GET TO KNOW OUR TEAM
Luke Kiernan
Managing Director
Luke’s career in the pharmaceutical industry spans over 25 years with Elan, Gerard Laboratories, BioAnalytical Laboratories, Wyeth & Pfizer. Luke has held various Senior Management roles in Validation, Technical Services, Regulatory Affairs, Analytical Method Development, Quality Control and Quality Assurance.
Throughout his career, he has gained extensive experience in all aspects of validation lifecycle, process improvement, technical transfers, regulatory affairs and Quality Management. Luke set up our Technical Services Division in 2016 with the purpose of both supporting clients with talented engineers and scientists and supporting engineers and scientists develop their careers in the biopharmaceutical and med tech industries.
Caroline Fanneran
Head of Commercial Operations
Caroline has over 20 years’ experience across Biopharmaceuticals, FMCG, Supply Chain & Logistics, and Staffing Solutions. With a Business Studies background in Management Applications, Caroline’s expertise is in combining strategic insight with a commitment to quality and excellence. Known for building strong, trust-based relationships, she is dedicated to delivering results for our clients.
As Head of Commercial Operations, Caroline has been instrumental in the successful growth and expansion of our Technical Services Business within the Life Sciences Sector. Caroline brings strong sectoral experience to her role enabling her to deliver resourcing solutions that meet and exceed clients’ expectations. Her expertise in talent pipelining, business development, and client service delivery enables the creation of tailored staffing solutions that consistently meet the evolving needs of our clients to support their own strategic projects.
Nicola Rice
Head of Programmes
Nicola is a Chartered Engineer with experience spanning two decades in the pharmaceutical manufacturing sector and a decade teaching adult learners. Her expertise spans Regulatory Compliance, Pharmaceutical Validation, Instructional Design and Adult Learning Principles. As a level 10 apprentice and doctoral researcher funded by Solas and in collaboration with the University of Limerick’s College of Engineering, her research integrates industry, academia, and government to inform national and European policy in future skills frameworks. Nicola serves as an advisor on working groups tasked with the creation of a national skills framework for the Bio Pharma Chem sector.
As Head of Programmes at Innopharma Technical Services, Nicola leads the development of industry-aligned training programs, working with stakeholders to address skills gaps and ensure regulatory compliance. Nicola holds a Masters in Engineering Management from University College Dublin (UCD), a BSc in Mechanical and Electrical Engineering from Technological University Dublin (TUD),and is a Lean Six Sigma Blackbelt.
Áine Galvin
Programme Facilitator
Áine has 20+ years’ experience across the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry having worked in QC, Product Devlopment, formulation and aseptic fill finish, primary and secondary packaging through to batch disposition to EU and global markets. Áine’s early career encompassed QC analytical testing, method validation and technology transfer in companies such as Astellas pharma, Mayne Pharma (Australia), GSK and Gilead Sciences, Cork. In the latter 10 years, Áine held senior management roles in Quality Assurance, Batch release and Site Validation oversight for Amgen, at their Dublin facility.
Áine joined Innopharma in January 2024 as Programme Facilitator delivering course content in pharmaceutical validation and quality assurance. Áine holds a MSc in Industrial Pharmaceutical Science from Royal College of Surgeons Ireland (RCSI) and a BSc in industrial Biochemistry from University of Limerick (UL).
Irene Nowak
QC Programme Manager
Irene has over 10 years of industry experience having worked in Boston Scientific, Allergan, Sigmoid and BMS. Her roles have included QC Chemist, R&D Chemist and QC Supervisor. She has been responsible for analytical method development, method validation and tech transfer of analytical methods.
Irene has trained analysts and driven improvements in the lab CAPA system. She has managed all aspects of testing from raw materials through to finished product, stability samples, validation samples and water samples. Most recently Irene was involved in the qualification of lab equipment for a Biopharma start-up. Irene holds an MSc in Organic Chemistry from Dublin City University (DCU).
