DOUGLASCLARK is Executive Director, with Patented Medicine Prices Review Board (PMPRB). A career public servant, Doug has a background in international trade law, intellectual property policy, pharmaceutical industry issues and competition law enforcement. Doug attended McGill University, the University of New Brunswick and l'Université de Moncton. He graduated law school in 1997 and was called to the Ontario Bar in 1999 after a clerkship with the Honourable Marc Noël of the Federal Court of Appeal. In2000, Doug was hired by Industry Canada to assist in the case management of two WTO-based legal challenges to Canada’s pharmaceutical patent regime brought by the US and EU. In 2006, Doug became the Director of the Patent and Trademark Policy Directorate at Industry Canada, where he led a number of legislative and regulatory initiatives under the Patent Act and Trademarks Act, including the development of Canada’s Access to Medicines Regime (CAMR) and pharmaceutical patent litigation reform. In 2009, Doug joined the Competition Bureau as Assistant Deputy Commissioner, Civil Matters Branch, where he was responsible for a number of high-profile prosecutions under the Competition Act. Doug became Executive Director of the PMPRB on October 28, 2013.
Joan is the director of health and disability policy for CLHIA (Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association), a voluntary trade association with member companies that account for 99 percent of Canada's life and health insurance business. In her role, Joan is responsible for analysis on industry issues, policy strategy development and to build consensus on concerns important to member companies. An important part of the health portfolio is working within industry, including with national healthcare associations as well as with provincial/federal payers on benefit programs, specifically on best practices, strategy, advocacy and sustainability.
Joan brings 20+ years of benefits management expertise to her position at CLHIA, having worked for insurers and administrators on both private and public sector programs, notably with First Canadian Health and Health Canada on the NIHB program and most recently with Medavie Blue Cross.
Helen Trifonopoulos is the Head of Health Policy and Patient Access at Novartis Oncology. She leads a team of professionals responsible for health economics and outcomes research, value and access strategy, government and stakeholder relations, and health systems partnerships.
Helen has over 20 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry working for Merck and Novartis. She has held roles in commercial, medical education, policy and reimbursement across multiple therapeutic areas and various phases of the product life cycle. Most recently, Helen has had the privilege of working in novel areas like immuno-oncology and cell and gene therapies
Helen’s professional interests lie in exploring ways members of the healthcare ecosystem can work towards enhancing the life sciences in Canada and enabling patient access to innovative therapies while partnering for health system sustainability.
Helen holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from McGill University and an MBA from the John Molson School of Business.
