TUESDAY 17 MARCH
18.00 - 18.45
Pre-lecture Reception
19.00 - 19.05
Welcome and introduction from the Headmaster Mr Joe Smith
19.05 - 20.00 How the Nail built the Shard Roma Agrawal MBE
20.00 - 20.15
Q&A with current students facilitated by Mr Christopher Bowles, Director of Science
The Headmaster Joe Smith warmly welcomes you to the
“How the Nail built the Shard”
Delivered by Roma Agrawal MBE
Dr Francis Cuss is a physician scientist, with a background in general and academic medicine. He has a broad range of experience, from both Europe and the USA, in pharmaceutical research, clinical development and executive management within globally operating biopharma companies with a career spanning more than 30 years in the pharmaceutical industry, specifically with Bristol-Myers Squibb, Schering-Plough and Glaxo.
Francis retired from BMS in July 2017 having served as Executive Vice President and Chief Scientific Officer since July 2013 and as a member of BMS’s Senior Management Team since 2010. He joined Bristol-Myers Squibb in 2003 and as head of Research.
For nearly a decade Francis led a discovery organisation, which produced an innovative pipeline focused on helping patients prevail against serious diseases.
Prior to joining the pharmaceutical industry, Francis was a practising physician with a specialisation in pulmonary medicine in the UK.
He received his education at St Benedict’s School (1961-1972) and his medical training in the United Kingdom. He holds medical degrees from Cambridge University, and is a fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Medicine. He has published numerous articles and book chapters on topics of medical interest.
We extend our thanks to Dr Cuss for his generous endowment towards the Richard Baker Science Lecture series.
Francis retired from BMS having served as Executive Vice President and Chief Scientific Officer since July 2013 and as a member of BMS’s Senior Management Team since 2010.
Baker Pupil, Teacher, OPA Administrator (Retired)(OP 1959)
Richard joined St Benedict’s Junior School in September 1947 at 6 and a half years old, and his connection with the school lasted seven decades. His school years were happy, with a talent for avoiding sports. After four years in Junior School, he moved on to the Middle and Upper Schools, experiencing school lunches in a “tin” refectory and gymnasium. He spent most of his extracurricular time in the CCF, eventually becoming Staff Sergeant of the Signals Section. In the sixth form, Richard developed a passion for Chemistry and went on to study it at Bristol University, where he decided to pursue teaching.
In 1962, Fr. George Brown offered him a junior appointment in the Chemistry Department at St Benedict’s, where he stayed for his entire career, also contributing to the CCF and later, IT. He retired as a Lieutenant Colonel from the CCF in 1991 after 29 years of service. Upon retiring in 2000, Richard found a new role with the OPA, where he became Assistant Administrator in 2003.
Roma Agrawal MBE is a structural engineer and author, who has designed bridges, skyscrapers and sculptures with signature architects over the course of her fourteen-year career.
She spent six years working on The Shard, the tallest building in Western Europe, and designed the foundations and the ‘Spire.’ Roma’s five-star rated podcast, Building Stories, delves into the hidden tales of the structures that surround us. She is passionate about promoting engineering and technical careers to young people, particularly those from minoritized groups, and has won international awards for her technical prowess and for her advocacy for the profession, including the prestigious Royal Academy of Engineering’s Rooke Award. She was also appointed an MBE in 2018 for services to engineering.
She has spoken at lots of prestigious events and conferences including The Construction Industry Council: Diversity Panel (2013-2016) and the Institution of Engineering & Technology: Knowledge Management Board (2012-2014), to name a few. Her first book, BUILT (2018) won an AAAS science book award and has been translated into
nine languages, and she published an extremely successful children’s version, How was that built? in 2021. Her third book, Nuts & Bolts is just out, to glowing reviews.
““I don’t think there are that many professions where you get that sense that you’ve made a thing that people are going to interact with. It’s extremely, extremely rewarding!”
- Roma Agrawal “
