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142W26-Logo_Web-2
April 15-16, 2026
The Westin Houston Medical Center/Museum District, Houston, Texas
 

Advancing the TLL Function — From Relationship Management to Strategic Influence

The Only Event Built for TLLs

Join the life sciences event that puts Thought Leader Liaisons front and center—where strategy, execution, and peer connection collide and take part in a rapidly expanding community.

Why Attend?

  • 💡 Actionable insights from top pharma & biotech TLLs
  • 🧠 Real-world tools for KOL mapping, scoring & speaker coaching
  • 🚀 Launch readiness, AI-powered engagement, and cross-functional collaboration
  • 🤝 Unmatched networking with fellow TLLs and commercial leaders
  • 📍 Live in Houston —where the future of HCP engagement takes shape

Elevate your impact, Expand your influence, Lead the conversation

TLL_Blue

This is for YOU, the TLL

Step into a community built for Thought Leader Liaisons. Every session is crafted to help you sharpen your expertise, navigate compliance with confidence, and expand the influence of your work. You’ll gain clarity on evolving expectations, discover new approaches to expert engagement, and leave empowered to drive greater impact within your organization and across the life sciences community.

Network_Blue

A Network That Understands Your World

Connect with peers, regional engagement leaders, and medical affairs colleagues who live the realities of thought leader collaboration. Share proven strategies, uncover fresh approaches, and build lasting relationships with professionals who understand the challenges — and opportunities — of expert engagement.

Content_Blue

Content That Elevates TLL Impact

Our agenda is built on deep industry research and the real-world challenges faced by Thought Leader Liaisons. Expect bold keynotes, interactive roundtables, and tactical sessions focused on expert engagement, speaker program innovation, and compliant collaboration with KOLs and DOLs. You’ll leave with fresh content, practical tools, and clear strategies to strengthen relationships, amplify scientific exchange, and drive measurable impact in your role.

Speaking Faculty

Filter Speakers:
Kristi Ambs
Kristi Ambs

Associate Director, Thought Leader Liaison

KYOWA KIRIN

Nicole Bennett
Nicole Bennett

National Director, Thought Leader Liaisons

REGENERON

Joe Boyd
Joe Boyd

Strategic Market Development Director

AZURA OPHTHALMICS

Nicole Defresse
Nicole deFreese

Senior National Director, Market Development

UNITED THERAPEUTICS

Jonica Eberbach
Jonica Eberbach

Thought Leader Liaison

AMGEN

Austin Maxwell
Austin Maxwell

Director, Thought Leader Liaisons

AMGEN

Jody Mills Pic_Headshot_2024
Jody Mills

Director, Thought Leader Liaisons and Key Account Managers

CORCEPT THERAPEUTICS

Greg Orlick
Greg Orlick

Associate Director Regional Marketing - Oncology

ASTRAZENECA

Jason Plant 1
Jason Plant

Senior Director, Thought Leader Liaisons

VERA THERAPEUTICS

Celeste Smith
Celeste Smith

Senior Oncology Marketing

Former GILEAD

Matthew Spencer
Matthew Spencer

Regional Marketing Director - ORSERDU™

MENARINI STEMLINE

Helen Steele
Helen Steele

Executive Director, Thought Leader Liaison Team

PACIRA BIOSCIENCES

Julie Waite
Julie Waite

Associate Director, Key Opinion Leader Liaison

FERRING PHARMACEUTICALS

Jennifer Whipkey
Jennifer Whipkey

Executive Director Marketing, Regional Marketing Team

MENARINI STEMLINE

Amanda Williamson
Amanda Williamson

Executive Director, Market Development

SK LIFE SCIENCE

Download the Brochure

142W26-Cover

Program Agenda: Day One


April 15, 2026

7:45 AM
REGISTRATION AND NETWORKING BREAKFAST
8:45 AM
OPENING REMARKS
9:00 AM
PANEL DISCUSSION: UNDERSTANDING THE CAPACITY OF THE ROLE

Explore the role across different companies, disease states, and the number of TLLs doing the job

  • Compare how the TLL role differs across organizations, therapeutic areas, and team structures
  • Examine how role expectations shift based on disease state complexity and strategic priorities
  • Assess capacity needs by understanding how many TLLs are required to effectively support various types of launches and ongoing engagement

Greg Orlick

Greg Orlick

Associate Director Regional Marketing - Oncology

ASTRAZENECA

Kristi Ambs

Kristi Ambs

Senior Thought Leader Liaison

KYOWA KIRIN

Nicole Bennett

Nicole Bennett

National Director, Thought Leader Liaisons

REGENERON

Julie Waite

Julie Waite

Associate Director, Key Opinion Leader Liaison

FERRING PHARMA

9:00 AM
FIRESIDE CHAT: THE ROLE FROM THE KOL PERSPECTIVE

Hear as we interview a KOL, asking about how they value the role of the TLLs, areas of improvement and opportunities to strengthen the relationships

  • Gain firsthand insight into how KOLs perceive the value and impact of the TLL role
  • Identify opportunities for TLLs to improve communication, responsiveness, and scientific partnership with experts
  • Explore practical ways to strengthen trust, collaboration, and long-term relationships between TLLs and KOLs

Jonica Eberbach

Jonica Eberbach

Thought Leader Liaison

AMGEN

10:30 AM
NETWORKING BREAK
11:00 AM
ALL ABOUT DIGITAL OPINION LEADERS

Discuss how to find the right DOLs, how to get them engaged on Social Media and work with them creatively.

  • Learn effective strategies for identifying and selecting the right Digital Opinion Leaders (DOLs) for your therapeutic area
  • Explore best practices for engaging DOLs authentically across social media platforms
  • Discover creative approaches to collaborating with DOLs to amplify scientific content and extend digital reach
11:45 AM
INSIGHT MANAGEMENT IMPACT & INFLUENCE

Analyze the impact of insights, how to make sure the feedback is being used and the KOLs are heard to improve patient outcomes

  • Evaluate how high-quality insights influence strategic decision-making across Medical Affairs and commercial teams
  • Identify processes that ensure KOL feedback is captured, validated, and acted upon consistently

Helen Steele

Helen Steele

Executive Director, Thought Leader Liaison Team

PACIRA BIOSCIENCES

12:30 PM
Lunch Break
1:30 PM
PANEL DISCUSSION: ELEVATING YOUR KOL ENGAGEMENT STRATEGY

Cultivating Meaningful Relationships to Maximize KOL Impact and Value

  • Design a structured KOL engagement strategy aligned to brand objectives
  • Identify tools and tactics to optimize KOL engagement and communication (incl cross-functionally)
  • Maximize the impact of each interaction by setting clear objectives and outcomes

Jennifer Whipkey

Jennifer Whipkey

Executive Director Marketing, Regional Marketing Team

MENARINI STEMLINE

Matthew Spencer

Matthew Spencer

Regional Marketing Director - ORSERDU™

MENARINI STEMLINE

Celeste Smith

Celeste Smith

Senior Oncology Marketing

Former GILEAD

2:15 PM
SPONSORED SESSION
3:00 PM
NETWORKING BREAK
3:30 PM
INTERACTIVE ROUNDS: TLL CONTENT FOR ALL!

This interactive activity, you can choose your table based on your experience as a TLL, there are tables for people who are new to the role, for experienced TLLs and for TLL Leadership

  • New TLLs | HCPEngagement - Elevator Pitch
  • Advanced TLLs | AD Board Management - KOL Management
  • TLL Leadership | KPIs - Leading the Team

jason plant

Jason Plant

Senior Director, Thought Leader Liaisons

VERA THERAPEUTICS

Nicole Defresse

Nicole deFreese

Senior National Director, Market Development

UNITED THERAPEUTICS

Austin Maxwell

Austin Maxwell

Director, Thought Leader Liaisons

AMGEN

5:00 PM
COCKTAIL RECEPTION
6:00 PM
DAY ONE CONCLUDES

Program Agenda: Day Two


April 16, 2026

7:50 AM
NETWORKING BREAKFAST
8:50 AM
RECAP OF DAY ONE AND WELCOME TO DAY TWO
9:00 AM
INTEGRATION ACROSS GLOBAL + US TLL TEAMS

Share best practices on how to coordinate and communicate effectively with your global peers

  • Explore effective communication models that strengthen alignment between U.S. and global TLL teams
  • Identify best practices for coordinating insights, strategy, and field activities across regions
  • Discuss how to maintain consistency while empowering each market to address local scientific and engagement needs
 
9:45 AM
TLLs AND SOCIAL MEDIA - STRATEGY & ENGAGEMENT

Explore varying strategies for managing interactions and monitoring the activity of KOLs/DOLs on Social Media while maintaining compliance

  • Examine compliant strategies for monitoring KOL and DOL activity across major social media platforms
  • Discuss how TLLs can navigate digital engagement while adhering to company and regulatory guidelines
  • Identify approaches for leveraging social insights to enhance relationship building and scientific exchange

Nicole Bennett

Nicole Bennett

National Director, Thought Leader Liaisons

REGENERON

10:15 AM
NETWORKING BREAK
10:45 AM
CASE STUDY: SHIFTING THE TLL PARADIGM TO ELEVATE THE ROLE!

Help leadership adapt to change into buy-in for the TLL position, understanding the importance of the position both internally and externally

  • Explore strategies for gaining leadership buy-in by clearly articulating the strategic value of the TLL role
  • Demonstrate how elevating the TLL function strengthens both internal alignment and external scientific engagement
  • Review practical examples of how organizations have successfully redefined and positioned the TLL role for greater impact

Amanda Williamson

Amanda Williamson

Executive Director, Market Development

SK LIFE SCIENCE

11:30 AM
COMPLIANCE AND ETHICS CONSIDERATIONS FOR TLLs

Hear from compliance for the latest updates and considerations to have while working with HCPs

  • Receive the latest compliance updates impacting TLL interactions with HCPs, KOLs, and DOLs
  • Understand key ethical considerations that guide scientific exchange and field engagement
  • Learn how to navigate risk, maintain transparency, and ensure compliant behavior across all TLL activities

Joe Boyd

Joe Boyd

Strategic Market Development Director

AZURA OPHTHALMICS

12:30 PM
Lunch Break
1:30 PM
PANEL DISCUSSION: MSL & TLL CROSSFUNCTIONAL COLLABORATION

Discover how MSLs and TLLs can mutually benefit from communication and collaboration on their mission to work with HCPs

  • Explore ways to communicate and collaborate effectively with internal stakeholders
  • Work in tandem with your peers on Conferences and Congresses
  • Create joint initiatives that serve the greater good and the KOLs

Nicole Defresse

Nicole deFreese

Senior National Director, Market Development

UNITED THERAPEUTICS

Austin Maxwell

Austin Maxwell

Director, Thought Leader Liaisons

AMGEN

2:15 PM
DEFINING “IMPACT” AS A TLL - QUALITY METRICS

Learn which KPIs work to measure the REAL impact of the TLLs, and how to obtain tangible results from your team’s performance

  • Identify the KPIs and qualitative measures that most accurately reflect true TLL impact
  • Learn how to capture and communicate meaningful outcomes from scientific exchange and stakeholder engagement
  • Explore methods for translating TLL activities into tangible, organization-wide value and performance insights

jody mills

Jody Mills

Director, Thought Leader Liaisons and Key Account Managers

CORCEPT THERAPEUTICS

3:00 PM
DAY TWO CONCLUDES

Pricing

Pharmaceutical / Medical Device / Biotech Companies

Super Early Bird

Register by 02/6/2026

$1695

$600 Savings

Early Bird

Register by 03/6/2026

$1895

$400 Savings

Advanced Rate

Register by 03/27/2026

$2095

$200 Savings

Standard Rate

Register after 03/27/2026

$2295

 

Service Providers / Vendors

Super Early Bird

Register by 02/6/2026

$2895

$600 Savings

Early Bird

Register by 03/6/2026

$3095

$400 Savings

Advanced Rate

Register by 03/27/2026

$3295

$200 Savings

Standard Rate

Register after 03/27/2026

$3495

 

Click here to view the cancellation/refund/transfer policy 

Venue

 

The Westin Houston Medical Center/Museum District

1709 Dryden Rd,

Houston, TX 77030, US

 

Please note there is only one official, exclusive housing block for this event. Any other channels for booking reservations are not authorized. If you are contacted by a 3rd party housing company claiming to have a relationship with Momentum Events Group LLC, its event and/or The Westin Houston Medical Center; these companies and others like it are not in any way affiliated with us.

Westin-Medical-Center-Hotel-Exterior

2025 Sponsors

 

Interested in learning more?

Schedule a meeting with our sponsorship team

Testimonials

 

"Overall I feel that the summit was engaging and a wonderful opportunity to network and meet other TLLs"
TLL A.D. of Product Strategy
Incyte
This was my first TLL summit, and it exceeded expectations. The content was excellent, the organization seamless, and the networking opportunities truly valuable
Alexion
Being with peers from other organizations was the most valuable part. The sessions on measuring and quantifying impact were top-notch and provided solid industry examples to take back to my team
GSK
I thought the caliber of the speakers, attendees and the content that was covered this year was the best so far!
Sanofi
Networking was a highlight. Pulling TLLs together to share best practices made the experience very valuable. The sessions were excellent and the organization was top-notch
Ascendis Pharma
It was an amazing conference. As someone new to leading a TLL team, I found every topic valuable. The content on measuring effectiveness was especially impactful
Legend Biotech

Interested in learning more?

Click below to schedule a meeting with our sponsorship team!
 

Frequently Asked Questions

 

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Frequently Asked Questions

 

Screenshot 2025-05-05 at 2.59.12 PM