Alistair Edwards

Associate Global Director @ Novo Nordisk | PhD | MBA

Copenhagen, Capital Region of Denmark, Denmark

About

An experienced pharma professional with in-depth knowledge of commercial and strategic aspects of the industry, I apply my scientific and business skill sets to commercial questions at the interface of research and development, focusing on portfolio-level considerations of future competitive position. I hold a PhD in protein chemistry from Sydney University and an MBA from Copenhagen Business School.

Experience

  • Novo Nordisk (Full-time · 3 yrs 9 mos)
    • Global Associate Director
      Oct 2025 - Present · 9 mos

      This role builds on my scientific and commercial experience and lifts it to a portfolio level, understanding, assessing and communicating the value of assets and strategies to the broader company. This function puts me in direct collaboration with scientific experts, commercial direction-setters and strategic leaders; I am closely involved in tasks across the value chain, from discussion and assessment of detailed scientific drivers of asset competitive edge, to portfolio level integration of value propositions, to building commercial strategies leveraging portfolio strengths.

    • Associate Global Portfolio Director
      Oct 2022 - Feb 2026 · 3 yrs 5 mos

      My role bridges research and commercial, communicating commercial priorities to the research function on an asset and therapy area level, and translating scientific realities into commercial and asset strategy.

  • Principal Consultant at PA Consulting
    Jan 2021 - Oct 2022 · 1 yr 10 mos

    Working with life science clients across all stages of the business model, including R&D, clinical, processes and business strategy. A particular focus on digital elements of the pharma value chain and how value is created and captured in a digital healthcare ecosystem - for patients and for firms.

  • Zealand Pharma A/S (4 yrs 9 mos)
    • Senior Scientist
      Nov 2017 - Aug 2019 · 1 yr 10 mos

      My work at Zealand Pharma brought me into daily contact with all aspects of peptide characterisation and druggability assessment, and required that I utilise a wide range of analytical tools. I was also involved in set up of methods and analytical oversight of contract manufacturing organisations. My position also involved varied contributions to business development activities, such as pipeline development, innovation outreach management, scientific analysis of acquisition candidates and business case management of early-stage projects.

    • Scientist
      Dec 2014 - Nov 2017 · 3 yrs

      Responsibilities include: - Characterisation of peptide-based compounds by mass spectrometry and liquid chromatography. - Planning of experiments, analysis and presentation of resulting data. - Management of projects from early-stage compound development through to toxicological testing and clinical phases.

  • Postdoctoral Research Fellow at University of Southern Denmark
    Jun 2011 - Nov 2014 · 3 yrs 6 mos

    My work focused around using mass spectrometry and peptide/protein enrichment techniques to describe and characterise the protein-based responses of cells and organs to various 'real-world' biological inputs. This was performed with a particular emphasis on how, when and where proteins are chemically modified and what the consequences of these modifications might be. On a systems biology level, I became interested in how the wide variety of functional outputs and alterations created through these modifications are integrated to form complex, overlapping networks, and the manner in which post-translational modifications might be used to increase the information-carrying capacity of these networks.

  • PhD Candidate at University of Sydney
    Jan 2007 - Apr 2011 · 4 yrs 4 mos