Kassner Host Leadership Summit
IPSWICH, MA — State Rep. Kristin Kassner, D-Hamilton, along with BioConnects New England (BCNE), recently co-hosted a North Shore community leadership summit at New England Biolabs in Ipswich.
The June 8 event brought together more than 75 community leaders, local officials, educators and industry partners from across the North Shore for a focused conversation on how the region can identify, create, and expand on real pathways into biotech careers.
“A key part of planning for our future is bringing people together to learn from one another, to see what’s possible, to understand where our work intersects, and to identify opportunities to enrich, protect, and strengthen our communities and our region,” Kassner said in her opening remarks. “This is the work that sparks new ideas, new collaborations, and new opportunities.”
In addition to Newbury, Kassner represents Georgetown, Hamilton, Ipswich, Rowley and parts of Topsfield.
Kassner then introduced Zenobia Moochhala, undersecretary of business strategies at the Executive Office of Economic Development for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, who thanked the leaders of private sector organizations, academic institutions, and government officials for coming together to engage in this discussion, and stated that the state’s leadership position globally in biotech is critical and can be used to catalyze local ecosystems.
In his introductory comments, Jared Auclair, Dean of the College of Professional Studies at Northeastern University and Co-Lead of BioConnects New England, stated, “Most people don’t know how to enter the life sciences industry, and that’s a problem. We want to make these careers accessible to everyone.” He discussed how people often tend tostay in their individual lanes and emphasized the importance of “recognizing the extraordinary work that is happening around us. Only through doing so can we find new paths and discoveries in collaboration.
The summit also featured a panel discussion that explored why the North Shore is poised for growth, how the region can build the workforce and training systems it needs, how communities can prepare, and the range of opportunities ahead.
Representative Kassner moderated the discussion and began by stating,
“There is no one-size-fits-all model — but there is a right fit for the right locations. And at the center of it all is science, discovery, and the people who make it possible.” She engaged theaudience by noting that “every sector represented in the panel and the audience has a role to play in shaping the future success of our region.”
“It’s all here, and that’s the point,” Kassner concluded. “We know some communities are ready, but others haven’t had those conversations yet. We want to ensure that any biotech development on the North Shore continues to be thoughtful, transparent, and aligned with the town’s goals, and having more of these conversations, and pursuing more of these collaborations, will make that possible.”
Also joining the summit were Senate Assistant Majority Leader Joan Lovely, Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr, and state Rep. Hannah Bowen.
“The North Shore already has a tremendous presence in the life sciences sector, and an increasing capacity to capture even more potential economic benefits from this economic engine,” Tarr said. “We can maximize that opportunity by continuing to leverage partnerships, collaboration, and synergy by connecting our region’s existing businesses and institutions, and working together to recruit even more resources to the area.”
