Mr David Wilks

Mr David Wilks is an accomplished leader in the pharmaceutical industry with over 25 years of experience in clinical trial operations. He currently serves as the Executive Director and Regional Head of Clinical Operations for the Asia Pacific (APAC) region at Bristol Myers Squibb (BMS). In this role, Mr Wilks leads a team of 170 clinical trial professionals responsible for site selection, start-up, execution, and delivery of clinical trials across Australia, New Zealand, India, Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and Taiwan.

Mr Wilks extensive career in the pharmaceutical industry began after he graduated with a Bachelor of Science (Honours) from Monash University and gained experience in medical research at The University of Melbourne. He first joined Eli Lilly, where he spent six years in both Australia and the United Kingdom, working in medical information and clinical development. His roles at Eli Lilly provided him with a solid foundation in global clinical research and development, paving the way for his future contributions to the field.

In 2003, Mr Wilks joined BMS, where he has held a variety of roles within Regional Clinical Operations (RCO) Australia. Over the years, he built on his leadership and operational skills, progressing through positions of increasing responsibility. His roles included functional execution, line management, and team leadership. Mr Wilks responsibilities encompassed supervising and coordinating internal teams, engaging with clinical trial sites, overseeing study delivery management, and ensuring the achievement of patient recruitment, site activation, and data management milestones.

Mr Wilks responsibilities expanded beyond Australia and New Zealand, and in 2022, he was promoted to Head of Clinical Operations for APAC. In 2023, Mr Wilks graduated with a Global Executive Master of Business Administration from Monash University.

BMS is a global biopharmaceutical company dedicated to discovering, developing, and delivering innovative medicines that help patients prevail over serious diseases. Under Mr Wilks leadership, the APAC region continues to contribute significantly to the company's mission by delivering high-quality clinical trials and advancing new therapies for patients.

Mr Wilks is an active member of his local community, volunteering as a coach for the Mordialloc Flyers Basketball Club and contributing his time to Brainwave Bikes, a social enterprise and the largest retailer of second-hand bikes in Melbourne. All proceeds from Brainwave Bikes go towards donating bicycles to families in need and supporting the charity Brainwave Australia.