Panel discussion: New generation of nicotine products

Marina Murphy has more than 20 years’ experience across scientific research, communications, and engagement in the tobacco harm reduction and nicotine field. Previous experience includes senior scientific positions at Juul Labs and at BAT.

Murphy has a Ph.D. in chemistry from the National University of Ireland, Galway. She has been published across a range of scientific journals, including Drugs & Alcohol Today and Key Engineering Materials, as well as in the top-tier media outlets, including the BBC, NewScientist and The Irish Times.

Murphy takes pride in having forged a unique career path that allows her to use a genuine passion for science to help make a real difference in people’s lives.

Aron is a leading expert in Next Generation Nicotine Products (NGP) with a focus on vape, heated tobacco, and novel nicotine products. As the founder of NGP Trends, Aron provides businesses with critical technical insights on the latest developments in these fast-evolving categories. His expertise helps companies drive consumer-centric product and portfolio development through monthly reports, consulting, and workshops.
Aron’s approach to this dynamic, technology-driven industry is to unlock consumer value from technology benefits. Supported by a dedicated team of NGP experts in product design, development, consumer research, intellectual property, and litigation, NGP Trends collaborates with its manufacturing partner to support businesses in developing innovative NGP products.

Mr. Waqas Khan is a senior executive with over 20 years of prolific

experience leading global roll outs for Fortune 500 companies including

BAT, Juul Labs, Etisalat, Telenor and Ooredoo. He has led teams to

launch and grow brands across 3 continents across varied sectors

including consumer packaged goods, telecommunications, mobile device,

broadband, med-tech and fintech sectors. Mr. Khan has also cofounded 3

startups, the most of recent of which, LIX Innovations Inc, was acquired

by ITG brands USA in a multimillion-dollar deal in 2023. He now serves

as the Global CEO of NEVCORE Innovations Inc, the brand owners of the

newly launched USA FDA accepted, revolutionary nicotine pouch, CLEW.

Rachael Trimpert Schmidt (retired CAPT, USPHS) brings over a decade of experience in regulatory and compliance solutions within the tobacco and nicotine industry. With a distinguished tenure at the FDA, serving as the Assistant Director of Laboratory Compliance & Coordination of the CTP, she spearheaded crucial initiatives to enforce the FSPTCA of 2009.

During her tenure at FDA, CAPT Schmidt played a pivotal role in establishing and coordinating FDA tobacco regulatory laboratories, ensuring rigorous adherence to regulatory standards. Her leadership was instrumental in developing and executing comprehensive tobacco product testing programs, encompassing pre-market application reviews, post-market compliance assessments, adverse event evaluations, and the development of tobacco product standards. Schmidt's expertise extends to fostering collaboration with national and international stakeholders to harmonize tobacco enforcement and policy efforts.

Pablo Cano Trilla leads the legal analysis team at Tamarind Intelligence (publisher of ECigIntelligence and TobaccoIntelligence), overseeing regulatory coverage across more than 100 countries, U.S. states, and other subnational jurisdictions.

He holds a Master of Laws (LLM) with Distinction from the University of Aberdeen and degrees in law and political science. Pablo began his career as an assistant at the European Parliament and has since built an international legal career, working as a lawyer and legal analyst in Mexico, the UK, and Spain, specializing in highly regulated industries. He is a qualified attorney.

For over a decade, Pablo has provided independent, in-depth legal and political analysis on the tobacco and nicotine industries to clients including international corporations, governments, tobacco control NGOs, and academic institutions. A seasoned speaker, he has delivered numerous presentations and conferences on key industry issues to diverse global audiences.