Month: March 2024

By Liz Henderson

Liz Henderson, Sr. Vice President Technical Operations at Jazz Pharmaceuticals discusses pioneering innovation in oncology and the importance of the manufacturing infrastructure to help achieve drug development goals. 

Originally published by the Medicine Maker

Historically, innovation in the pharmaceutical industry has centered around the discovery of active pharmaceutical ingredients. A new, potentially life-saving treatment, however, can only make a difference if physicians can access a reliable supply. Drug shortages in oncology are not new. The global COVID-19 pandemic saw an increase in critical supply chain issues in the manufacture of drugs, which even further underscored the need for continued advancements in the manufacturing of oncology medicines.

Continue reading here

By Liz Henderson

Liz Henderson, Sr. Vice President Technical Operations at Jazz Pharmaceuticals discusses pioneering innovation in oncology and the importance of the manufacturing infrastructure to help achieve drug development goals. 

Originally published by the Medicine Maker

Historically, innovation in the pharmaceutical industry has centered around the discovery of active pharmaceutical ingredients. A new, potentially life-saving treatment, however, can only make a difference if physicians can access a reliable supply. Drug shortages in oncology are not new. The global COVID-19 pandemic saw an increase in critical supply chain issues in the manufacture of drugs, which even further underscored the need for continued advancements in the manufacturing of oncology medicines.

Continue reading here

What trends should we be monitoring to help identify sustainable investment opportunities in 2024? BlackRock, the world’s largest asset management firm, is tracking five “mega forces” that they define as “big, structural changes that affect investing now, and far in the future.” One of these mega forces is the transition to a low-carbon economy, which BlackRock says “is set to spur a massive capital reallocation as energy systems are rewired.” In a recent weekly commentary from BlackRock Investment Institute, which is one of our Top Stories, BlackRock points to three key areas of the low-carbon transition that could result in market-moving developments. The three areas are:

Falling battery prices, which could boost demand for energy storage systems for power grids, and for electric and hybrid vehiclesElections around the globe this year could affect future energy and industrial policyRising physical damages could spur investment interest in climate resilience

Mark Segal, writing in ESG Today, summarizes the BlackRock findings, citing an 80% drop in lithium prices, intense competition, and technological advances as drivers to lower battery prices. The elections around the globe cited by BlackRock include those in the U.S., EU and India. For climate resilience, BlackRock cites opportunity areas such as “early monitoring systems for floods, air conditioning to cope with heatwaves or retrofitting buildings to better withstand extreme weather.”

The G&A team is continuing to track trends in sustainable investing and monitoring their impact on corporate sustainability reporting and disclosure requirements. We look forward to keeping you updated and are available to answer questions and provide counsel.

This is just the introduction of G&A’s Sustainability Highlights newsletter this week. Click here to view the full issue.

What trends should we be monitoring to help identify sustainable investment opportunities in 2024? BlackRock, the world’s largest asset management firm, is tracking five “mega forces” that they define as “big, structural changes that affect investing now, and far in the future.” One of these mega forces is the transition to a low-carbon economy, which BlackRock says “is set to spur a massive capital reallocation as energy systems are rewired.” In a recent weekly commentary from BlackRock Investment Institute, which is one of our Top Stories, BlackRock points to three key areas of the low-carbon transition that could result in market-moving developments. The three areas are:

Falling battery prices, which could boost demand for energy storage systems for power grids, and for electric and hybrid vehiclesElections around the globe this year could affect future energy and industrial policyRising physical damages could spur investment interest in climate resilience

Mark Segal, writing in ESG Today, summarizes the BlackRock findings, citing an 80% drop in lithium prices, intense competition, and technological advances as drivers to lower battery prices. The elections around the globe cited by BlackRock include those in the U.S., EU and India. For climate resilience, BlackRock cites opportunity areas such as “early monitoring systems for floods, air conditioning to cope with heatwaves or retrofitting buildings to better withstand extreme weather.”

The G&A team is continuing to track trends in sustainable investing and monitoring their impact on corporate sustainability reporting and disclosure requirements. We look forward to keeping you updated and are available to answer questions and provide counsel.

This is just the introduction of G&A’s Sustainability Highlights newsletter this week. Click here to view the full issue.

OVERLAND PARK, Kan., March 28 2024 /3BL/ — The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has awarded Black & Veatch, a global leader in critical infrastructure solutions, with its Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) star status for exemplary worksite safety achievement.

The VPP Star is OSHA’s highest level of recognition of companies that have employed effective safety and health management systems and kept injury and illness rates below the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ industry averages.

The OSHA award recognizes health and safety achievements of Black & Veatch’s telecommunications mobile workforce in New York and New Jersey.

“This award highlights the value that Black & Veatch places on its people — from employee-owners to subcontractors — and our core value of ensuring everyone makes it home safely,” said John Johnson, vice president for Black & Veatch’s environment, safety, health and sustainability practice. “By creating safe working conditions, distributed infrastructure projects stay on time and on budget, and our clients and the communities they serve reap the benefits.”

OSHA employs strict safety guidelines to keep U.S. workers safe, and companies honored with a VPP Star not only meet basic requirements but also exercise health and safety protocols above industry standards. Black & Veatch’s protocols include a behavior-based safety program, feedback that engages subcontractors to ensure best practices, and the company’s “people matter most” safety program, which includes targeted training sessions aimed at encouraging safe behaviors.

“Black & Veatch is the first company in their industry to achieve VPP Star. Their accomplishment shows that a comprehensive safety and health program is essential in all businesses, and critical in high-risk industries,” said Richard Mendelson, OSHA regional administrator. “An effective program can be implemented in the most challenging workplaces when worker safety and health is a core value of the company.”

Contact Black & Veatch for more information.

Editor’s Notes: 

OSHA’s VPP Program works with employers committed to worker safety and health to prevent workplace fatalities, injuries and illnesses. VPP programs bring company management, site employees and OSHA together to work proactively to focus on hazard prevention and control, worksite analysis, training, management commitment and worker involvement to prevent fatalities, injuries and illnesses.

About Black & Veatch 
Black & Veatch is a 100-percent employee-owned global engineering, procurement, consulting and construction company with a more than 100-year track record of innovation in sustainable infrastructure. Since 1915, we have helped our clients improve the lives of people around the world by addressing the resilience and reliability of our most important infrastructure assets. Follow us on www.bv.com and on social media.

Media Contact Information:

Meghan Lockner | 201-977-1628 | locknerm@bv.com

24-HOUR MEDIA CONTACT | Media@bv.com

OVERLAND PARK, Kan., March 28 2024 /3BL/ — The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has awarded Black & Veatch, a global leader in critical infrastructure solutions, with its Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) star status for exemplary worksite safety achievement.

The VPP Star is OSHA’s highest level of recognition of companies that have employed effective safety and health management systems and kept injury and illness rates below the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ industry averages.

The OSHA award recognizes health and safety achievements of Black & Veatch’s telecommunications mobile workforce in New York and New Jersey.

“This award highlights the value that Black & Veatch places on its people — from employee-owners to subcontractors — and our core value of ensuring everyone makes it home safely,” said John Johnson, vice president for Black & Veatch’s environment, safety, health and sustainability practice. “By creating safe working conditions, distributed infrastructure projects stay on time and on budget, and our clients and the communities they serve reap the benefits.”

OSHA employs strict safety guidelines to keep U.S. workers safe, and companies honored with a VPP Star not only meet basic requirements but also exercise health and safety protocols above industry standards. Black & Veatch’s protocols include a behavior-based safety program, feedback that engages subcontractors to ensure best practices, and the company’s “people matter most” safety program, which includes targeted training sessions aimed at encouraging safe behaviors.

“Black & Veatch is the first company in their industry to achieve VPP Star. Their accomplishment shows that a comprehensive safety and health program is essential in all businesses, and critical in high-risk industries,” said Richard Mendelson, OSHA regional administrator. “An effective program can be implemented in the most challenging workplaces when worker safety and health is a core value of the company.”

Contact Black & Veatch for more information.

Editor’s Notes: 

OSHA’s VPP Program works with employers committed to worker safety and health to prevent workplace fatalities, injuries and illnesses. VPP programs bring company management, site employees and OSHA together to work proactively to focus on hazard prevention and control, worksite analysis, training, management commitment and worker involvement to prevent fatalities, injuries and illnesses.

About Black & Veatch 
Black & Veatch is a 100-percent employee-owned global engineering, procurement, consulting and construction company with a more than 100-year track record of innovation in sustainable infrastructure. Since 1915, we have helped our clients improve the lives of people around the world by addressing the resilience and reliability of our most important infrastructure assets. Follow us on www.bv.com and on social media.

Media Contact Information:

Meghan Lockner | 201-977-1628 | locknerm@bv.com

24-HOUR MEDIA CONTACT | Media@bv.com