Get to know ACDM Board Member Jennifer Duff
Date: June 22, 2026
We caught up with one of ACDM’s new Board Members, Jennifer Duff, to learn more about her. Read her answers, including her top tip for data management, below.
- Name: Jennifer Duff
- Job Title: Executive Vice President & General Manager
- Organisation: Zelta, a division of Merative
- Role at ACDM: Board Member
Provide a brief summary of your education and work experience to date
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- I have an undergraduate degree in Biology from St Mary’s College of Maryland and an MBA in Biotechnology & Healthcare Management from Penn State. During my time with Accenture I also completed a Women’s Leadership Program at Smith College.
- I entered the environmental field out of college, eventually transferring over to life sciences as an independent consultant with Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, with the first Oracle Clinical adoption. From there I became a Wyeth CDM leader, eventually moving over to Accenture in 2003 with the first outsourcing of CDM in the industry. I’ve been in the industry ever since, almost 30 years.
- In that time I had a wonderful 18y career with Accenture capstoned as a Sr Managing Director leading their global Life Sciences R&D Operations business as well as the Operations Lead for the Merck Account. I left Accenture for IBM where I was tasked to build out their Life Sciences consulting practice, eventually taking over the IBM Clinical Development business and being divested as part of IBM Watson Health in 2022. That business is now known as Merative and is where I am today, leading the Zelta Trials business unit.
- I’ve worked with teams across the globe and across the industry – from pharma, medical device and technology. Including leveraging almost every major technology system out there – spanning data management, clinical programming, DCT, and safety systems.
If you were on a desert island, what three things would you take with you and why?
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- A knife – because you would need one for pretty much everything.
- A fire starter – because I have no idea how to start a fire without one, and wet and cold can be a deadly combo.
- Paracord – in the hopes there are materials on the island and paracord has lots of uses.
If you were not in the job you are in, what would you do?
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- I might consider going back into the environmental industry. I’m a tree hugger at heart.
If you had a dinner party, and could invite 1 famous person, who would you invite and why?
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- Queen Elizabeth I – it would just be amazing to hear her thoughts on her life.
What’s the best piece of advice you have ever been given?
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- Family first. No matter what you do, or how much/little money you have, if you have strong relationships and prioritize them you will have a happy, fulfilling life. And “family” is what you define, not just the one you were born into.
If you could learn one new skill today, what would it be?
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- To play the guitar. Much more portable than a piano.
Jennifer’s Top Tip for Clinical Data Managers:
In CDM, processes are important and following the process is critical from a compliance perspective. However following the process without applying critical thinking is the enemy of success. No process is perfect and everything can be improved over time. Technology changes, skills change, requirements change. You to focus on the outcomes and ask questions, versus blindly following process; that’s how you achieve success.
