Vanessa Johnen (2009)
Founder, Johnen Advisory | Life Sciences & Healthcare Leader
Vanessa is a life sciences and healthcare leader with 17 years of experience spanning academic neuroscience, strategy consulting, executive leadership and healthcare innovation. A Merton alumna, she holds a DPhil in Neuroscience from the University of Oxford.
Moving from academia into consulting, she co-founded the Deloitte Neuroscience Institute in Germany and worked at PwC Strategy&, advising life sciences and healthcare organisations on growth strategies, strategic partnerships, market access and organisational transformation.
She subsequently served as Scientific Director at the Horten Health Foundation in Switzerland, where she developed the foundation's strategy, built its scientific and operational capabilities. She designed and led major funding initiatives that accelerate clinical translation of brain health and precision oncology academic innovations.
Vanessa is now the founder of Johnen Advisory, providing strategic advisory, business development and partnership support to life sciences companies and investors. Her work focuses on translating medical innovation into commercial opportunities and patient impact, including through hands-on strategic and operational leadership.
She also serves as Scientific Advisor to PRODO at LMU Munich. Outside her professional life, Vanessa and her husband sailed across the Atlantic, an adventure they recount in their book Rewind: A Sailing Adventure (2024).
