Rebecca Farn

Forefront RF is shrinking mobile radio front ends in smartphones, smartwatches and IoT devices.

Implementation of the Cellular Origins factory automation strategic vision. Multi-customer/partner, multi-site, global delivery. Translation of vision into a plan and organisational structure. Overseeing delivery, communication, recruitment, resourcing and leading cross-functional teams through significant change and growth. Navigating corporate, consultancy and start-up collaboration. Established and led a project delivery team of five.

Evonetix is a Cambridge-based company developing a radically different approach to gene synthesis. Their desktop DNA synthesis platform will provide the ability to synthesise DNA at unprecedented accuracy, scale and speed, accelerating scientists’ ability to use biology on a scale not currently possible. As a Programme Manager, I was responsible for delivering business change, aligning a company of over 100 people through a transition from research to product development. It was my job to set strategy, ensure the consistent and transparent delivery of projects and embed value back into the business. Although this role was only formalised in 2023, it overlapped with my instrument development leadership responsibilities.

Line management, best practice, recruitment and strategy for establishing an early internal manufacturing discipline within Evonetix.

Technical lead of the Device (Instrument) development. Working with senior leadership on a technology roadmap. Establishing and leading an extended team of around 20 engineers and scientists to deliver internal test platforms on time and on budget. Leading internally and externally to establish a product strategy, user workflows, product requirements and de-risk chosen technical approaches.

Head of the mechanical engineering team. Growing a Neurotech start-up team and implementing medical product development practices for a Class III AIMD. Planning and strategy around creating an interface between the human nervous system and technology. User studies to refine business case and define requirements. Preparation for pre clinical in vivo trials, delayed due to COVID.

Part of the original core team delivering the now approved and commercial break-through robotic solution for minimal access surgery. I joined with the ambition to make the benefits of minimal access surgery available to everyone who needs it. Led teams of up to six people through transfer to manufacture activities. Delivered technical validation, training of surgical teams, product usability testing and validation, to successfully support CE marking.

One of the core designers of a disruptive medical robotic platform for keyhole surgery. Design through ideation, concept, Alpha, Beta and transfer to manufacture of the Versius system hand controllers and user interface. Led VoC research and risk management activities to input back into the design process. Named inventor on patents related to user interface design, drape, and robotic control systems.

Experience from complex electro-mechanical surgical developments to front end concept generation. Technical leadership and VoC for medical device development through to regulatory submission. Key achievements included successfully transferring to manufacture an electrosurgery device that is currently available on the market. I led user research on hernia mesh in hospitals across China and Europe, contributing valuable insights.

One of only a few offered the opportunity to second to Business Development, I generated new business against sales targets, scoped project deliverables, costs and resources, wrote proposals and attended conferences.