Claire Francis

Claire Francis is a chemist by training, with a PhD in organic chemistry and early experience in the Fine Chemical and Pharmaceutical industries. However, her passion for travel and meeting people soon led her beyond the lab and into the world of international event management.

In 1995, Claire joined Scientific Update, a specialist training company focused on professional development for industrial chemists. Over the years, she has taken on a wide range of responsibilities—from sourcing global venues and negotiating supplier contracts to delivering high-quality conferences and training programs worldwide. Her expertise in managing international partnerships was further strengthened when she completed an MBA with the Open University in 2002, during which she played a key role in securing the prestigious Queen’s Award for International Trade for Scientific Update.

Today, as part of the leadership team following a management buy-out in 2014, Claire oversees a small team that organises up to 40 training courses and five major international conferences each year, welcoming over 1,000 attendees from across the globe. With a keen focus on collaboration and relationship management, she works closely with suppliers, speakers, and stakeholders to ensure the smooth delivery of industry-leading events.

Claire is also passionate about supporting women in chemistry. She serves as Chair of the organising committee for Empowering Women in Organic Chemistry Europe (EWOC EU), an annual event sponsored by Scientific Update that provides a supportive platform for women to present their work, expand their networks, and gain valuable career insights.

With decades of experience in global event management, supplier relations, and international collaboration, Claire brings a wealth of knowledge to discussions on effectively managing global stakeholders.