Mr Nicholas Thorniley (63), Chairman

Nicholas first worked in the City for Montagu Loebl and Stanley, becoming a partner in 1974. Whilst there he was a founder member of the London Oil Analysts Group and became Chairman in 1983. He joined L Messel & Co in 1981 as a partner and moved to Panmure Gordon in 1991 as a director and finally joining Investec Securities as a Director and Head of Corporate Broking in 2002. His career in the City spans some 37 years during which he moved from research to sales and on to corporate broking, where he specialised in the small mid cap area. (Member of Remuneration Committee)

Dr Satu Vainikka (40), Chief Executive Officer

Satu Vainikka has extensive experience in the biotechnology industry, technology commercialisation, equity financing and business management. Prior to her current role as a CEO of ValiRx, she was a founder, director and CEO of Cronos. In her past roles, Dr Vainikka has successfully developed business strategies, negotiated corporate and academic transactions and raised funding for companies. (Member of Remuneration Committee)

Dr Jake Micallef (52), Chief Technical Officer

Originally trained as a physical chemist at Kings College London, Jake is COO for ValiRx plc. Jake has more than 20 years experience in R&D and in the manufacture of biotechnology products and diagnostics for the World Health Organisation, Immunometrics Ltd, Gene Expression Technologies Ltd and Cronos Therapeutics Ltd. Jake was also a co-founder and director of all these companies, has established three manufacturing operations, and has experience of all aspects of the management of early stage biotechnology companies. (Member of Environmental Committee)

Mr Gerry Desler (63), Chief Financial Officer

Gerry Desler is a chartered accountant, who qualified in 1968 with a City firm, becoming partner in 1970. From 1985 to 1990 he was the Senior Partner. During his time in the City he specialised in consultancy work, much of it involving funding and venture capital. He was involved in one of the first joint ventures in what was then the People's Republic of China in 1980. Gerry Desler is also the Finance Director of Premier Management Holdings plc, an AIM listed company and Babble Group plc and Venture Six plc, both Plus Market listed companies. (Member of Audit Committee)

Mr Kevin Alexander (52), Non-Executive Director

Kevin Alexander is a solicitor and qualified as a member of the New York Bar and spent over 25 years practising law with major law firms in London and in the United States. Since leaving full time legal partnership, he has been involved with various business interests, both in the energy sector and in private equity. (Member of Environmental Committee)

Dr Noman Hardman, Non-Executive Director

Dr Hardman has over 22 years experience in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology sector.  From 1986-1997 he held international global R&D management positions in Ciba-Geigy AG and Novartis, and subsequently several senior executive position in both public and private UK and US biotechnology companies, most recently as CEO of Medical Research Council Technologies, and as President and CEO of Amicus Therapeutics, Inc.  Dr Hardman is currently a Non-Executive Director of Chelsea Therapeutics, Inc., an advisor to Biovista, Inc.  He also serves as VP of the Aberdeen University Development Trust, and is Honorary Professor of Medical Sciences at the University of Aberdeen.