Oxford Nanopore Technologies plc announced that Kate Priestman will be joining the Group as Non-Executive Director with effect from 13 July 2023. Kate brings extensive experience as a biopharma executive for more than 25 years, serving in leadership roles across commercial, operations, corporate strategy, communications and government affairs. She was most recently Senior Vice President of R&D Strategy, Portfolio and Operations at GlaxoSmithKline, where she led the evolution of GSK's science and technology strategy, portfolio management and global R&D operations & business transformation, helping steer the FTSE 100 company's growth.

Kate also served on GSK's separation board, delivering the successful spin-out of Haleon plc in 2022. In addition, she previously held global and UK roles at Eli Lilly & Co and Zeneca, after an early career at the BBC, where she spent several years as a broadcaster. Kate also currently also serves as a Trustee of RBG Kew, an organisation with around 500 scientists working globally to understand plant biology and fight biodiversity loss.