Senior Leadership Team

Hayley French PhD

CEO

Dr. Hayley French is an accomplished commercial leader and qualified attorney with over 25 years’ experience across the life science industry. Prior to joining Domainex, Hayley was Chief Executive Officer of Apitope Technology NV which was acquired by Worg Pharmaceuticals in September 2021. Before joining Apitope, Hayley spent three years at Novartis, based at the Basel headquarters, where she worked closely on all global deals and collaborations in the respiratory division.

She has also worked in the Life Sciences Group of Bird & Bird, London, specialising in advising pharmaceutical and biotech companies and as Head of Commercial Legal Affairs at the Centre for Applied Microbiology and Research (CAMR) in Salisbury, UK. 

Hayley started her career at University College London Ventures where she was responsible for the development, management and commercialisation of technologies in the life sciences sector. She is past president of the Licensing Executives Society Britain & Ireland, and a past board member of Licensing Executives Society International (LESI).

Hayley has a B.Sc. in Microbiology from the University of Liverpool, as well as a PhD in Microbiology and a M.Sc. in intellectual property from the University of London and is a certified licensing professional (CLP).

Hayley is also a venture partner for Vesalius Biocapital and chair of Octiocor Limited.

Barry Knight

CFO and Company Secretary

Barry Knight is a Chartered Accountant with more than thirty years’ experience as Finance Director, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer with companies operating in the Life Sciences sector.

He first worked with Domainex in 2014 as a consultant and later joined the management team as part-time CFO and Company Secretary, returning to that role in 2019 after a brief spell as part-time CFO for Small Pharma, a London-based biotech. Since 2015, Barry has also been part-time CFO and Company Secretary for Edinburgh Molecular Imaging, a biotech company developing a molecular targeted systemic radiotherapy treatment.

After graduating from the University of Bristol with a BSc in Physics, he qualified as a Chartered Accountant with Josolyne Layton Bennett, a predecessor firm of Ernst & Young and then moved into commerce and industry, joining the head office of Cope Allman International plc, holding a number of finance roles and ultimately being appointed Group Chief Accountant in 1985.

In 1989 he made the move into Life Sciences, becoming Finance and Administration Director of KeyMed, one of the UK’s biggest suppliers of medical equipment, seeing it through ten years of significant growth before joining Trigen, a biotechnology start-up in the cardiovascular field, in 2000.

Barry has subsequently worked for two consultancies serving the Life Sciences sector, as Chief Operating Officer for Kinapse Ltd and as Finance Director for AIM-listed Fulcrum Pharma plc.

Ray Boffey PhD

CCO

Dr. Ray Boffey has over 20 years’ drug discovery experience in CRO and biotech companies. He joined Domainex in 2010, having previously worked at Lectus Therapeutics where he focused on ion-channel drug discovery programmes. Prior to that, Ray led medicinal chemistry teams working on behalf of global pharma companies at Argenta Discovery after starting his career at Oxford Glycosciences.

Over his career Ray has directed programmes from hit identification through to candidate nomination tackling a wide range of biological targets including protein-protein interactions, ion-channels, GPCRs, enzymes (iNOS, caspase, PARP, and kinases) and integrins. These programmes cover therapeutic areas such as oncology, inflammation (including asthma and COPD), Parkinson’s disease, stroke, circadian rhythms, anti-fungal project and pain. As a result, Ray is a named inventor and author of numerous patents and publications.

Ray conducted his post-doctoral research at Imperial College, working with Professor A. G. M Barrett FRS and obtained his PhD from the University of Southampton in 1999, where he researched the ‘Diastereoselective samarium(II) iodide-mediated cascade radical cyclisations of methylenecyclopropane derivatives’ and synthesised the natural product (±)-Paeonilactone B with Professor Jeremy Kilburn.

Andrew Ratcliffe PhD

CSO

Dr Andrew Ratcliffe ‘AJ’ is a medicinal chemist with over 30 years’ of drug discovery gained across large pharma and biotech companies. AJ has worked successfully in all stages of drug discovery, from early hit identification through to candidate nomination. Prior to joining the Domainex team, AJ has worked at Rhone Poulenc Rorer, Celltech, UCB, Cellzome, Redx Anti-infectives and Novintum Bioscience. During this time, he has taken leadership roles in delivering research projects, cumulating in the nomination of multiple small molecule candidates in the areas of RA (two JAK kinase inhibitors), oncology (mitochondrial disruptor) and MS (two VLA4 integrin antagonists). The VLA4 integrin antagonist, CDP323, was progressed to phase II clinical trials in MS.

Other key areas of research have focused on PDEIV inhibitors, IMPDH inhibitors, JNK and PI3K delta kinase inhibitors (which ultimately led to the identification and progression of UCB5857 into clinical trials), and DNA Gyrase inhibitors as anti-bacterial agents (which led to European funding through the ENABLE initiative). AJ has experience in IP management and was a proactive committee member within the Society of Medicines, a multi-disciplinary society engaged in promoting drug research.

AJ completed his first degree and PhD at the University of Bath under Dr Malcolm Sainsbury, followed by a SERC NATO Postdoctoral Fellowship at Duke University, North Carolina, USA with Professor Bert Frasier-Reid. AJ has over 70 publications covering peer reviewed papers and patents.

Andrea Fuller

HR Director

Andrea Fuller is a Chartered Member of the CIPD and a skilled HR leader with over 20 years of experience spanning human resources and operational management. Since joining Domainex in 2022, Andrea has used her extensive experience to introduce a wide range of policies, procedures, and training programmes that ensure clarity, compliance, and practical understanding across the organisation. She is also instrumental in supporting the growth and development of Domainex’s team of highly specialised scientists by establishing clear career pathways and recognition frameworks.

Andrea holds a Master’s Degree in Human Resource Management (Distinction) from Anglia Ruskin University and is also a certified Executive Leadership Coach and an Insights Discovery Accredited Trainer, delivering bespoke coaching and team development initiatives across the organisation. 

A passionate advocate for neurodiversity and workplace inclusion, Andrea has championed a suite of progressive policies and training programmes designed to create a more inclusive, supportive, and high-performing workplace culture. Her efforts have also led to the launch of a competitive benefits package—including private healthcare, cycle-to-work options, an electric vehicle scheme, and a holiday buyback programme.

Robina Akhtar

Head of Finance and Facilities

Robina Akhtar is a Chartered Certified Accountant (FCCA) with over 25 years of leadership experience in the pharmaceutical and manufacturing sectors. She has held senior roles including Financial Controller, Finance Director, and CEO, bringing a proven track record in strategic financial management and operational excellence.

Robina joined Domainex in 2021 as Financial Controller, bringing with her deep expertise in financial strategy, systems optimisation, and leading change programmes to drive cost efficiency. In November 2022, she was appointed Head of Finance and Facilities, where she now oversees operations across both the chemistry and biology sites. In this role, she has implemented targeted cost-saving strategies and enhanced departmental efficiencies, strengthening financial and operational control.

Prior to Domainex, Robina served as CEO, Company Secretary, and Board Director at Labcraft, a leading designer and manufacturer of low-voltage lighting solutions. During her tenure, she led the company through significant growth and successful expansion into European markets.