Announcing the 2025 HBA Central New Jersey Board of Directors 

Written by Yasmin Khan 

We are delighted to announce the appointment of new members to the HBA Central New Jersey (CNJ) Chapter Board. These distinguished leaders bring a wealth of experience, knowledge, and a commitment to furthering the advancement and impact of women in the business of healthcare that will undoubtedly drive our chapter to new heights. 

New Board Members: 

Chapter President: Lesley Traver 

We welcome Lesley Traver as the new President of the chapter. Lesley is the Vice President, Quality and Compliance, at Johnson & Johnson MedTech. With more than 30 years of experience in the healthcare industry, Lesley has been an active HBA member since 2022 and is a member of the board of Trustees of the United Way of Northern New Jersey, focusing on supporting and uplifting the Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed (ALICE) community. 

Director-At-Large, Programming: Poorna Ashok 

Poorna is a Global Master Data Management Lead at Sanofi. She has been volunteering with the chapter’s Programming Committee and has stepped up to lead the work. 

Marketing Committee Lead: Elizabeth Dolgos 

Elizabeth has been leading marketing projects for the chapter in the last year and is now leading the committee, supporting the Marketing Director-At-Large. She has extensive experience in Pharma, most recently in pharmacovigilance at Pfizer with prior experience in medical information and communications. 

Membership & Volunteer Engagement Committee Lead: Mariana Saboya 

Mariana has been a long-time volunteer with the chapter. Having completed her term on the marketing committee, she has expanded her scope and is now leading the Membership & Volunteer Engagement Committee supporting the team’s Director-At-Large. She is a Principal scientist in Toxicology at Bristol Myers Squibb.  

Continuing in their board terms are: 

Chapter Vice President: Lisa Yates   

Lisa will continue with the Vice President role and expand the chapter’s impact. She is the Director of Drug Product, Bio Drug Substance, & Cell Therapy Development, Strategic Sourcing and Procurement at Bristol Myers Squibb. 

Director-At-Large, Operations: Leia Akre 

Started volunteering with HBA as the J&J HBA Global Ambassador Program and previously the chapter’s Membership & Volunteer Engagement Director at Large, Leia has accepted a new challenge and taken on the Operations leadership role. She is the Director of External Quality Operational Excellence at Janssen. 

Operations Committee Co-Lead: Neena Metha

Neena was previously leading the Marketing Committee for the chapter and in 2025 has assumed the role of Operations Committee Co-Lead, supporting the Operations Director-At-Large. She is the Associate Director, Global Clinical Data Integration at Merck.  

Operations Committee Co-Lead: Stephanie Raspa 

Previously the chapter’s Membership & Volunteer Engagement Committee Lead and having served on multiple committees since 2016, she is now the Co-Lead of the Operations Committee, partnering with Neena in support of Operations Director-At-Large. She is a Data Analyst, Business Insights & Analytics at Merck. 

Director-At-Large, Marketing: Quinnie Wong 

Quinnie has been in-role since 2024 and will continue to elevate the chapter’s visibility and the programs’ reach. She is a Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Pfizer. 

Director-At -Large, Membership/ Volunteer Engagement: Puja Patel 

Previously the chapter’s Programming Committee Lead, Puja is now the Membership & Volunteer Engagement Director-At-Large. She will innovate new ways to deepen engagement with the chapter’s volunteers. She is a Project Manager for Medical Evidence Generation at Bristol Myers Squibb. 

We want to thank Juliet Chin Hart for her exemplary service as the chapter’s President from 2023-2024. Juliet has been a HBA volunteer since 2017 and throughout the years, she has received numerous accolades including the prestigious HBA Global Chapter Leader Award in 2023, and leading the chapter to win the Global Chapter of Excellence award in 2024. Juliet’s servant leadership has inspired countless members, helping them expand their networks and accelerate their career growth. Juliet is the CEO of Hart & Chin - a leadership consulting firm.  

Our sincere thanks also go to Sharon List for her outstanding tenure as Operations Director-At-Large. Volunteering with HBA since 2020, Sharon has been recognized time and again for her exceptional leadership and unwavering commitment. She has not only ensured the seamless operation of the chapter but has also established important support systems for many members. Sharon continues to volunteer with HBA as a Global Ambassadors Program advisor. 

We are also grateful for the service of Anu Ganguly and Stephanie Hondorp. Their contributions have been instrumental to the success of the chapter. 

As we look forward to another impactful year, we remain committed to supporting our members in their journey to grow and thrive. 

Board of HBA Central New Jersey Chapter