In recent months, there have been some changes to the PHUSE Board of Directors, most notably in the role of Americas Director, following Chris Hurley’s retirement at the end of March 2026. Our Founder and Chairman of the Board, Stephen Bamford, shared a few words about Chris’s time with PHUSE and the impact of his contributions.

“After more than a decade of shaping how PHUSE shows up in the United States, Chris Hurley has stepped down from his role on the PHUSE Board. If you have ever attended a PHUSE Single Day Event, a Computational Science Symposium, or a US Connect, there is a very good chance Chris had a hand in making it happen.

Chris's PHUSE story began in 2013 when he took on the role of Co-Chair for the Canton, MI Single Day Event. It was a first step that quickly became a full commitment. By 2014, Chris had moved into the role of US Events Project Co-Lead, taking on responsibility for the planning and coordination of all US Single Day Events – no small task for an organisation built on volunteer energy and goodwill.

In 2015, Chris joined the PHUSE Board as US Events Director. Over the years that followed, he was instrumental in growing the scale and quality of PHUSE's US event portfolio. For those who have been around PHUSE long enough to remember, the US events landscape looked quite different before Chris got involved. He brought rigour to the logistics, warmth to the welcome, and a consistent focus on making sure events delivered genuine value – real learning, real connections, not just a day out of the office.

What set Chris apart was his understanding that events are not an end in themselves. They are the mechanism through which a community like PHUSE builds trust, shares knowledge, and stays relevant. Chris never lost sight of that. Whether he was sorting out venue logistics or encouraging a first-time presenter, the purpose was always the same: bring people together and make it count.

Chris retired from MMS Holdings in 2025, and at the PHUSE US Connect 2026 in Austin, he hung up his PHUSE hat too. True to form, he was there in person – not slipping away quietly but showing up one last time for the community he helped build.

On behalf of the PHUSE Board and the wider PHUSE Community, thank you, Chris. Your contribution over more than a decade has left a lasting mark on how we gather, how we learn, and how we grow. We wish you every success and enjoyment in whatever comes next – and we suspect you will not be a stranger.”

Following Chris’s retirement, Shereen Khwajazada has transitioned into the role of Americas Director. Shereen began her involvement with PHUSE by participating in SDEs, chairing her first event in 2023. She was then appointed to her initial position on the Board of Directors a year later in the role of Special Projects (US) Director. Shereen recently shared a few words about what drew her to the role of Americas Director and what she is looking forward to in her new position.

“What makes this role especially meaningful to me is the opportunity to help strengthen connections across the Americas region, ensuring learning is both accessible and intentional.

PHUSE has a long tradition of high-impact conferences and initiatives, but I am particularly passionate about the value delivered through single-day regional events. These gatherings provide something uniquely powerful: focused engagement, practical discussion, and real-world knowledge exchange that participants can immediately apply to their day-to-day work. I firmly believe that these events are not smaller versions of global conferences, but rather strategic touchpoints that support continuous learning throughout the year.

I also see this role as an opportunity to help foster connections across borders within the Americas. While our regulatory landscapes, organisational structures, and local challenges may differ, we share many common goals. Strengthening collaboration across regions allows us to learn faster, innovate more effectively, and build solutions that are informed by a broad range of experiences.

Ultimately, what excites me most is helping PHUSE continue to be not just a professional organisation, but a trusted community that moves the industry forward through connection, curiosity and shared commitment.”

Finally, please note that Anne-Sophie Bekx is now on maternity leave as of March 2026, and Lynn Clipstone is covering the Education Director role, alongside her responsibilities as Special Projects (EU) Director.