Kevin Hickman

Senior Manager, Supply Chain Distribution Gilead Sciences, Inc.

Kevin Hickman has over 25 years in the pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical supply chain, distribution and transportation management world.  His primary focus has been on operational and quality improvements while also maintaining or achieving additional cost savings through gained efficiencies.  He has extensive experience overseeing the daily operations of in-house distribution centers as well as over 17 years of experience managing third party warehousing, transportation, cold-chain and contract manufacturing vendors and suppliers.  He has had responsibility in managing all distribution & logistics operations and vendors for both domestic and international customers & partners.  Kevin has experience in managing shipping lanes for all temperature ranges (+15 to +25°C, +2 to +8°C, Frozen [Dry Ice], and Deep Frozen [LN2]), and using various active and passive solutions to meet all shipment size requirements (small parcel, pallet sized air shipments, Truckload, Less Than Truckload, and Sea Container).

Kevin has worked for various manufacturers over the years and has lived in multiple regions of the country, most recently moving to the San Diego area to work with Gilead Biologics at their Oceanside, California site.


Main Conference Day One: Wednesday, 26 Feb 2020

9:00 AM Cold Chain Leaders Power Panel: How has the Role of the Logistics and Supply Chain Director Evolved in Today’s Rapidly Changing Environment?

  • What do you as a Supply Chain and Logistics leader need to consider when establishing an end-to-end temperature controlled logistics strategy for your organization?
  • How do you find the right balance between getting products across the line and long term commercial viability?
  • Data is the new oil- How does this apply to the pharma industry?
  • What do supply chain and logistics leaders need to prioritize to ensure a robust, safe, compliant and patient-centric temperature-controlled supply chain?

11:00 AM Mastering the Art of Cold Chain 101 – Everything You Need to Know about Cold Chain Logistics in the Clinical Stage

This roundtable will deep dive and provide attendees with a comprehensive checklist and blueprint to kick start your cold chain journey in the clinical stage. Find out the common pitfalls to avoid and what to incorporate as you plan not only for successful clinical cold chain logistics but how this can be scaled when you prepare for commercialization.

3:00 PM Knowing When to Pull the Trigger and Setting Up a Robust Supply Chain in Time for Commercialization

  • Cost benefit analysis of delaying setting up your supply chain until phase 3- When do you need to start planning?
  • Supply chain 101- Key milestones and criteria that you need to establish and validate when setting up your clinical and commercial supply chain
  • Lessons learnt and best practice in managing overseas clinical vendors and avoiding pitfalls

4:40 PM CLOSING PANEL DISCUSSION: Industry Collaboration to Create Sustainable Standards and Processes for Clinical and Commercial Supply Chain Operations

  • Demonstrating how a lack of information sharing on stability and excursion data leads to current waste and cost at the moment
  • How can the industry come together to better share data and create standards for both clinical and commercial operations?
  • What are the biggest challenges at the moment and how can the industry overcome this?
  • How do you deal with non-standardized products?

Main Conference Day Two: Thursday, 27 Feb 2020

9:00 AM LOGISTICS POWER PANEL: From 3PL to 4PL - The Future of Logistics for The Pharma Supply Chain

  • Taking more ownership of the product- Moving beyond a transactional, volume-based approach to understanding your customers’ needs
  • Dealing with increased pressure to be far more productive and cost-efficient
  • Moving from a 3PL to 4PL model- Can we really harmonize a fragmented system?
  • Customizing bespoke solutions for specialty logistics and distribution opportunities including: newer types of biologics, oncology products and lucrative drugs approved for rare diseases
  • Dealing with the elephant in the room: Is Amazon going to complement or compete with the current supply chain framework?

Check out the incredible speaker line-up to see who will be joining Kevin.

Download The Latest Agenda