Jody Brandes has over 30 years of experience in the hospitality industry as both a planner and supplier. She is Associate Director, Internal Meetings & Strategy at GileadSciences, Inc managing a team of four meeting professionals. She has over 20 years’ experience in the pharmaceutical space including at Genentech, Novartis and Chiron Corporation.

She is past president of Meeting Professionals International Northern California Chapter and is currently Director of Operations for the Society For Sustainable Events (SFSE). She earned the Sustainable Event Professional Certificate from EIC in 2022, was awarded Sustainability Champion from PCMA Northern California Chapter in 2021 and won the 2nd Annual Sustainability award from Pharma Forum in 2023. She was also recognized by PCMA Northern California with the Pillar Award in 2026.