exceeding compliance standards.
It is dedicated to creating value for its customers by putting its multidisciplinary teams and knowledge at their service, allowing clients to achieve and maintain compliance with the latest regulations, and contributing to creating a safer medical device and pharmaceutical environment. With over 15,000 successful projects completed and 1400+ medical device and pharmaceutical clients served worldwide, PQE Group delivers turnkey quality solutions while focusing on exceptional cost-effectiveness and the highest quality of care.
PQE Group specializes in areas including Regulatory Affairs and Strategy, Quality Compliance, Third Party Audits, Data Integrity Assurance, Digital Governance, Qualification and Engineering, and Laboratory Excellence. The company’s global imprint allows for a “Glocal” approach which is focused on utilizing local support to achieve global success. And, I’d like to also add, that the PQE Group team of more than 2,000 professionals is comprised of diverse, highly educated, knowledgeable, and professional experts who are proud to work for a company whose culture thrives on innovation, diversity, openness, and encouragement to take initiative.
4. Consulting is becoming a popular career path, particularly for scientists and medical professionals. What, in your opinion, are the top skills needed to be successful in a life science-focused consulting role?
Aside from an understanding of the technicalities of the industry (discovery, development, manufacturing, packaging, etc.), I believe that in any consultancy role, the key skill required is the ability to listen to the client. The ability to understand what the client needs may sound fundamental but if you cannot understand what the real issue is, you cannot offer a solution that will address the issue. Listening, understanding, and the ability to work with the client to ensure the appropriate solution is developed is the key to being successful in this highly regulated, unique industry!
5. Now for the fun question – what is the best piece of advice that you’ve ever been given?
After many (!) years of working, I’d like to think I can provide advice to someone new in the workforce:
- Never turn down an opportunity – you never know whether you will like something or not unless you try it. In the long run, no experience is a bad experience!
- Open yourself up to different cultures and ways of working. There is always something to learn from others. Do not become narrow in your thinking. Travel as much as possible, whether for work or pleasure, and experience and appreciate what other cultures have to offer.
- Life happens while you are making other plans! Have goals but do not be rigid and do not be disappointed if there is a different timetable in play than the one that you had first envisaged.
- Join and participate in industry communities – learn about other peoples’ approaches to problems and solutions outside of your own organization. It is additional work but the rewards more than compensate for the additional effort.
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