Get on Board: Inside the Board of Directors

6:00-6:30: Registration, Refreshments, and Networking
6:30-7:45: Panel Discussion, Q&A
7:45-8:00: Optional Networking

Location:  

Thank you to Foley & Lardner for providing the catering, beer, and wine:

Speaker Bios

Ann LaFrance is a former law partner, global executive and strategic advisor with broad U.S. and international legal, regulatory and corporate experience. A trailblazer in cybersecurity, data governance and emerging technologies, Ann has advised corporate boards and senior management on regulatory risk and compliance across multiple sectors. Having recently retired from the practice of law, Ann now serves on the boards of WorldBoston, BAMSI, and the International Institute of Communications. She is also a partner with Social Venture Partners Boston and a member of the National Association of Corporate Directors, the Private Directors Association, and the Corporate and Non-Profit Board Committees of The Boston Club.

Karla MacDonald is Chief Corporate Affairs Officer of Entrada Therapeutics with responsibilities for building and amplifying the company’s brand through corporate communications, investor relations, government affairs, and employee engagement. Karla joined Entrada in 2021 from Ipsen Pharmaceuticals where she established and led corporate communications and patient advocacy for the company’s expansion into North America. Prior to Ipsen, she was at Merck & Co., Inc. where for over 11 years she led a broad spectrum of global brand and corporate responsibility communications and supported the R&D division as a member of the executive leadership team. Karla was previously in the healthcare practice at Ogilvy and MacDougall Biomedical and led investor relations for Creative BioMolecules. Karla holds a bachelor’s degree in Education and a diploma in Communications from McGill University. Karla is the President and a Board Member of the Canadian Entrepreneurs in New England and a Lead Mentor with the Canadian Technology Accelerator. 

Jing Watnick, PhD/MBA is the co-founder, COO, and Board Director of Vigeo therapeutics, a clinical stage oncology-focused pharmaceutical company. She has over 20 years of experience in the pharmaceutical and biotech industry. Prior to founding Vigeo, Jing worked at Novartis, Alexion and Tesaro in functions including in drug discovery and clinical development, business development, program and portfolio management, and strategic planning. Dr. Watnick earned her MBA from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management. She holds a Ph.D. in pharmacology and therapeutics from the School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at the State University of New York at Buffalo and received her B.Sc. degree from Peking University in Beijing, China.

Mary P. Yntema joined WorldBoston in May 2014, bringing extensive international experience combined with nonprofit sector and management expertise. Prior to WorldBoston, Mary worked as a consultant on nonprofit governance. She has served as interim executive director of the Boston Center for Community and Justice, executing a historic program merger with YWCA Boston; as executive director of the Courageous Sailing Center of Boston; and as founding executive director of United Way Moscow, where she resided for eight years. Her corporate experience includes institutional equity sales at Brunswick UBS Warburg and Pioneer Securities and running a sales department as vice president of the Center for Business Skills Development, all in Moscow. She is currently on the Board of the World Affairs Councils of America (WACA). Mary holds an A.B. from Harvard University, an M.A. from The Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies and an M.B.A. from Columbia Business School, and is a BoardSource Certified Governance Trainer.