Prior to joining the UCL Global Business School for Health as a MSc Biotech and Pharmaceutical Management student, Omar El Muhanna built a career, spanning over 15 years, leading complex global operations across the commercial, health, humanitarian and biomanufacturing sector.
Omar held senior roles overseeing strategy, restructuring, and cross-border operations in some of the world’s most challenging environments, including crisis and conflict zones. His work focused on building resilient systems, delivering impact at scale, and aligning operational effectiveness with long-term strategic growth.
He later transitioned into the biomanufacturing space, joining the University of Oxford’s Clinical Biomanufacturing, where he currently serves as a Senior Operations and Strategy Executive. In this role, he leads GMP operations, infrastructure and strategic expansion, and organisational governance, while helping drive the future vision within the University’s translational ecosystem. Before this, he also played a key leadership role during the COVID-19 pandemic, contributing to the development and global rollout of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine.
Why Omar chose to study at UCL GBSH
Reflecting on his reasons and motivations for studying at UCL GBSH, Omar shared:
“The MSc in Biotech and Pharmaceutical Management at UCL GBSH stood out to me for its unique combination of scientific depth and business rigour. The programme's focus on global health innovation and its goal to prepare future leaders at the intersection of life sciences, strategy, and policy aligned with my career objectives. As someone already leading operational transformation in a GMP setting, I was eager to complement my practical experience with a structured academic framework grounded in commercial strategy, regulatory science, and global health innovation.”
Omar’s experience at UCL GBSH
Thinking back to this his experience at UCL GBSH, Omar remarked:
“My time at GBSH was truly transformative. The curriculum was relevant and forward-thinking, and the faculty brought real-world insights from academia, industry, and public health. I mostly valued the interactive learning model and the diversity of perspectives in our cohort. Studying alongside peers from across the world who shared a passion for health equity and innovation was incredibly energising. The school’s culture of excellence and collaboration left a lasting impact, inspiring me to continue my journey in global health and biotech leadership.”
How studying at UCL GBSH impacted Omar personally and professionally
Shining a light on how his studies at GBSH has impacted his professional life, Omar shared:
“My studies at GBSH sharpened my ability to bridge scientific objectives with business outcomes, and enhanced my confidence in regulatory strategy, stakeholder alignment, and organisational design. The programme provided me the tools to lead complex change more effectively, and to infuse innovative thinking into strategic operations.”
Reflecting on a recent milestone, he adds:
“In May 2025, I was honoured to receive the King Abdullah II Ibn Al Hussein Order for Distinction, one of Jordan’s highest civilian honours.
This was in recognition to my contributions to the field of biomanufacturing, playing instrumental role in the development of globally approved vaccines, most notably the Oxford/AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, as well as my contributions to international patents and receipt of global accolades.
It was a proud moment that reflects, in part, the leadership journey catalysed by my time at UCL GBSH."
To current and future students: UCL GBSH is more than a degree, it is a global platform. The learning, connections, and confidence you build here will shape your path long after graduation. My advice is to stay curious, build relationships, and trust that the interdisciplinary toolkit you gain at GBSH will serve you well across sectors, geographies, and challenges.
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