Dr. Windham-Bannister is an experienced CEO who served as the founding President and CEO of the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center from July 2008-May 2015, overseeing a $1 Billion investment to accelerate the pace of growth and innovation in the life sciences sectors (pharceuticals, biotechology, medical devices, medical diagnostics and bioinformatics). She is the first African American in the U.S. to lead a life science-focused innovation initiative of this scale. As CEO, Dr. Windham-Bannister was responsible for the Center’s investment strategy, brand management, organizational development, and return on public investment. Dr. Windham-Bannister is an internationally recognized expert with excellent academic and professional credentials in the field of innovation strategy, market access and health care policy analysis — with a special focus on highly regulated industries. She has significant international experience in Europe, Asia ad Latin America. Dr. Windham-Bannister combines business strategy expertise and public policy training to maximize market access, as well as facilitate more effective industry interface with government. She was named as one of the 10 Most Influential Women in Biotech by the Boston Globe in 2013.
Before assuming her role at MLSC, Dr. Windham-Bannister was a Founding Partner of Abt Bio-Pharma Solutions (ABS), a boutique consulting firm serving life sciences companies. Dr. Windham-Bannister managed the firm’s Commercial Strategy Group, which formulated market access strategies for Fortune 100 companies in life sciences and technology. In her 35-year consulting career, she was instrumental in the successful launch of a number of well known therapeutics, medical devices and novel biomarkers. She also supported a number of M&As and developed extensive international experience.
In addition to being named by the Boston Globe as one of the “10 Most Influential Women in Biotech” in 2013, Dr. Windham-Bannister was named by Boston Magazine as one of the “50 Most Powerful Women in Boston” in 2011; and as one of the Harvard Club’s “12 Women to Watch in 2012.” Other awards include the Massachusetts Women’s Political Caucus Abigail Adams Award (2009), the Science Club for Girls Catalyst Award (2011), the Freedom House Champions of Freedom Award (2012), the Visiting Nurse Assocation of Boston & Affiliate Hero in Health Care Award (2012), and the Great Boston Chamber of Commerce Pinnacle Award (2013).
Dr. Windham-Bannister received a B.A. from Wellesley College, a Doctorate in Health Policy and Management from the Florence Heller School at Brandeis University, and a Doctor of Science from Worcester Polytechnic Institute (honoris causa). She completed her doctoral work at the Heller School under a fellowship from the Ford Foundation and was also a post-doctoral fellow at Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy school. Dr. Windham-Bannister also served as a Fellow in the Center for Science and Policy (CSAP) at Cambridge University, Cambridge, England.