SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. & LOS ANGELES & SAN DIEGO--()--Biocom California, the association representing the California life science industry, today announced the promotion of Shaye Exner to vice president, events & sponsorships.

“I’ve had the pleasure of working with Shaye over the last 15 years and watching her grow as an event producer, manager and leader. This promotion is a well-deserved recognition of her value to and impact on Biocom California as a leading organization committed to fostering innovation and collaboration through invaluable programming for our members,” said Tim Scott, president and CEO of Biocom California. “Under Shaye’s leadership, our events have become the gold standard in California’s life science community, and she’s deftly handled the diverse programming needs of the state’s distinct biotechnology clusters. As we position ourselves for our next chapter of growth, Shaye’s leadership will be instrumental to Biocom California’s success.”

Ms. Exner’s career at Biocom California began 23 years ago at the ground level, first serving as a receptionist before quickly advancing through roles of increasing responsibility across the organization’s accounting department, purchasing group and then finally finding her home overseeing events. Through her tenacity, passion and proactive approach to growth, she not only expanded Biocom California’s event portfolio from 10 local San Diego events to over 100 programs nationally, but also built a statewide team of highly skilled professionals—growing from a department of one to a team of seven. Under her leadership, Biocom California has launched and expanded signature programs that drive engagement and impact across the life science industry. These include the Converge Summit, which unites leaders across the tech, biotech and medtech sectors; multiple CEO Summits across the state; and the Global Life Science Partnering and Investor Conference (GPIC), the organization’s premier event for the industry. This year’s GPIC, February 25-27, is sold out with 558 registrants from more than 400 companies and 60 investors.

Ms. Exner has been instrumental in creating high-value programming that reflects Biocom California’s deep industry expertise and regional insights. Beyond her contributions to Biocom California, Ms. Exner served for six years on the board of directors of Athena, a global women's advocacy organization dedicated to fast-tracking women in STEM through leadership development, mentoring and advocacy initiatives. She currently serves on the board of directors for Boz Life Science Research and Teaching Institute. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology from the University of Buffalo (SUNY).

“I’ve had the privilege of growing alongside Biocom California as the organization has evolved into a powerful statewide leader and advocate for the industry,” said Ms. Exner. “The events and programs we organize are critical for connecting leaders, cultivating strategic collaborations and amplifying the patient voice. So, as we enter this next stage, I’m incredibly excited to step into this leadership role and drive even greater impact for the life science community.”

About Biocom California

Biocom California is the leader and advocate for California’s life science sector. We work on behalf of more than 1,800 members to drive public policy, build an enviable network of industry leaders, create access to capital, introduce cutting-edge STEM education programs and create robust value-driven purchasing programs.

Founded in 1995 in San Diego, Biocom California provides the strongest public voice to research institutions and companies that fuel the local and state-wide economy. Our goal is simple: to help our members produce novel solutions that improve the human condition. In addition to our San Diego headquarters, Biocom California operates core offices in Los Angeles and the San Francisco Bay Area, with satellite offices in Sacramento, Washington, D.C. and Tokyo. Our broad membership benefits apply to biotechnology, pharmaceutical, medical device, genomics and diagnostics companies of all sizes, as well as to research universities and institutes, clinical research organizations, investors and service providers.

For more information on Biocom California, please visit our website at www.biocom.org. Connect with us on LinkedIn, Facebook and X.