Life Science Washington, the state’s life science industry association, today announced Marc Cummings as its new President & CEO and appointed new board members representing a wide array of industry, financial, and academic expertise. Cummings, who previously served as Life Science Washington’s Vice President of Public Policy and External Affairs, will lead the organization to ensure Washington’s life science community is equipped with the capital, workforce, and statewide partner engagement necessary to sustain the industry’s rapid growth.
Cummings brings a unique combination of statewide leadership, government relations expertise, and trade association experience to further bolster the local life science industry’s reputation as a top 10 life science cluster. Prior to Life Science Washington, Cummings held a number of positions representing high-tech industries in both Washington, D.C. and Washington state. As the Director of Policy and External Affairs for the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), which is operated by Battelle, he helped develop and advocate for several statewide bioscience initiatives including the Life Sciences Discovery Fund. At the state level, Cummings co-chaired the Washington Clean Energy Leadership Council and served on the Life Science & Global Health Advisory Council and as Interim Executive Director of the Washington State Economic Development Commission. Cummings has also served on a number of statewide trade association boards, including Washington Technology Industry Association (WTIA) and the Washington Clean Technology Alliance (WCTA).
“Marc’s proven track record of leadership, impressive public policy and trade association experience, and strong vision for taking our community to the next level made him the clear choice to take the helm as CEO,” said Richard Fabian, Board Chair of Life Science Washington and President and Chief Operating Officer at FUJIFILM SonoSite. “The board and I look forward to partnering with Marc and the Life Science Washington team to further elevate our industry as a maturing national life science powerhouse.”
In the last decade, Washington’s life science industry has matured from an emerging cluster to an established top life science destination in the country. According to Life Science Washington’s most recent Economic Impact Report, today the state’s life science industry generates $30.1 billion in total economic activity and contributes $16.4 billion in value-added activity to Washington’s gross domestic product (GDP). In 2021 alone, the industry experienced record investment with companies across the state raising almost $5 billion including six life science companies becoming publicly traded.
“It’s an exciting time for Washington’s life science industry with more investment, job growth, and rapidly expanding life science companies than ever before,” said Marc Cummings, President & CEO of Life Science Washington. “I’m excited to work with our members and partners throughout the state to ensure we have the talent, investment, and partnerships needed to sustain the industry’s robust growth and solidify Washington state’s reputation as one of the top life science clusters in the nation.”
Life Science Washington Appoints New Board Members
In addition to appointing Cummings as CEO effective Jan. 3, Life Science Washington and its affiliate, Life Science Washington Institute are pleased to announce additional board members, who come from the most impactful research institutions, investment firms, biotech companies, and universities in the state.
Life Science Washington’s new board members include:
- Leslie Cornick, PhD, Professor and Dean, School of STEM, University of Washington Bothell
- Kelly Lisbakken, Managing Director, Head of Biopharma Investment Banking, Wedbush Securities
- Cindy McDonald-Everett, Senior Vice President, Global Value Access, Seagen
- Chris Picardo, Partner, Madrona Venture Group
Life Science Washington Institute’s new board members include:
- Magali Eaton, Assistant. Director, Innovation Training, UW Co-Motion
- Loretta Little, MBA, Managing Director, WRF Capital
- Scott Maloney, MBA, Director of Innovation and Private Sector Research Engagement, Washington State University
- Sean McClain, Founder & CEO, AbSci
- Katrina Rogers, Founder, Katrina Rogers Consulting
- Kayla Young, Chief Operating Officer, Phase Genomics