Alejandra Cortés - DIT Spain (Daresbury & Leeds only)
I am Trade & Investment Adviser for the Life Sciences and Agritech sectors at DIT Madrid and have been in role since April 2017. My previous background combines both trade and investment experience. For seven years, I worked at the former international development agency for the Region of Madrid, having the opportunity to deal with different programs aimed at boosting the regional economy by fostering the exports and the business cooperation between Madrid-based companies and foreign companies. I have also held temporary positions at the DIT Madrid Investment team, which has given me insight into the Investment Attraction area. Lastly, I have experience in EU project management and consultancy.
 
Claudia Giunchiglia - DIT Italy
I work for DIT as Life Sciences trade adviser. I am based at the British Embassy in Rome and I would be happy to meet UK Life Sciences and healthcare companies to develop their business and export activities in the Italian market. Our services include: support to identify business partners, clarification and assistance to overcome regulatory and administrative procedure difficulties, organisation of events to promote UK companies in local market, networking. Relevant areas of interest are: Rehabilitation, surgical and hospital equipment; Diagnostic equipment; Emergency equipment; rescue/lift equipment; innovative digital health solutions; daily life aids; laboratory equipment.
 
Marie Gow - DIT Switzerland
The Swiss healthcare system is highly developed and innovative. Some CHF 70 billion – or more than 10% of annual economic output – is spent on healthcare in Switzerland every year, and 10% of workers are employed in this area. Switzerland has the third highest life expectancy in the world. Private health insurance is compulsory in Switzerland and Swiss people have easy access to the latest products and technologies. UK suppliers generally have a good reputation and Swiss distributors are always interested in innovative products and technologies. Marie Gow is a Senior Trade Officer with 16 years’ experience in Trade promotion. She covers the Life Sciences & Healthcare sector.
 
Maya Halebic - DIT Austria
International business professional with 10+ years of experience advising clients and commercial partners, developing relationships with a range of stakeholders including Government, industry and business to build a network for information and influence; organizing and implementing commercial research projects across industries and presenting market intelligence; identifying business opportunities and monitoring market access barriers; and engaging in active trade promotion and commercial diplomacy activities. Within DIT Austria, I look after UK-based Life Science and Healthcare businesses wishing to export into the Austrian market. Businesses with the most potential to find lucrative export opportunities in Austria are those active in digital health, chronic disease management (e.g. diabetes, cancer, COPD and viral diseases), and technologies for treating age-related ailments.
 
Zelia Henriques - DIT Portugal
As part of the DIT Portugal team, my goal is to research the market and identify relevant business opportunities and potential partners for UK companies in the Life Sciences and Healthcare sectors, supporting their plans to grow their business in Portugal (as well as third markets). Main opportunities in the market can be found in areas such as personalised medicine, chronic disease management, assisted living technologies, remote monitoring sensors, augmented reality for health applications, AI and analytics for health, wearable technology and new diagnosis solutions, with local players very open to international partnerships and R&D collaborations. In addition, plans to build/renew and equip new hospitals in the coming 2-5 years, as announced by both the public and private sector, will open up new market opportunities linked to an increasing demand and supply chain needs from local stakeholders. The need for efficient solutions also provides great potential for e-health and MedTech in the Portuguese market, an early adopter of new technologies where players can benefit from one of the most advanced digital infrastructures in Europe.
 
Verneri Hietala - DIT Finland
My name is Verneri Hietala. I work as a Trade Adviser for Department for International Trade and the British Embassy of Helsinki. I consult and advise UK companies looking at setting up or increasing existing sales in Finland. Given my focus on Life Sciences and Healthcare, I am very much looking forward to meeting new companies and learning of UK expertise. I am particularly interested in companies working in the Digital Health and Ageing Society sectors, as these sectors will see significant growth in the coming years.
 
Baerbel Moeller - DIT Germany
Baerbel Moeller has been working as a Trade Adviser for Life Sciences in the Duesseldorf British Consulate-General for 10 years. Within the sector she focusses on Medtech (incl. medical aids), Healthcare and E-health/Digitalisation as opposed to (Bio)Pharma and Diagnostics. The most important trade fairs in Germany are Medica, Rehacare, DMEA.
 
Cecilie Overgaard - DIT Denmark
Cecilie is the Life Sciences and Healthcare lead with DIT Denmark, she supports UK companies in entering an open and growing Danish market, that welcomes UK products and services. Especially Health tech is of high interest. Speak with her to learn more about Denmark and to discuss market opportunities.
 
Carolina Soares - DIT Portugal
As part of the DIT Portugal team, my goal is to research the market and identify relevant business opportunities and potential partners for UK companies in the Life Sciences and Healthcare sectors, supporting their plans to grow their business in Portugal (as well as third markets). Main opportunities in the market can be found in areas such as personalised medicine, chronic disease management, assisted living technologies, remote monitoring sensors, augmented reality for health applications, AI and analytics for health, wearable technology and new diagnosis solutions, with local players very open to international partnerships and R&D collaborations. In addition, plans to build/renew and equip new hospitals in the coming 2-5 years, as announced by both the public and private sector, will open up new market opportunities linked to an increasing demand and supply chain needs from local stakeholders. The need for efficient solutions also provides great potential for e-health and MedTech in the Portuguese market, an early adopter of new technologies where players can benefit from one of the most advanced digital infrastructures in Europe.