Dr. Cicely Shillingford

Assistant Vice President, PD, Innovation, and Regulatory amika

Dr. Cicely Shillingford, she/her, is the Associate Vice President of Product Development, Innovation, and Regulatory at amika, where she leads the team responsible for bringing the brand’s portfolio of 50+ products from concept to shelf. Since joining amika in 2023 as Director of Product Development, she now sits on amika’s executive leadership team, shaping innovation + development strategy for the brand. Under her leadership, amika has launched several major franchises, including The Protector Collection — a clinically proven color-care system engineered to preserve color vibrancy for up to 40 washes and deliver measurable strength — alongside the Superfruit Star Styling Oil, winner of a 2025 CEW Award.

A first-generation Caribbean-Canadian, Dr. Shillingford studied biochemistry at the University of Waterloo, where she was named a 2024 Early Alumni Excellence Award recipient. She holds a PhD in Chemistry from New York University and has authored 7 scientific publications in the fields of structural biochemistry, colloidal chemistry, and materials science. Prior to amika, she led product development for health tech unicorn Ro, building out its CPG business and launching its dermocosmetic brand, and earlier conducted research at Harvard’s Wyss Institute, where she was issued two patents for bioinspired materials engineering. Dr. Shillingford is also a dedicated advocate for underrepresented minorities in STEM, having taught organic chemistry at NYU for four years, launched the university’s first organization for Black PhD scholars, and led 20+ mentorship events through the World Science Festival and as a trustee of The Chemists’ Club. She resides in Harlem, NYC.