PMI UK Cambridgeshire Branch Event: Building the DISC: Project Managing a World-Class Science Hub for Discovery and Collaboration. 17th December 2025

This event is taking place AZ Hub, Francis Crick Avenue, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge CB2 0QH

Richard Surma, Head of Estate & Capital Programmes for AstraZeneca, will talk us through the project management journey of building and maintaining AstraZeneca’s state-of-the-art research and development (R&D) facility, The Discovery Centre, known as “The DISC”. Here, more than 2,000 scientists work in drug discovery and development across key therapy areas, each playing a central role in the company’s mission to deliver life-changing medicines to patients. The DISC is uniquely designed to advance groundbreaking science, strengthen collaboration, and promote openness, all while supporting AstraZeneca’s leading sustainability ambitions across its science and business operations.

Speaker

Richard Surma is a senior estates professional with 25 years leadership in R&D, scientific, highly technical, and regulated development and built environments. He is currently Head of Estates& Capital Programmes at AstraZeneca, which includes responsibility for the safe, legal and compliant running of all UK R&D infrastructure and leadership of the Engineering Team responsible for overseeing engineering compliance and infrastructure lifecycle asset management. Prior roles and responsibilities include Head of Estates for the BBSRC, providing direction and strategic oversight to a complex and diverse estate covering approximately 2,000 hectares and with a replacement value in excess of £500m at locations across the UK. Richard brings a passion to realising the full potential of science and research infrastructure to deliver leading transformational outcomes.

Agenda

• 5:30pm  Registration, refreshments and networking
• 6:00pm  Introduction, presentation and Q&A
• 7:30pm  Close