Introducing New Board Member Sean Keenan
- Posted by ISPE Boston
- On October 14, 2024
A big welcome to Sean Keenan, the newest member of the Chapter’s Board of Directors! Although new to the Board, Sean has long been an active Chapter volunteer, including Chair of the Emerging Leaders Committee (ELC). In order to get to know him better, we asked Sean a few questions about his background as a Chapter volunteer and his goals and aspirations as a new Board member:
- What do you currently do?
As a Senior Engineer in Moderna’s Process Chemistry department, I’m working across a range of projects to ensure successful delivery of critical raw materials to the rest of Moderna for our platform vaccine programs. This involves onboarding new engineering tools to help my teams work more efficiently on process development in the lab, executing production campaigns to keep our internal clients supplied, and most recently, orchestrating our lab’s relocation and expansion to Waltham!
- How long have you been in the industry?
After earning my Masters in Biopharmaceutical Engineering in Ireland, I’ve spent the last 6 years working in Ireland, North Carolina, and Boston for contract and big pharma.
- How has your time as an ISPE member benefitted you?
Since joining ISPE as a member three years ago, I’ve found an incredible, tight-knit community of experienced industry professionals across New England who are super eager to support one another. The never-ending, amazing lineup of chapter events provide the perfect environment to learn outside my day job, connect with talented professionals, and find opportunities to volunteer so I can continue growing and challenging myself outside of work.
- What led you to become an ISPE Board Member?
After learning about ISPE’s role in the Boston community and the broader global pharmaceutical industry, I knew I wanted to get involved. I happened to be in the right place at the right time to take on the challenge of rebuilding the Emerging Leaders Committee post-pandemic as Committee Chair, where I fostered a sustainable community of committed volunteers. At the same time, I found an opportunity to exercise my fundraising experience as a board member on the Boston Scholarship Foundation. After learning the chapter ropes and executing over a dozen events, I was ready for a new challenge. I was fortunate to be elected as a board member this fall where I’m eager to contribute at a higher level to continuing the success of the world’s largest ISPE chapter!
- What are you most looking forward to in your new role as Board Member?
I’ve been very involved with the Emerging Leaders Committee and the Boston Scholarship Foundation for the past 2+ years, but there are so many other facets to this huge organization. Working as a board member will allow me to understand the in’s and out’s of all our other committees and how those systems function at the chapter level. I’m also hopeful to find opportunities to work on larger objectives with other chapters from around the world, as well as the International Headquarters.
- What is your favorite ISPE event that you’ve been involved with?
The Emerging Leaders hosted a really special event earlier this spring that received a lot of positive feedback – our M Labs facility tour of Millipore Sigma. I think there’s a real hunger for young professionals to learn best practices and see state-of-the-art technology and facilities. ELC is actively working to turn that event into a new, members-only, annual offering starting next year, and I’m so excited to see that vision play out! But I have to say, the single most incredible ISPE day of the year has to be the Product Show. So many volunteers work tirelessly all year long to coordinate an amazing event for the whole New England pharmaceutical industry – we even get international attendees every year! I think this event sets the Boston Area Chapter apart from the rest of the global chapters. And it’s free for attendees, what could be better??
- What do you like to do when you are not working?
I love all the seasonal activities that New England has to offer. Whether it’s hiking, grilling out, and outdoor movies in the summer, or snowboarding or escaping for a weekend trip to the South in the winter, I love getting out and exploring.
Connect with Sean on LinkedIn!
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