Emma Winks
Chief Operating Officer & HR
"When our teams thrive, our clients benefit."
Our team: Leadership
Leadership Team
The Leadership Team works across strategy, operations, client relationships, and the long-term direction of Spiral. Together, they help create an environment where great people can do great work, ensuring our teams, systems, and culture continue to evolve alongside the needs of modern clinical research.
Who is Emma?
My career has taken me on a slightly unexpected journey.
I originally started out as a veterinary nurse before moving into technical support, software, recruitment technology, and AI. Along the way, I discovered a passion for helping people, systems, and technology work better together.
Joining Spiral brought those experiences together in a meaningful way. Today, I work across operations and people, supporting the teams that help researchers around the world deliver complex clinical trials.
What I enjoy most is the variety. No two days are ever quite the same, and I love being involved across different parts of the business while helping create an environment where people enjoy what they do and can build long-term careers.
What's filling my brain space right now?
A Different Kind of Power
Jacinda Ardern
The Perfect Predator
Steffanie Strathdee and Thomas Patterson
Leave Space
Simon Sinek
What trials I’m working on
I helped implement SNAP, one of Spiral's larger and more complex studies - reinforcing the importance of collaboration, adaptability, and building strong relationships with trial teams.
Historical highlight
ASCOT provided an incredibly rewarding experience and a much deeper understanding of how Spiral's technology, people, and processes come together to support important clinical research.
Beyond Spiral you’ll find me
When I'm not at Spiral, you'll usually find me in the garden preparing my raised beds for the next season, tackling another house renovation project, or being kept busy by Louis, our energetic Cavoodle.
Our household also includes three rescue cats who are excellent supervisors of any DIY project and firmly believe every gardening task should involve their input.