Barbara

Manager, Bulk Production

I joined GSK Bio in 2000, knowing that it was the best bio-tech company located in Belgium and developed a lot of interesting vaccines. It's not different from how I thought it would be, except that before I joined I didn't realize how hard everybody worked. You do have to work hard, but it's constantly challenging.

I'm responsible for two facilities dedicated to manufacturing the HPV (Human Papilloma Virus) vaccine in batches of 2400 liters. The HPV project began at the beginning of 2005. There's already an active facility to produce the vaccine in small-scale batches, but now we're building these two facilities for large-scale production. Each type of vaccine GSK produces has its own separate facility, because each has different equipment and design requirements.

I'm always going over reports and data with my team to make sure any new equipment follows a protocol that meets validation guidelines. I also liaise with other departments to make sure the protocols we've written meet safety standards and tie in with process as a whole. We do the same for every new piece of equipment or part of the process brought online. For example, I work in partnership with the Industrialisation department to make sure the manufacturing process is compliant with safety regulations.

It's totally different from the bio-tech company I worked at before because here we have the resources to develop innovative products and long-term projects. When I first started, I worked in the field with a small team of operators. Now I'm managing a professional, enthusiastic, and conscientious team of 50 that includes both managers and technicians. Every year we're offered training in whatever area we feel we need, so it's very easy to develop because there's lots of opportunity. I feel I'm progressing all the time, and hope in the future to take on even greater responsibility.