Chris Yochim, External Relations Director, Strategic Partnering and Business Development AstraZeneca. SPBD is leading the delivery of one of AstraZeneca’s strategic priorities, Externalization, to improve growth prospects by accessing external opportunities. The function is globally integrated across the business and has stablished leading edge capability in Licensing, Mergers & Acquisition, and strategic collaboration. Chris has global responsibility for External Relations within SPBD to drive awareness of AstraZeneca’s areas of strategic partnering interest. The goal is to establish AstraZeneca as a Preferred Partner within the biotechnology sector, venture capital & academic community, Previously, Chris has led technology transfer at the North America Headquarters in Wilmington, Delaware. Chris is a founding member and Chairman of the Board of the Delaware Bioscience Association. He is a former member of the Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees of the Association of University Technology Managers (AUTM), and served as Vice President for Eastern US Region (2006-2007). Chris currently serves on the Board of Directors of PABio and The Japan America Society of Greater Philadelphia and is active in the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO). Following undergraduate education at Loyola University in New Orleans, Chris graduated from Millsaps College in Jackson Mississippi. He joined the Cardio-Renal Pharmacology department of ICI/Zeneca Pharmaceuticals in 1980. During 15 years in drug discovery research, Chris contributed to the development of numerous marketed products, including treatments for high blood pressure, asthma and schizophrenia.