Lisa Johnson will be the new chief executive officer of BioForward Inc., beginning May 4, 2015.
BioForward is the member-driven Wisconsin affiliate of the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO), the Pharmaceutical Research & Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) and Advanced Medical Technology Association (AdvaMed).
Johnson has served since 2011 as vice president of entrepreneurship and innovation at the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC).
“Lisa’s extensive experience and passion for improving Wisconsin’s life science economy position her well to have an immediate impact. She brings a deep understanding of Wisconsin’s life science industry, and a strong track record building the industry at its base in Madison, as well as expanding it throughout the state,” said Joe Hammer, BioForward board chair.
“I’m excited and ready to continue BioForward’s mission of connecting, educating and advocating for Wisconsin’s life science economy,” Johnson said. “A key to our success will be promoting our broad base of industry and university assets and collaborating across our other leading (industry) sectors. We must demonstrate the power and value of our assets to provide opportunities to our companies and bring investments into the state.”
Prior to joining the WEDC, Johnson spent 22 years in the biotech industry where she held executive business
development and operational roles with Novagen Inc., a successful life science tools company started in Madison and later acquired by Merck KGaA/EMD. During her 10 years with Merck she
traveled extensively, developing global partnerships for EMD-Novagen.
