Scottish IBMS Education and Development Conference 2026

Dr Sarah Pitt

President, IBMS

Sarah is a registered Biomedical Scientist with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and a Fellow of the Institute of Biomedical Science (IBMS). Specializing in microbiology, Sarah has a particular expertise in clinical virology and parasitology. She holds a BSc in Microbiology from Bristol University and trained as a Biomedical Scientist at the Royal Postgraduate Medical School in London. Throughout her career, Sarah has gained extensive experience working in hospital diagnostic laboratories across the UK, Africa, and Central Asia.

With a strong passion for education and training, Sarah is deeply committed to the development of future Biomedical Scientists. She plays an active role in managing clinical placements for BSc Biomedical Science students at local hospital pathology departments, helping to prepare them for careers in diagnostic laboratory work.

In her professional capacity, Sarah serves as the IBMS Chief Examiner for Virology, contributing to the development of professional exams, the Specialist portfolio, and continuing professional development initiatives.

Sarah has also made significant contributions to educational resources, publishing three textbooks to support student learning: Introduction to Biomedical Science in Clinical and Professional Practice (co-authored with Dr. Jim Cunningham), Parasitology: An Integrated Approach (co-authored with Dr. Alan Gunn of Liverpool John Moores University), and Clinical Microbiology for Diagnostic and Laboratory Scientists, for which she was the sole author.

Dr Jim Taylor SFHEA, FIBMS, MRSB CSciTeach

Head of Digital Education, IBMS

Jim joined the IBMS in January 2023 after a successful 20-year career in further and higher education. He has taught on a range of bioscience qualifications from GCSE to Masters level, and most recently led an IBMS Accredited BSc Biomedical Science programme.

Jim has extensive experience of digital education and digital pedagogy, working across the professional life science sector developing and delivering digital learning solutions for students in practice, and for pre-registration professionals seeking state registration. In his current role, Jim will lead all aspects of digital education for the IBMS.

Chris Ward

Head of Examinations, Institute of Biomedical Science

Chris is the Head of Examinations at the Institute of Biomedical Science. He joined the IBMS in January 2014. At the IBMS he has responsibility for all six CEP distance learning courses, and all the DEP, ASD and HSD qualifications that the Institute offers including those in Dissection, Reporting and Cytology. He co-ordinates the work of eight specialist advisory panels, three RCPath/IBMS Conjoint Boards and the UKTLC. He is also involved in the (re)accreditation of IBMS accredited BSc and MSc degree programmes

Before working at the IBMS he had spent four and half years at another professional body (the Institute of Administrative Management, eight and half years at the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) where he worked on the development and implementation of the Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF) and the accreditation of hundreds of vocational qualifications across a wide range of subjects and two years as a secondary school teacher.