Thomas Bendall
I have a passion for healthcare innovation, new product development for health technologies and navigating the complexity of getting new products/solutions into the hands of patients and healthcare professionals. This process is complex especially when combined with the inherent challenges (and opportunities) from a changing healthcare environment.
Successful innovation and product development of health technologies means translating the scientific foundation/potential of assets and understanding how these can advance care, provide value to patients and support the work of the wider healthcare community. The complexity involved requires a unique blend of specialism and teamwork.
In a world being transformed by data and speed I recognise that complex product development doesn’t happen without great people performing at their best and pulling in the same direction – I’m known for being able to work with people and bring teams together to navigate that complexity and support better decision-making.
I have broad experience across the commercial and R&D interface, grounded in a unique portfolio of technical skills and experience. Together with an understanding of the evidence requirements needed for evidence-based healthcare/HTA, I bring a holistic, insight/design-led perspective to strategic problem solving in discovery, development and beyond.
With a strong foundation commercially and as a marketer, I have a strategic planning skill set which means I am able to generate and consolidate insight to formulate strategy and identify the enablers and activity to progress assets through key development milestones. The combination of marketing, insights, HTA and health economic skills, together with experience working across the spectrum of different customer groups, means I understand the activities and inputs that are required to facilitate decision making for investment and ultimately access from a regulatory and payer perspective.
Having led different individuals and teams, I realise that success is dependent upon people, even more so in new product development as specialists come together to navigate high-stakes complexity. As a result, much of my work over the years has focused upon supporting people and teams to work through complexity by helping them: crystalise and clarify different goals and objectives; understand the/their current reality/situation; identify and evaluate available options and determine what actions are required for success.
I have also enjoyed helping individuals grow and develop. I have built different mentor and coach relationships with a range individuals (students through to senior leaders) and have developed my own coaching capability to support these. The focus of these relationships have been on career planning, managing career/life events and personal performance. Having lived experience, I also have an interest in the different challenges and demands men face as they progress through life.
Finally, I thrive in environments that offer a variety of challenges and are focused on achieving tangible goals; as a result much of my work has been project based, where I have enjoyed leading and working alongside diverse teams and individuals.