Sarah Cooney is a science engagement specialist, advises on harm reduction, science communication, and regulatory affairs. For over a decade at British American Tobacco, she spearheaded the company’s science engagement, helping pave the way for less-risky nicotine products. Sarah reshaped BAT’s publishing strategy, crafting award-winning reports to demystify reduced risk research. Her knack for making science accessible extends from boardrooms to public forums, bridging the gap between scientists, regulators, and the media. With editorial roles at Nature, Elsevier, and BioMedCentral, Sarah brings a wealth of publishing expertise. As a published scientist (with a BSc and an MSc from the University of Toronto) she understands the need for commitment to scientific accessibility and innovation.

Dr McGovern qualified in Medicine in 1995 from Trinity College Dublin and has worked as a GP specialising in the treatment of substance misuse since the implementation of the methadone treatment protocol in 1998. He is Medical Director of the Priority Medical Clinic, a private addiction treatment programme located in South County Dublin. In January 2022 he was appointed Clinical Lead for the HSE Addiction Services in Louth Meath & The Midlands. Dr McGovern holds a Master’s degree in Clinical and Public Health Aspects of Addiction from The National Addiction Centre, King’s College London, is a Diplomate of the International Society of Addiction Medicine (ISAM) and holds a Professional Diploma in Clinical Leadership from the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland. He is also one of the first members of the International Doctors for Healthy Drug Policies (IDHDP),an international group of medical addiction experts aiming to promote sensible drug policies. Dr McGovern is also a member of the Irish Chapter of the New Nicotine Alliance.