Colin O’DONNELL

Colin leads Government Affairs for Alexion, AstraZeneca Rare Disease, for its EUCAN and International markets since May 2023. He is responsible for creating international government affairs strategy, executing global policy strategy in rare diseases, and creating opportunities for prioritization of rare diseases within these regions. Colin also sits on the AstraZeneca Corporate Affairs Leadership team for Europe and Canada.

Prior to this role, Colin worked as the Head of Corporate Affairs for AstraZeneca in Ireland, responsible for external, media and government affairs relating to its core therapeutic areas, including oncology, cardiovascular, renal and metabolic diseases, respiratory, vaccines and immune therapies.

Colin joined AstraZeneca in 2021 from Hanover Communications, a leading PR and Public Affairs agency. At Hanover, Colin headed their Public Affairs division, devising and leading Irish and International programmes for several leading innovative Pharmaceutical, MedTech and Technology companies. Throughout this time he supported the development of several rare disease policy reforms and new orphan drug launches within Ireland.

Colin holds an MA in International Relations and an MA in Public Affairs & Political Communications and previously worked in the Irish Parliament (‘Oireachtas’) for a frontbench Spokesperson for Health, where he was involved in medicines legislation and health policy.