The Welsh Government has confirmed that Professor Sir Mansel Aylward has been appointed as the new Chair of Life Sciences Hub Wales Limited.

Launched in 2014 and based in Cardiff, the Life Sciences Hub brings together all facets of the life science sector in Wales including academic, business, clinical, government, professional services and funding organisations, providing a commercially-driven resource for the sector.

As part of his new appointment Mansel Aylward will lead on the development of a repurposed vision and mission for the Hub including delivering opportunities to broaden the scope of the Life Sciences Hub and create value for NHS-industry engagement.

Skills and Science Minister Julie James said “Wales’ life sciences sector has gone from strength-to-strength over recent years, punching well above its weight on a global stage and is now worth circa £2bn to the Welsh economy. Key to this success and driving innovation across the sector has been the Life Sciences Hub Wales Limited and I am delighted that Professor Sir Mansel Aylward has accepted my invitation to Chair its Board. He has extensive experience of working in the Life Sciences Sector across academia, health and business and will play a key role in building on the success of the Hub to date and I look forward to seeing how the Hub develops under his leadership.”

Mansel Aylward has spent his life working across the life science sector. He said “I am both honoured and delighted to be appointed as the Chair of the Life Sciences Hub. This appointment comes at a critical time when the Board of the Life Sciences Hub will be developing a repurposed vision and mission which must include developing opportunities to broaden the scope of the Hub and creating value from engagement by NHS Wales with industry and academia.

“Moreover, the Hub has to flourish as a key element of the Welsh Government’s vision to accelerate economic development activity within the life sciences sector by further encouraging a wide range of organisations across industry, academia, NHS Wales and investors to work collaboratively to establish Wales as one of the best environments on the international stage for innovation, enterprise and best practice in this sector.

“Not least, I also consider it important to align the aims and objectives of the Life Sciences Hub with several of the goals of the Wellbeing of Future Generations Act. I shall devote commitment and my endeavours as Chair to achieve these aims and strongly seek to contribute leadership and governance of the Board and the drive to ensure the success of the repurposed Life Sciences Hub.”

Mansel Aylward will take up his role in October 2017.