Aston University Pharma Faculty CEO to give memorial lecture to commemorate eminent Birmingham industrialist
Aston University is set to host the Chartered Management Institute’s (CMI) annual MacLaren Memorial Lecture on 10 May 2023.
This year’s event will feature keynote speaker Dr Marcia Philbin, CEO of the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Medicine, a charity and professional membership body with a mission to advance the science and practice of pharmaceutical medicine.
Dr Philbin, who has over 20 years of experience as a scientist in the Ministry of Defence and three years as assistant director at the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, is a champion for equity, diversity and inclusion in the workplace. As a Black woman in science, she has faced discrimination and micro-aggression but has used these experiences to empower aspiring professionals and promote greater diversity and inclusion.
In her lecture, ‘Actions that get results’, Dr Philbin will share insights from her successful career in civil service and professional bodies, focusing on the importance of building and managing relational networks. She will discuss practical strategies for refining interpersonal skills, the impact of not getting it ‘right’ and how to enable network-building for those who do not have access to the same opportunities.
The MacLaren Lecture is an annual event held jointly by Aston University and the Chartered Management Institute. The event has run since 1953 and has attracted major speakers from business and industry.
It commemorates the life of James MacLaren, one of the most eminent industrialists in Birmingham’s history. MacLaren was one of the founder members of the Birmingham branch of the Chartered Management Institute and was the first chair of the Birmingham College of Technology, an antecedent of Aston University. He was particularly known for developing links between industry and education.
Dr Philbin said:
“I am honoured to be the keynote speaker for this year’s MacLaren Memorial Lecture at Aston Business School.
“I look forward to sharing insights from my experiences in the civil service and professional bodies and discussing practical strategies for building and managing relational networks.
“I believe that everyone deserves access to the same opportunities, and I hope to inspire professionals to cultivate better relationships and promote greater diversity and inclusion in their own workplaces.”
Professor Zoe Radnor, Pro-Vice-Chancellor and Executive Dean of the College of Business and Social Sciences at Aston University, said:
“We are thrilled to have Marcia Philbin as our keynote speaker for this year’s MacLaren Memorial Lecture at Aston Business School.
“Her insights and experiences will be invaluable to professionals seeking to cultivate better relationships and promote greater diversity and inclusion in the workplace.”
The event will include light refreshments, an interactive Q&A with the audience, and networking opportunities. Attendees will also have access to CMI’s Management Diagnostics tool, designed to help professionals develop their careers.