WA strengthens award-winning health practice with senior appointment

WA has welcomed Jake Pond as a Director in its growing Health team, bringing extensive expertise in health, market access and rare diseases policy.

Jake joins from Oxygen Strategy, where, as Associate Director, he held leadership responsibility for client service delivery and spearheaded the firm’s public affairs offer for health technology assessment (HTA).

Working closely with WA Health’s senior leadership, Jake will focus on supporting clients across the life sciences sector, drawing on his deep expertise and proven experience in market access strategy and life sciences policy.

His appointment comes as WA Health continues to grow at pace. The team was named Communiqué’s Public Affairs and Policy Consultancy of the Year 2025 and recently secured significant new wins from organisations including global pharma leaders Sanofi, Daiichi-Sankyo, Johnson & Johnson and digital mental health platform Kooth.

Jake’s arrival follows the appointment of Professor Carole Longson MBE – former NICE Executive Director and Chief Scientific Officer at the ABPI – to WA’s Advisory Board.

Commenting on his appointment, Jake Pond, Director, WA Communications, said:

“WA has a fantastic reputation in health and life sciences. I’m thrilled to be joining at such an exciting time of growth and look forward to helping our clients navigate change and shape the future of health.”

Dean Sowman, Head of Health, WA Communications, added:

“We’re delighted to welcome Jake to WA. His expertise and sector insight will be a real asset to our clients and further strengthen our fast-growing health practice.”