Presented By

Event Host

Pegasus Park

Pegasus Park is a 26-acre innovation hub consisting of more than 885,000 square feet of offices, labs, and amenities across multiple buildings. The development includes an 18-story office tower, a unique setting in which higher ed institutions, investors, accelerators, companies, social innovation organizations, and ARPA-H’s Customer Experience Hub are able to co-locate and collaborate daily. As the epicenter of North Texas’ rapidly expanding biotech sector, the hub is anchored by BioLabs Pegasus Park, a 37,000 square foot lab and incubator facility that houses more than 20 biotech startups. From shared lab equipment to mentorship opportunities and proximity to entrepreneurial stakeholders, BioLabs Pegasus Park supplies startups with everything they need to launch into high-growth companies. With its newest 135,000 square foot lab development Bridge Labs, Pegasus Park offers the institutional quality R&D space and resources needed for companies at every stage to scale, while benefiting from Texas’ low cost of doing business and strong talent pipeline. Strategically located in the heart of the rapidly expanding Innovation District, between the Dallas Design Center and the Southwestern Medical District in Dallas, Pegasus Park is a premier hub of innovation.

Speakers and Panels

Keynote: Sharina Perry, CEO & Founder of Utopia Plastix on the Future of Plastics

Disrupting Plastic with Sustainable, Plant-Based Solutions

Sharina Perry

Sharina Perry is an entrepreneur with more than 25 years of experience establishing and running national businesses. Sharina is the founder and inventor of Utopia Plastix, a plant-based alternative to petroleum- based polymers. Sharina is also the originator and developer of The Utopia Model, a sustainable ecosystem business model. She is well regarded as an innovator, strategist, and unconventional thinker. She is often praised for her exceptional capacity to foster creative thinking, effective execution, and deliberate leadership. Aside from her successful career, Sharina holds a significant number of leadership, management, and business development certifications. Sharina holds an expert certification in Sustainable Strategies and Circular Economics. Her education includes, but is not limited to, The University of Oklahoma and Cambridge Judge Business School. Sharina also owns registered global patents and trademarks. Sharina serves on the Oklahoma Governors Minority Business Council as chair of the Business Engagement Committee. Sharina was also a key committee member for the initiative leading to the passage of HB 2365; the first Supplier Diversity Program within the state of Oklahoma focused on aiding in the advancement of minority and underserved small business owners. In 2023, Sharina was appointed to the Oklahoma District Export Council by the US Secretary of Commerce. Sharina serves as the Chair on the Advisory Board of the University of Oklahoma Price College of Business Multicultural Business Program. She also serves on the Executive Board for Hough Ear Institute. Sharina was instrumental in contributing her knowledge, insights, and expertise when the City of Oklahoma City convened community leaders and stakeholders when creating an economic resilience and recovery plan post Covid. Sharina is a founding STEM committee member for the Oklahoma City Innovation District. Sharina led the drafting of the resolution passed unanimously by the OKC Council to bring Public, Private and Educational Institutions together to address STEM and Workforce Development within the historically black community on the northeast side of Oklahoma City. Throughout her illustrious career, Sharina has received numerous awards and accolades and has been recognized worldwide. Sharina was listed as Forbes's Top 10 Women to Watch in 2023 (globally). Sharina was also featured in September 2023 on the iconic Nasdaq Billboard in NYC Times Square as the Inventor of the Year. Shaina is a TEDx and International Keynote Speaker. Sharina has also been awarded: 2025 Innovation Impact Award 2025 Induction into the prestigious Enterprising Women Hall of Fame 2025 Business Innovator of the Year by IAOTP (International Association of Top Professionals) 2024 Top Sustainable Strategies and Circular Economics Expert 2024 Global Excellence Award 2024 Life Science Award Finalist New Jersey 2024 Black Leaders Worldwide Women to Watch Honoree 2023 & 2024 Most Innovative Plastic Alternative CEO 2023 Oklahoma Innovator of the Year 2023 Metro’s Most Influential 2023 Distinguished Service Visionary Award 2021 Vanguard Award for Environmental Excellence 2022 & 2023 Oklahoma’s Most Powerful and Innovative Women 2022 Most Influential Young Professionals 2022 Businesswoman of the Year 2023 Woman of the Year 2022 Supreme Excellence Dignitary Award 2022 Brainz 500 Global Influential Leaders 2023 Top Inventor of the Year by the International Association of Top Professionals 2022 Top 5 Climate and Green Influencers 2023 Black Corporate Leader in Climate and Clean Tech 2022 Featured as an Eco-Hero by Woman's Day Magazine

Utopia Plastix

Founder & CEO

Sharina Perry

Founder & CEO, Utopia Plastix

The State of the DFW Life Sciences

Innovation, Partnerships And Leading Industries

Nicole Small

Nicole G. Small serves as chief executive officer of LH Holdings, Inc. and president of the Lyda Hill Foundation, related entities which use their resources to fund game-changing advances in science and nature, empower nonprofits, and to improve the local communities of greatest importance to the organizations’ founder, Miss Lyda Hill. In these roles since early 2014, Ms. Small is responsible for overseeing the strategic direction of both entities, including their financial and investment activities, as well as their philanthropic initiatives. From 2011 through 2013, Ms. Small served as the inaugural Eugene McDermott Chief Executive Officer of Dallas’ Perot Museum of Nature and Science. Ms. Small joined the Dallas Museum of Natural History in 2001, having first served as a member of the Museum’s expansion team from 2001 until she was named CEO in April 2002. In 2006, Ms. Small spearheaded the merger of the city’s three, then existing nature, science, and childrens museums (the Dallas’ Museum of Natural History, The Science Place and the Children’s Museum), into a sole museum which later became the Perot Museum of Nature and Science in Victory Park. Ms. Small worked with the Board, the community and the Museum team to raise over $200 million, which included achieving their $185 million fundraising goal – and provided for the site acquisition, exhibition planning and design, construction of the new building, education programs, and an endowment – more than a full year before the Museum’s planned opening. These achievements, along with many others, earned the Perot Museum widespread acclaim both for its innovative design and programming excellence. Earlier in her career, Ms. Small held positions with several technology, venture capital and consulting firms, including serving as the founder and CEO of an internet startup, an entrepreneur-in-residence at a California-based business incubator, and as an analyst with McKinsey & Company. Ms. Small received an undergraduate degree from the University of Pennsylvania and an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. She is a member of the Dallas Assembly, YPO, Charter 100, and International Women’s Forum. She serves on the Boards of the A.H. Belo Corporation, Southwestern Medical Foundation, Communities Foundation of Texas, and on the strategic planning committee for The Hockaday School in Dallas. Ms. Small resides in Dallas with her husband, two daughters, and a dog

LH Capital/Lyda Hill Philanthropies

CEO, President

Nicole Small

CEO, President, LH Capital/Lyda Hill Philanthropies

Hubert Zajicek, MD, MBA

CEO & Co-founder, Health Wildcatters

Heidi McConnell

Deputy Executive Officer, COO, Cancer prevention and research institute of Texas (CPRIT)

Dr. Darrin D'Agostino

Provost and Chief Academic Officer, Texas Tech School of Health Sciences

Moderator

Rachel Bagley

Director, Marketing & Innovation, Mansfield Economic Development

Collaborative Ecosystems

Building Bridges Between Startups, Academia And Facilities

Gabby Everett

Director, Business Operations & Strategy | Site Head, BioLabs Pegasus Park

Lucy Bannon

CCO, NexPoint

Kurt Lindorfer

Founding Principal, PARADIGM Structural Engineers

Ese Aihie

Ese Aihie is an Entrepreneur and CRE industry expert with over 15 years in real estate. Serves as President for Admiral Legacy Companies which includes Venture X Castle Hills, a premium flexible office space provider and Founder/CEO for Work Innovators, a media production and marketing company focused on amplifying the voice of businesses and communities. Current/Past experience includes, office/collaborative work space, single –family development, mixed-use development, P3, land procurement, community outreach, contract negotiations, business development. Ese transitioned into real estate full-time after an 18 years career in Workforce Mgt. & Technology Management in Fortune 100 organizations. My experience with real-estate, passion for people, and community led me to the commercial real estate space pod i play in today. Enriching people’s lives through communities; by creating environments and experiences is critical to how she approaches the projects or investments she works on. She is actively involved in and understands the value of communities, and the different neighborhood dynamics. Her community involvement proves her to be not just a real estate professional, but also trusted advisor and partner. She is known for her integrity and equanimity in difficult situations. She is an active member of the nonprofit Urban Land Institute (ULI) as a Council & Facilitator of UrbanPlan for Education Committee. An advocate for small businesses serves on several boards and Leadership Councils including the Board of Directors at The Colony Chamber of Commerce, the National Small Business Association (NSBA) Leadership Council, The Scott Murray Scholarship Fund, and Texas Real Estate Council.(TREC) Master’s in public management from University of Texas Dallas and bachelor's degree in law (BL) Faith, Family and Fun-Travel are key areas of her non-work life. Married to her life and business partner Andrew and they have 3kids together.

Admiral Legacy

CEO & President

Moderator

Ese Aihie

CEO & President, Admiral Legacy

Why You Should Attend This DFW Life Sciences Event

What You’ll Learn

What are the key drivers of growth in the DFW life sciences sector, and how are innovation, partnerships and leading industries shaping its future?
How is the investment climate evolving for life sciences in DFW, and which subsectors are attracting the most attention from investors?
What factors are contributing to DFW's emergence as a budding and booming life sciences hub?
How is collaboration between startups, corporations and academia fueling innovation in the DFW life sciences ecosystem, and what role do each play in driving growth?
What are the key considerations for designing and constructing future-proof life sciences facilities, and how are these development strategies different from traditional commercial real estate projects?
What role do public-private partnerships play in advancing DFW’s life sciences sector, and how can these collaborations support long-term success?
How can life sciences developers assess the potential return on investment for biotech and other related commercial real estate projects in DFW?
What factors should be considered when selecting sites for biotech-related developments in DFW, and how do developers ensure optimal location and facility design?

How You'll Do More Business By Attending:

Join the region’s leading life sciences executives, investors, developers and innovators as they share actionable insights into DFW’s rapidly expanding life sciences ecosystem. Gain exclusive access to the latest trends in biotech investment, facility design and real estate development strategies. Learn about the key drivers behind DFW’s success as a life sciences hub, how to build collaborative ecosystems and how to future-proof your investments and developments for this dynamic sector. This event will connect you with key industry players, provide opportunities to discuss investment challenges and opportunities and help you navigate the unique real estate and operational demands of the life sciences market. Don’t miss this chance to be at the forefront of DFW’s life sciences revolution.

DON'T MISS OUR PREMIER LIFE SCIENCES & BIOTECH EVENT THIS FALL

Want even more life sciences x commercial real estate content & networking? Check out our third annual Bisnow International Life Sciences & Biotech Conference, taking place Sept. 10 & 11 in San Diego, CA.

Who You’ll Meet During Networking: Universities, owners, developers, investors, brokers, lawyers, contractors, construction leaders, architects, designers, tenants, end users, investors, leasing agents, financial institutions, government officials, Biotech executives, biomedical executives, pharmaceutical executives and life science real estate professionals.

Questions about your ticket purchase or interested in sponsoring? Reach out to customerservice@bisnow.com for customer support.

Questions about the venue or need to request disability-related accommodations, please contact claire.ahrens@bisnow.com no later than seven business days before the event.

For recommendations, comments, or press inquiries please email our Texas event producer Ansley Bird at ansley.bird@bisnow.com.

Venue

Pegasus Park
3000 Pegasus Park Drive
Dallas, TX 75247

Get Directions

Agenda

Time	Activity
8:00 AM 9:00 AM	Breakfast, Networking And Bridge Lab Tours
9:00 AM 9:15 AM	Keynote: Sharina Perry, CEO & Founder of Utopia Plastix on the Future of Plastics Disrupting Plastic with Sustainable, Plant-Based Solutions
9:15 AM 10:00 AM	The State of the DFW Life Sciences Innovation, Partnerships And Leading Industries
10:00 AM 10:15 AM	Networking Break
10:15 AM 11:00 AM	Collaborative Ecosystems Building Bridges Between Startups, Academia And Facilities
11:00 AM 11:30 AM	Closing Networking And Bridge Lab Tours

DFW Life Sciences News & Projects

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Call:	202-684-2034
Email:	eventregistration@bisnow.com

The Future of DFW Life Sciences

Facility Innovations, Collaboration And Industry Growth

Presented By

Event Host

Pegasus Park

Speakers and Panels

Keynote: Sharina Perry, CEO & Founder of Utopia Plastix on the Future of Plastics

Disrupting Plastic with Sustainable, Plant-Based Solutions

Sharina Perry

The State of the DFW Life Sciences

Innovation, Partnerships And Leading Industries

Nicole Small

Hubert Zajicek, MD, MBA

Heidi McConnell

Dr. Darrin D'Agostino

Rachel Bagley

Collaborative Ecosystems

Building Bridges Between Startups, Academia And Facilities

Gabby Everett

Lucy Bannon

Kurt Lindorfer

Ese Aihie

Why You Should Attend This DFW Life Sciences Event

Venue

Agenda

DFW Life Sciences News & Projects

Sponsors

Looking for quality commercial real estate prospects?

Want to get a recap of everything covered at the event?

Don't Forget!