Get to Know PCMG

This series offers a behind-the-scenes look at PCMG through the voices of its Committee members. Each member has answered a set of questions exploring what PCMG means to them, what first attracted them to the group, how it’s influenced their professional journey, and what they see as the biggest challenges in outsourcing today.

Their stories highlight the value of knowledge-sharing, peer support, and the lasting impact of being part of a committed professional community. Whether you’re curious about joining or simply want to understand PCMG’s role in the outsourcing landscape, these insights bring the organisation to life.

View the Committee’s Answers

Learn about PCMG – See Answers by Question

How would you describe PCMG to someone in no more than 20 words?

“A unique, member-driven association identifying and advocating best practices in Clinical outsourcing.” – David Davies
“A highly effective and motivated organisation focused on promoting outsourcing best practice with extensive opportunities to network with industry colleagues.” – Dave Webber
“A forum for outsourcing managers to network and share experience and advice.” – Richard Scaife
“PCMG is the leading organisation supporting Pharma/Biotech professionals involved in outsourcing and vendor management through promoting best practice and collaboration.” – Steve Martindill
What attracted you to join PCMG as a member and how did it happen?

“I found it online in 2000 and attended a workshop in 2001 – I became a Committee member the same year and the rest is history. The initial appeal of joining was to add leverage to my name and my company in dealing with CROs. I was also keen to know what were best practices, standard procedures, quality standards, industry norms etc. It very quickly became an excellent network of like-minded people working in similar roles, who were a brilliant source of support and information and have remained friends today.” – David Davies
“I was alerted to the existence of PCMG by a colleague. At my first meeting around 25 years ago there were 5 people in attendance.” – Dave Webber
“I’d never heard of it in 2006 until Roger Joby, who was helping set up the first international PCMG conference in Prague, asked if I’d speak. I was impressed that there were more people like me who were having to learn so much ‘on the job’ and willing to share know-how and market insights.” – Richard Scaife
“I joined PCMG many years ago when working as a Clinical Project Manager for a small Japanese Pharma company.” – Steve Martindill
What benefit did you gain from joining the committee?

“Gaining knowledge from formal and informal sources. Over the years, I’ve amassed a huge amount of information and learning, including genuine insights into risk reduction and design structure of outsourcing functions. Knowledge of the market, tips on good service providers, particularly smaller CROs providing specialist services. It was also tremendous reassurance that I was doing things right, and I’ve gained some leverage with CROs I’m sure. Being involved in fabulous workshop events for deep learning. Also, the templates were excellent for the time in the early stages of PCMG.” – David Davies
“The networking opportunities have been by far the biggest benefit of my membership of PCMG along with gaining considerable in depth knowledge through the workshops, webinars and annual Assembly. I know that I have made numerous contacts who I can get in touch with to understand their perspectives and experience and to share what has worked well and not so well for them. This has been invaluable as I have gained experience and taken on positions of increasing responsibility.” – Dave Webber
“The opportunity to interact and build long-term professional friendships with people from different perspectives and companies. Ordinarily, these types of working relationships are limited to colleagues in the workplace – which is limited in scale and scope in smaller companies and also subject to internal politics. It’s been a chance to learn how things can be done and extend my abilities through the collective knowledge of the experienced members of the Committee.” – Richard Scaife
“I have learned so much, and continue to learn, from colleagues and associates on the committee and among the Directors and general membership. PCMG is all about promoting the sharing of best practice and collaborating with our CRO partners in a way that is unique in the industry. The sense of fellowship and camaraderie has provided much needed support in difficult times and the establishment of a network of peers has proven invaluable.” – Steve Martindill
What experiences weren't you expecting before you joined the Committee which proved useful in the workplace?

“The get-togethers in the early days were terrific – all about networking and forging good working relationships. Being able to network with colleagues from small, medium and large companies and getting a great insight into how outsourcing was working in the different companies has benefitted me hugely. I was able to see the evolution of outsourcing strategies and practices and pick the best bits to bring back in-house. The most important thing was possibly gaining a deep insight into the outsourcing language around the legal terms and contractual rigor. I also learned a lot about regulatory requirements, and in particular, I gained an awareness of the enthusiasm of the regulators to audit in particular the outsourcing function. PCMG was instrumental in helping me see which quality requirements were necessary to satisfy the regulators, and of the need to be inspection ready. I would not have achieved successful regulatory inspections without my PCMG engagement.” – David Davies
“The networking has been extremely useful. People in the PCMG are very willing to share their experiences whilst respecting the boundaries of confidentiality and commercial sensitivity. Many of these contacts have become trusted friends over the years who I have turned to for advice and recommendations on a wide range of subjects. At least two of my career moves have come about as a direct result of my contacts within PCMG.” – Dave Webber
“Becoming Committee Chair! I was only invited to join the Committee at the June 2011 conference at which Andy Parrett announced he was stepping down. Up until then the Committee had seemed a bit distant. In January 2012 I became Chair (Lan as Vice-Chair) as there was a small exodus of Committee members and officers leaving David Davies as Secretary and the Treasurer. So, what I really wasn’t expecting was to have to lead the team at short notice with five months to identify venue and develop the 2012 conference. It proved useful as it developed my abilities in team leadership where I was building a new small outsourcing group.” – Richard Scaife
How has membership of the Committe changed your working perspectives?

“I have worked in CROs in the past, so I believe I have a very good perspective on the CROs business model and business goals from that. I guess my perspectives on the importance of having robust and practical quality platforms has changed, because I’ve learned the importance of staff being able to follow them 100 percent day-to-day to enable my company to be inspection ready. I also appreciated that, when reporting upwards to the Board, my membership of PCMG was perceived as a benefit in reducing the risks of our operations. The Board were reassured that I had implemented an outsourcing platform that was efficient and effective, that there were less likely to be any nasty surprises, and that the shareholders were getting a good return on their investment. PCMG membership and engagement reduced the risks of our products not getting to market, hence increasing future discounted cash flows, and therefore increase the value of our assets under development. Can I quantify that? Unfortunately not.” – David Davies
“It has taught me that the issues I have encountered are common place across the industry and we are all striving to overcome many of the same hurdles. Hence sharing information and experiences is extremely valuable. I have also learned that in many cases there isnt necessarily a right or wrong answer but something that meets the need of your own organisation and needs at the time.” – Dave Webber
“Not really changed but enhanced my perspective on the range of approaches used by different pharma/biotech. It helped me decide I definitely didn’t want to go back to big pharma and be a small cog in a big, impersonal machine.” – Richard Scaife
What are the major changes in the outsourcing landscape that are affecting members of PCMG?

“Decreasing power and authority of the outsourcing role generally. Increasingly sophisticated and skilled CRO business development teams and negotiators. The simple business model of the CRO versus pharma is also affecting PCMG members.” – David Davies
“The outsourcing landscape gets ever more complex with increasing regulation, pressures to deliver faster and do more with less, and with the ever increasing array of external service providers that play a key role in project delivery. The introduction of AI is something that will inevitably change the landscape and an area that we need to be responsive to and adapt accordingly.” – Dave Webber
“One, the threat of replacing people with systems as AI and technology risks automating the selection and management of suppliers and replacing working relationships with processes. Two, the rise and fall (and rise?) of biotechs creating instability and the replacement of FTE outsourcing people with contractors who don’t have long-term commitment/investment to develop and improve best practice (becoming more like the US where we’ve failed to set up PCMG because, I believe, employers and employees’ perspective are limited to short-term, often financial, outcomes. Thirdly, the shift to online interaction instead of F2F meetings. Would online marriage be viable? Then why expect business relationships to work well that way – joyless. Lastly, Trump. The decimation of the US state-sponsored R&D in medical science will increase cost, decrease pipeline and strangle innovation and risk-taking in clinical development.” – Richard Scaife
“Since I joined PCMG the industry has changed in many ways. The rise of procurement functions has impacted outsourcing professionals specialising in clinical trials and the reductions in workforces and restrictions on travel and training are making it challenging for members to attend events and contribute their time.” – Steve Martindill
What piece of advice would you give someone considering putting themselves forward for a place on the PCMG Committee?

“Membership of the Committee will raise your professional and personal profiles within the industry, outsourcing and CRO alliance communities. It will facilitate the perfomance of your day job, through greater knowledge and awareness and greater appreciation in the service sector of who you are and what you represent. You will become deeply embedded in the world of outsourcing, with a chair at the top table within the industry.” – David Davies
“Don’t hesitate, you wont regret it. My involvement in the PCMG committee on and off for more than 20 years has been extremely rewarding and I have learned a lot from the many talented and motivated individuals I have worked with. Its easy to sit back and enjoy the benefits of membership without giving anything back. However the organisation will only continue to go from strength to strength with the addition of new committee members with fresh ideas, new perspectives and a passion and drive to make PCMG the best it can be.” – Dave Webber
“Try it! You’d be amongst friends and you won’t find anything like it at work or any other professional associations. Jobs may change, but PCMG Committee colleagues can be for life.” – Richard Scaife
“I would urge anyone interested in contributing to the leadership of the PCMG to speak to a committee member or one of the Directors informally in the first instance and perhaps volunteer to run a workshop or help with an event to get a feel for the kind of work that it entails. We need new faces and diverse perspectives to help take the PCMG into the future.” – Steve Martindill

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Get to Know PCMG

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