Our Team

Dr James Parker is a Consultant Pharmaceutical Physician with a specialist background in Clinical Rheumatology within the NHS. He holds an MB ChB, FRCP, and FFPM from Glasgow and Oxford. After training posts in Glasgow and Oxford, Dr. Parker entered the industry to further develop novel agents for patients with rheumatoid arthritis. During this time, he was also appointed an Honorary Consultant at Guy's Hospital in London. Dr. Parker has held several roles as a commercially astute Medical Director in large and small pharma. He set up his own Healthcare Consultancy in 2004 and has been responsible for leading Medical Teams in the UK, Europe, Australia, and Africa. He has worked across most key therapy areas and all phases of Clinical Research, including personal responsibility for taking Byetta© (exenatide) first into man. Dr. Parker has made many contributions at the UK Board Level and, together with commercial colleagues, has been responsible for the launch of several key medicines, most recently the international launch of dolutegravir (Tivicay© and Triumeq©) with ViiV Healthcare. He is valued as a strategist, skillful facilitator, communicator, and performance enhancer. Dr Parker has an established reputation for being a serial team player, thriving on diverse inputs, and is frequently a catalyst for effective, sustainable change.

Grahame Cook is an experienced non-executive director with a strong background in investment banking, corporate finance, and governance. With over 20 years of experience chairing audit and risk committees, he brings his expertise to Topia Life Sciences.

A chartered accountant, Grahame held senior roles at Barclays de Zoete Wedd and UBS, where he was managing director and global head of equity advisory. He later became joint CEO of WestLB Panmure, managing a €100m technology fund and advising the London Stock Exchange on its Techmark growth segment. Grahame serves on multiple technology and healthcare boards, both listed and private. He holds a double first-class honours degree from the University of Oxford.

Mr. Tony Dutta is a highly experienced and qualified professional with a track record of growing companies and enhancing shareholder value. He holds a BSc from India, an MCIPS from London, and an MBA from Birmingham, UK. Mr Dutta has held senior roles in both SMEs and multinationals. He has played a leading role in the launch of new products, and revenue streams, and in setting up international operations.

Mr. Dutta has worked for several leading companies in the UK, including IPS Pharma, where he currently serves as CEO, and Intertek, where he was the Director of Chemicals and pharmaceuticals for the UK. He was also the Managing Director of IPS Pharma, the UK market leader for managed access and unlicensed medicine, where he led the company for a trade sale for £225m in 2015.

Before that, he was the Head of the UK Supply Chain for Schering Plough, a multinational pharmaceutical company, and held similar roles for Bio Products Laboratory, Fairline Boats, and Caribonum.

Joining Topia Life Sciences in 2024, Jamie Adams brings 30 years’ experience in corporate development and corporate finance, with 25 years dedicated to the healthcare industry.

Before joining Topia, Jamie spent over a decade leading Northridge Advisory, an independent boutique specializing in strategic advisory, corporate development, M&A, capital markets, and post-merger integration for European healthcare companies. Prior to that, he held senior roles at Hawkpoint, Piper Jaffray and Nomura, advising on major public and private M&A, partnerships and financing transactions. With a vast global network in healthcare, Jamie has a strong track record of guiding companies through complex transactions. Jamie holds an MA in Economics from the University of Exeter and a BA (Hons) in Economics from the University of Essex.

Ashokkumar D Patel is a highly skilled pharmacist with over 41 years of experience in starting and running pharmacies, wholesale pharmaceuticals, and manufacturing/importing unlicensed Specials, all in compliance with the regulatory authorities. He possesses sound knowledge in all three industries.

Mr Patel founded IPS Specials, a Pharmaceutical Specials Manufacturing/Importing company in 2001, making it within a few years one of the leading companies in the UK in that sector. He built a manufacturing facility and obtained an MS manufacturing & WDA(H) license from MHRA and a Home Office Controlled Drugs Licence from the Home Office.

Mr Patel was the Managing Director of Herisse Ltd/Vertical Pharma Resources Ltd T/A IPS Specials, with most of his time spent on new revenue streams. He continues to be a joint Responsible Person on the wholesale Licence (IPS). Mr Patel is a specialist in clinical trial supplies, including procurement, manufacture, and blinding, and holds an MHRA Licence MIA(IMP) 32879. He is also a leading supplier of Medical Cannabis in the UK.

Mr Patel holds a Pharmacy Degree B.Pharma (HONS) from Kings College University of London and is a UK Registered Pharmacist GPhC Reg No: 2024760. He is a member of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain (RPSGB) and the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC).

Sandeep is an experienced investment professional with a strong background in private equity and corporate banking. As a partner at Beechbrook, he leads the European investment team, focusing on sourcing and managing investments across different regions. He also plays an active role in overseeing portfolio companies and ensuring investment quality.

He joined Beechbrook in 2008 as one of its first employees. Before that, he worked at ICICI Bank in London and Axis Bank in Mumbai, analyzing structured lending deals for Indian businesses looking to expand and acquire.

Outside of work, Sandeep loves traveling and hiking with his wife and two kids. He’s also a keen reader, with interests ranging from biographies to history and psychology. Some of the companies he has been involved with include Access Fertility, Intersocks, and IPS Pharmaceuticals.

Mr. Vish Patani is a highly qualified and experienced financial professional with a strong background in the pharmaceutical industry. He holds a BSc (Hons), FCA, and BFP academic qualifications. Mr Patani has worked for several leading companies in the UK, including IPS Pharma and B&S Group, where he served as CFO and Group Financial Controller, respectively.

He has also held prior roles as a Financial Controller for a listed Telecommunications Company. Mr Patani is result-driven and has a demonstrated history of working with large private businesses and SMEs. He graduated from the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales. IPS Pharma is one of the leading brands in the UK for the manufacture and supply of "specials" and unlicensed medicine.

Heather Barkwill has spent over 30 years in the pharmaceutical industry, bringing a wealth of experience in commercial strategy and business development. As group commercial director at Topia Life Sciences and its sister company, Novumgen, she plays a key role in shaping growth and market expansion.

Before joining Topia, Heather was the commercial director at Alliance Healthcare UK (Walgreens Boots Alliance). She has also held executive roles at OTC Direct, Beachcourse, and Caseview, as well as working as an internal auditor at Alliance Healthcare earlier in her career. Known for her hands-on approach and deep industry knowledge, Heather is passionate about driving commercial success and building strong partnerships.

Adrian Howd, Chief Financial Officer, is an accomplished Financial and Strategic Leader with over 20 + years of experience in the life sciences sector, spanning research, investment, executive, and non-executive roles. As CFO of Topia Life Sciences, he plays a key role in shaping the company’s financial strategy, driving growth, and supporting innovation in healthcare. His career has encompassed leadership positions across biotech, pharmaceuticals, and investment firms. Before joining Topia, Adrian served as CFO and Chief Business Officer at BiVictriX Therapeutics and co-founded a biotech venture in Oxford. He has held executive roles at Malin Corporation, Evotec, and leading investment firms such as Berenberg and ABN AMRO, where he specialized in life sciences investments. Adrian’s expertise extends to board-level positions, having served as an investor board member for companies including Poseida Therapeutics, Immunocore, and Kymab. With a strong foundation in neuroscience, he holds a Ph.D. in Molecular Neuroscience from the University of London, an MSc in Neuroscience from King’s College London, and a BSc in Pharmacology and Physiology from the University of Manchester. At Topia, Adrian leverages his deep industry knowledge and financial acumen to drive strategic initiatives, ensuring the company’s continued success in the life sciences sector.

Kamlesh Patel is the Founder and CEO of both Topia Life Sciences and Novumgen, leading both companies with a commitment to innovation, accessibility, and global pharmaceutical growth. With a strong background in regulatory affairs, quality compliance, and business strategy, he has played a pivotal role in shaping the pharmaceutical landscape. Before establishing Topia and Novumgen, Kamlesh held key leadership roles in the industry. He served as a Director at B&S Group and previously worked as a QA Manager at B&S Healthcare, where he gained extensive experience in quality assurance, regulatory compliance, and operational excellence. Earlier in his career, he held various regulatory and quality compliance roles at The Mehta Group, further strengthening his expertise in pharmaceutical regulations and global market dynamics. Kamlesh holds an MBA in Business Strategy Management from AIM, equipping him with the strategic vision to drive innovation, market expansion, and sustainable growth in the pharmaceutical sector. His leadership continues transforming patient care, ensuring high-quality, affordable medicines reach those in need worldwide.

Akshay Sojitra, Director - IT, brings over 20 years of experience in the technology sector across the UK, USA, and India, with a deep understanding of software engineering, databases, and emerging technologies. He holds a degree in Computer Science Engineering from Sardar Patel University and a PG Diploma in Computer Science from the London College of Business Management & Computing. His certifications include Oracle 11g Database Administration, Oracle 10g Real Application Clusters, and Red Hat Linux 6. Skilled in multiple programming languages—including C, C++, Java, and Python—he also has expertise in AI, data science, and machine learning. Akshay’s strong technical background and hands-on approach make him a key contributor to Topia’s technology-driven innovation, helping the company stay competitive in an evolving digital landscape.

Dr. Pushpendra Singh Sisodia, Manager - AI, Drug Discovery, Leads the Drug Discovery Program at Topia Life Sciences, bringing over 16 years of experience across industry, academia, and research. With a Ph.D. in Computer Science Engineering, his expertise lies in applying artificial intelligence to healthcare, particularly in drug discovery and development. An accomplished researcher, Dr. Pushpendra has published 16 papers in leading international journals and conferences (SCI Q1/Q2/Q3 and Scopus-indexed). He has also mentored winning teams in prestigious innovation competitions, including the Smart India Hackathon 2022 and Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav Hackathon, securing first-place honors from the Government of India. Before joining Topia, Dr. Pushpendra was an associate professor in the Computer Engineering Department at Indus University. Passionate about AI-driven healthcare solutions, he continues to drive innovation at the intersection of technology and life sciences.

Rushang Patel, Director - HR, Admin & Finance, has 9 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry and has built a strong track record across manufacturing, administration, HR, and finance. His diverse expertise allows him to contribute effectively to multiple aspects of business operations, ensuring efficiency and compliance. Rushang holds a university degree in Civil Engineering from Gujarat Technological University.

Debanjan Parbat, Manager - AI Project, is a dedicated researcher specializing in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT) in healthcare technology. With a strong foundation in Python, sensors, and Bluetooth Low Energy, he is deeply involved in the development of wearable medical devices and biomedical signal processing. Currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Biomedical Instrumentation, Debanjan focuses on nonlinear time series analysis in cognitive neuro-dynamics, cardiovascular dynamics, and muscle control dynamics, applying AI and machine learning for medical diagnostics. With five years of research experience as a senior research fellow at Jadavpur University, he has contributed to various cutting-edge medical technology projects. He has published over 10 research papers in international peer-reviewed journals and conferences. A professional member of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society, Debanjan remains at the forefront of AI-driven innovations in healthcare, making significant contributions to the advancement of medical technology and diagnostics.