Dr Bernadette Whelan, Lecturer in Pharmaceutical Science and Programme Leader in GMP and Technology at South East Technological University Waterford, joins the advisory committee for the Life Sciences Industry Conference 2026. Her career bridges the gap between pharmaceutical manufacturing practice and academic rigour, a combination that positions her as a distinctive voice on what AI-ready manufacturing must look like in regulated production environments.

Whelan spent twelve years working directly within Ireland's pharmaceutical industry before transitioning into academia, giving her a grounded understanding of the operational realities facing site and quality teams on a daily basis. That experience informs her work at SETU Waterford, where she leads the GMP and Technology programme, preparing the next generation of pharmaceutical manufacturing professionals to meet the demands of an increasingly complex and technology-driven sector.

Her doctoral research focused on sustainable competitive advantage for Ireland's pharmaceutical sector, a frame that remains directly relevant as manufacturers navigate the intersection of AI adoption, regulatory compliance, and long-term operational resilience. Rather than treating competitiveness as a function of cost or scale alone, her research recognised that manufacturing organisations sustain advantage through the consistent integration of people capability, process discipline, and strategic investment in emerging technologies.

At the Life Sciences Industry Conference 2026, Whelan's advisory role helps shape a programme organised under the theme The AI-Ready Manufacturing Site. Her input ensures that the conference addresses the workforce readiness, skills development, and governance challenges that determine whether AI programmes deliver lasting manufacturing gains or stall at the pilot stage.

The conference takes place on Thursday, 22 October 2026, at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Santry, Dublin, bringing together leaders across pharmaceutical, biotechnology, MedTech, and medical device manufacturing to tackle the people, governance, and technology challenges defining AI adoption in regulated environments.

Visit the Life Sciences Industry Conference 2026 website to book your place and receive speaker announcements and programme updates ahead of the October event.