The Site Council Leadership Forum

Actionable Solutions to Problems That Need Action

To register for the Site Council Leadership Forum 2026, click here. For thought-provoking ideas from the Site Council Leadership Forum 2025, click here.

Overview

At our first annual Site Council Leadership Forum in February 2025, senior site leaders, plus experts from study sponsors, CROs and solution providers, discussed nine strategic challenges that can make or break an investigative site. We captured numerous insights and practical tips. To view the 43 SiteSmart videos, click here.

In April 2026, we met again to identify important problems and practical solutions. We are currently building on these discussions to create "Solution Worksheets." To view an example. click here. To view a synopsis of the proceedings, click here.

Overview

2026 Agenda

Tuesday, April 21:

04:00 PM - 07:00 PM

Registration & Welcome Reception

Wednesday, April 22:

08:00 AM - 09:00 AM

Registration, Breakfast & Networking

09:00 AM - 09:20 AM

Welcome

Norman M. Goldfarb - Executive Director - The Site Council

09:20 AM - 10:00 AM

How Can We Work with Study Sponsors and CROs to Accelerate Study Startup?

Carlos Orantes - Chief Executive Officer - Alcanza Clinical Research
Audra Holleman - Head, Global Clinical Country Operations - Syneos Health

10:00 AM - 10:20 AM

Networking

10:20 AM - 11:00 AM

How Can We Work with Study Sponsors and CROs to Over-Achieve on Patient Enrollment?

Almenia Garvey - Sr. Director Global Feasibility/Site Engagement - Allucent
Stephen Loosli - Principal - Boeson Research

11:00 AM - 11:20 AM

Networking

11:20 AM - 12:00 PM

How Can We Work with Study Sponsors and CROs to Rationalize Study Technology?

Nicole Stansbury - Senior Vice President, Global Clinical Operations - Premier Research
Shuja Naqvi - CEO - Biopharma Informatic

12:00 PM - 01:00 PM

Lunch

01:00 PM - 01:40 PM

How Can We Work with Study Sponsors and CROs to Get the Revenue We Deserve When We Deserve It?

Jesse Hoffman - Chief Business Officer - Alliance for Multispecialty Research (AMR)
Vatche Bartekian - President - Vantage BioTrials

01:40 PM - 02:00 PM

Networking

02:00 PM - 02:40 PM

How Can We Work with Study Sponsors and CROs to Mitigate Study Delays and Cancellations?

Nick Spittal - Chief Operating Officer - Velocity Clinical Research
Ross Watson - Director, Global Clinical Operations, Site Management Head - CSL

02:40 PM - 03:00 PM

Networking

03:00 PM - 03:40 PM

How Can We Work with Study Sponsors and CROs to Resolve a Thousand Other Annoying Problems?

Quincy Byrdsong - Vice President, Research Operations - Ballad Health
Amanda Martin - Senior Global Project Manager - ICON plc

03:40 PM - 04:00 PM

Networking

04:00 PM - 04:40 PM

How Can We Work with Study Sponsors and CROs to Foster Mutually Beneficial Relationships?

Michelle Mack - Associate Director of Research Operations - Duke University School of Medicine
Donna Kostandy - Director, Strategic Site Collaborations - PPD

04:40 PM - 05:00 PM

Closing Discussion

Norman M. Goldfarb - Executive Director - The Site Council

05:00 PM - 06:00 PM

Informal Networking