Swetha Khokale is an accomplished professional with over 19+ years of experience across various facets of clinical research. Currently serving as Country Head, India at Advarra, she oversees business operations, global support services and the India product and technology teams of 450+ professionals that work with global sites, sponsors, CROs and research stakeholders to decrease technology burden, improve study conduct and enable smarter decisions to advance clinical research. She is strategic and people-first leader with a proven track record in building high-performing teams, driving sustainable growth, and fostering a culture of continuous development and collaboration. Adept at creating scalable frameworks that align business goals with talent development, she believes in empowering individuals and is passionate about driving collective success through purpose-driven leadership, strategic foresight, and a culture that values innovation, accountability, and shared growth.
Prior to joining Advarra, Swetha managed Clinical Operations, APAC at Navitas Life Sciences and earlier in her career, worked at IQVIA, Parexel, and ARIS Global, where she honed skills in clinical monitoring, quality assurance, training, project management and technology. She holds a Masters in Biotechnology and a Postgraduate Diploma in Clinical Research & Data Management.
Beyond her corporate responsibilities, she is a lifetime member of the Indian Society for Clinical Research (ISCR) and is actively engaged in volunteer work. She plays a crucial role in training and developing clinical research–naïve sites, offering regulatory training to ethics committees, research professionals, and organizing conferences and webinars that disseminate best practices within the industry. Her commitment to thought leadership is further reflected in her publication of white papers on key topics such as biosimilars in clinical research. She was also featured as one of the top women in Pharma & Lifesciences 2022 by Women Entrepreneur, India.