SPEAKERS

Michael Alexander is a pharmacist and naturopath who owned and ran his own pharmacy for over 20 years. Michael has dedicated his career to exploring the benefits of combining evidence-based vitamins and supplements with pharmaceuticals, to bring together natural therapies and conventional medicine for better patient outcomes. He is now a researcher, writer and presenter whose goal is to assist consumers to take control of their health. As a presenter, Michael is on a mission to transform the lives of his audience through sharing his knowledge and unique insights.

Session Details: Novel natural solutions for chronic pain: The case for Palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) | Friday, 15 March 2024 | 11.55am - 12.25pm

John Bell is a Practitioner/Teacher in the Graduate School of Health, University of Technology Sydney and has a community pharmacy practice in the eastern suburbs of Sydney. John is a former President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA), President of the Commonwealth Pharmacists Association (CPA) and Vice President of the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP). He is currently a member of the Global Pain Faculty and of the Global Respiratory Infection Partnership, an international multidisciplinary group established to address the issue of antibiotic resistance, and he is also an advisor to PSA’s Pharmacy Self Care Program, a consumer health information and pharmacist training program.

Session Details: The evolving dry cough landscape - rethinking management options for your patients | Thursday, 14 March 2024 | 5.10pm - 5.40pm

Lesley Braun is the Global Director of Blackmores Institute, which focuses on facilitating research and innovation with university and commercial partners and delivering education and science communications for both retail staff and health professionals. Lesley is an Adjunct Associate Professor at both SCU (NCCM) and WSU (NICM) and has held various positions at The Alfred Hospital, Monash University and RMIT University. Lesley has won numerous awards for her work in promoting research and innovation in complementary medicine. She has authored best-selling textbooks, founded a peer-reviewed scientific journal, and is currently the editor-in-chief of FX Medicine, a popular podcast series. Lesley is passionate about the role of diet, lifestyle, and complementary medicine approaches in healthcare and is a strong advocate for supporting women in STEM to become the new leaders of the future.

Session Details: Vitamins and dietary supplements - fact or fictions, and the important role of pharmacists | Friday, 15 March 2024 | 11.20am - 11.50am

Nathan David is co-founder of MedReleaf Australia. He has a diverse background including pharmaceuticals, FMCG, luxury retail, supply chain, wholesale and franchising. For almost 10 years, Nathan worked for Australian Pharmaceutical Industries (API), where he established himself as a leader within the business and was pivotal in the distribution and wholesale channels. Nathan has a firm foundation of knowledge of the PBS, private and generic medicine marketplace in Australia. He is adept at realising, developing and actioning new and innovative business strategies, is an active participant in the Medical Cannabis Industry Australia (MCIA) and is a sought-after advocate in the Medical Cannabis sector.

Session Details: How medical cannabis as a professional service can drive commercial growth for pharmacy | Saturday, 16 March 2024 | 9.55am - 10.25am

Kristina Fox is a proud community pharmacist who wants to revolutionise the industry. Kristina has a passion for improving patient health outcomes through innovation and is focused on meeting the needs of her local community through specialising in NDIS, medicinal cannabis, IVF, minor ailments and compounding services. Kristina believes collaborating with other health professionals is critical to delivering holistic health solutions and that by working together, can leverage their respective expertise to provide the best possible care for patients. She is also committed to delivering complete care and achieving positive health outcomes for patients.

Assoc Prof Paul Griffin was appointed as the Director of Infectious Diseases at Mater Health Services in 2013. He is also Conjoint Head of the Mater Clinical Unit for the University of Queensland. From 2011 to 2022, Paul was Principal Investigator/Medical Director at Nucleus Network, where he was involved in over 150 clinical trials. A Clinical Microbiologist by trade, Paul has an active interest in diagnostic microbiology. His primary research interests are clinical trials in the field of infectious diseases including malaria human challenge and transmission blocking studies, the molecular detection of gametocytes, and the detection of antibiotic resistance. A Director/Scientific Advisory Board member for the Immunisation Coalition, Paul also became a media spokesperson during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Session Details: Nuvaxovid COVID-19 vaccine | Thursday, 14 March 2024 | 2.35pm - 3.05pm

Chris Helder is a business communication expert, professional speaker and author who is known for his expertise in the areas of communication, leadership, and influence, and working with many high-profile clients around the world. Chris is the author of seven books, including his latest book, called "Re-ignition: How to gain power when you feel flat, tired, and uninspired". His best-selling book, “Useful Belief” is one of Australia’s highest selling business books of all time. Chris has presented at over 2,500 conferences around the world, sharing his insights and strategies on how to communicate effectively, inspire and motivate teams, and achieve success in business and life. His goal is to inspire individuals and organisations to think differently and achieve their full potential.

Session Details: How useful belief changes how you look at work and the customer experience | Friday, 15 March 2024 | 11.00am - 11.45am

Dr Jason Holland runs a busy glaucoma and advanced dry eye clinic at The Eye Health Centre in Brisbane, as well as providing pre and post-operative care for an ophthalmologist and anterior eye specialist. His previous roles include National Director of Optometry for the Optical Superstore Group, which engages 90 optometrists at 65 locations across Australia. Jason served as a Director and Treasurer for Optometry Australia (QLD & NT) for nine years and on the Optometry Australia National Board for three years, and currently sits on the QUT, Deakin and UWA Optometry Advisory Boards. In 2018, he was the recipient of the Optometry Australia Qld Optometrist. Jason has lectured on contact lenses and dry eye in Australia and South-East Asia.

Therese Lambert is the proud owner of TerryWhite Chemmart Sarina and an academic tutor at James Cook University School of Pharmacy, from which she was honoured with an award for her mentorship and tutoring of the next generation of pharmacists. A fervent advocate for rural and regional health, Therese is deeply committed to advancing the scope of practice for pharmacists and is taking part in the Far North Queensland Full Scope Pilot. Therese’s professional journey is about embracing the challenges and joys of her profession while inspiring others to do the same. With her forward-thinking approach and commitment to excellence, Therese continues to shape the future of pharmacy, one patient and one student at a time.

Dr Brett MacFarlane is Medical Director of Panwar Health. Brett graduated from pharmacy at the University of Queensland in 1993 and managed community pharmacies in metropolitan and regional Queensland for a number of years before completing a PhD in skin science at the UQ Medical School. Brett is a Fellow and former Chief Pharmacist of the Australasian College of Pharmacy. Brett’s primary research area was the movement of molecules across the skin. He later developed an interest in dry skin, other common skin conditions, and gastrointestinal health. Brett is an experienced peer reviewed author, medical writer, public speaker, and podcaster.

Session Details: Easing the strain - managing constipation in children and the importance of the parent/caregiver conversation | Friday, 15 March 2024 | 10.45am - 11.15am

Session Details: Evidence and gaps in children's pain and fever relief - implementation of the first Australian community pharmacist guideline | Thursday, 14 March 2024 | 2.00pm - 2.30pm

With over 35 years banking experience, Kim McCauley performs a national role providing expert advice, training and oversight to health banking specialists around Australia on lending criteria and structuring, the regulatory and compliance landscape, current and future trends impacting the sector, benchmarking and risk appetite. Prior to his current role, Kim was a Business Banker where he assisted countless pharmacists with purchasing into a pharmacy. He is passionate about helping health professionals achieve their business and financial ambitions, from entering business ownership, expanding and growing the business, through to succession planning and retirement.

Session Details: Pre-Conference Workshop: Commbank Pharmacy Owners Masterclass | Wednesday, 13 March 2024 | 12.30pm - 4.30pm

Bobby Mehta is a highly accomplished and award-winning pharmacist with 26 years of international experience in the UK and Australia. Bobby is a pioneer in the field, becoming one of the world’s first prescribing pharmacists in 2007. Boasting over 20 years of community pharmacy expertise plus six years within the pharmaceutical industry, Bobby specialises in complementary and integrative medicine education and has previously worked for the renowned Blackmores Institute. Bobby has a proven track record in designing and delivering education across the UK, Australia and Asia and as an expert in pharmaceutical and holistic healthcare, is dedicated to enhancing patient well-being through knowledge and innovation.

Session Details: Exploring the vital role of ubiquinol in mitochondrial health - the frontier of wellbeing | Saturday, 16 March 2024 | 10.45am - 11.15am

Paul Naismith is a practising pharmacist and the CEO of Fred IT Group. He co-founded Fred in 1991 and has grown the business to be Australia’s largest provider of IT services to the pharmacy industry. He is the man behind the market leading IT solutions Fred Dispense, eRx Script Exchange and MedView amongst others. Paul’s vision is to make medication management safer and more effective for all Australian’s. He has been a driving force in the recent introduction of electronic prescriptions as well as providing systems to aid in a national approach to combat accidental prescription drug deaths using real time prescriptions monitoring. To help deliver his vision, Paul holds the position as Chair of the Board for PDL, the major indemnity provider for pharmacy as well as Chair of APPCo, publisher of the Australian Journal of Pharmacy. In 2020, Paul received the Distinguished Alumni Award from the Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences at Monash University and in 2021 Paul was named the Victorian Pharmacist of the Year by the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia.

Session Details: Do we need Artificial Intelligence to serve customers better? | Thursday, 14 March 2024 | 2.00pm - 2.45pm

Senator the Hon Anne Ruston has been a Senator since 2012 and is currently the Shadow Minister for Health and Aged Care, Shadow Minister for Sport and Manager of Opposition Business in the Senate. In 2014, Anne was elected Senior Deputy Government Whip in the Senate and Chair of the Senate Environment and Communications Legislation Committee and in 2015, was appointed Assistant Minister of Agriculture and Water Resources. She was subsequently appointed as Assistant Minister for International Development and the Pacific in 2018. Prior to the 2022 election, Senator Ruston was a Cabinet Minister, holding the positions of Minister for Families and Social Services, Minister for Women’s Safety and Manager of Government Business in the Senate for three years. Prior to becoming a Senator, Anne held several senior positions in government and the private sector, including as the inaugural chief executive of the National Wine Centre.

Rabia Saddique is a criminal and human rights lawyer, retired British Army Officer, hostage survivor and author who successfully sued the UK Ministry of Defence for discrimination after it failed to acknowledge the role she played in the rescue of two captured Special Forces soldiers in war-torn Iraq in 2008. Her brave action became a catalyst for policy change to ensure a fairer workplace for women and cultural minorities in the British military.

A sought-after transformational coach and mentor, Rabia has undertaken human rights and community aid work in the Middle East, South America, the UK and Australia, receiving numerous awards including a Queen’s commendation in 2006 for her work in Iraq and Runner Up for Australian Woman of the Year UK in 2009. She was also named one of Australia’s Top 100 Women of Influence. In 2013, Rabia published her memoir, Equal Justice, which was also produced as a film.

Session Details: Equal Justice | Saturday, 16 March 2024 | 11.55am - 12.40pm

Erica Smith is a qualified healthcare professional working within the Clinical Education Team for Metagenics Australia. After 20 years of growth and experience with Metagenics, she has kept up to date with scientific developments, created clinical education, and lectured extensively throughout Australia and New Zealand, knowing that this brand is committed to producing healthcare solutions that people love and swear by. She brings her personal experience, scientific evidence, and practicality to the meaningful application of advanced natural medicines for all.

Richard Vincent was appointed Chair of the National Pharmaceutical Services Association (NPSA) in August 2020. The NPSA represents the CSO wholesalers including API, National Pharmacies, Sigma and Symbion. Richard was previously CEO and Managing Director of API. During his time at API, he oversaw the continued growth of API’s wholesale business, Priceline Pharmacy as well as the acquisition of Clear Skincare Clinics and seed investment in Sisu Health. Richard has been a key negotiator for the wholesalers since the 5CPA which included the creation of the CSO.

Brooke Young is one of the Partners at Cooleman Court Pharmacy in the ACT, who were the overall winners of the Guild Pharmacy of the Year in 2022. Brooke was registered in 2018 and since then has worked with the Life Pharmacy Group. In 2021, she bought into Cooleman Court Pharmacy and that same year was recognised as the PSA's Early Career Pharmacist of the Year. Brooke is passionate about the future of pharmacy and supporting the new generation of pharmacists, which she has demonstrated in her part in creating Life Pharmacy Group's Intern Training Program.

Dr Hartley Atkinson is a registered pharmacist with a Masters of Pharmaceutical Chemistry with Distinction and Doctorate in Pharmacology. He has published 29 research papers and two book chapters. Following roles as Medical Director and Sales and Marketing Director at Swiss based multinational pharmaceutical giant, Roche, Hartley founded AFT Pharmaceuticals in 1997. Today, AFT has an extensive R&D pipeline and operations in Australia, New Zealand, the UK, Singapore, Malaysia and Hong Kong, with licensing and distribution agreements in over 140 countries. AFT Pharmaceuticals listed on the ASX in December 2015. The capital raised has been used to invest in accelerating the R&D portfolio of key innovative products.

Session Details: Making pharmacy a destination for innovation | Thursday, 14 March 2024 | 3.10pm - 3.40pm

Simon Blacker is a community pharmacist and has been a pharmacy owner for over 20 years. After 10 years of leading the team at Orana Mall Pharmacy in Dubbo, Simon relocated to Canberra as the Managing Partner of Life Pharmacy Group, ACT. In 2017, Simon was elected President of the Pharmacy Guild’s ACT Branch, a role in which he is passionate about seeking feedback from Guild members, providing a voice to their ideas and providing possible solutions to their challenges. He is also Chair of the Guild’s Clinical Governance Committee. Simon believes the community pharmacy network is ideally positioned to do more to assist patients with their health needs in new and innovative ways.

Regina Cowie has a Bachelor of Sports Science (Exercise Physiologist) and is a qualified accredited pharmacist. She has over 20 years’ experience in community, industry and corporate pharmacy. Regina developed the first intern training program for the Northern Territory and Pharmaceutical Society of Australia. She worked for Australian Pharmaceutical Industries for 8 years, most recently as the National Health Care Services Manager, where she led her team to successfully implement electronic prescribing into Priceline Pharmacy, Soul Pattison and Pharmacist Advice. Regina has a passion for service delivery with care through innovation and technology. She is the newly appointed Partnerships Manager in eHealth for FRED IT.

Session Details: Do we need Artificial Intelligence to serve customers better? | Thursday, 14 March 2024 | 2.00pm - 2.45pm

Dr Richard Di Natale was elected to the Senate in the 2010 federal election and was federal parliamentary leader of the Australian Greens from 2015 to 2020, leading the Greens during the 2016 and 2019 federal elections. As federal health spokesperson he helped secure almost $5 billion towards Medicare-funded dentistry, and successfully campaigned to divest the Future of $250 million in tobacco holdings. He led inquiries into significant public health issues such as antimicrobial resistance, healthcare funding, air pollution, pharmaceutical industry transparency and gambling reform. Prior to entering parliament, Richard was a general practitioner and public health specialist, working in Aboriginal health in the Northern Territory, on HIV prevention among injecting drug users in Northeast India and as a drug and alcohol clinician in regional Victoria. Richard now works as a public health advisor with cohealth, a not-for-profit community health service, leading their work on the establishment of a supervised injecting service for Melbourne’s CBD and developing new multidisciplinary primary health services across Australia.

Session Details: Harm Minimisation Stream | Friday, 15 March 2024 | 4.00pm - 5.30pm

Kian Ghahramani is a Director of RSM Australia, with over 15 years’ experience in accounting, taxation, and business advisory. Outside of the usual compliance, he provides tax planning, strategic outsourcing, tax advice, and restructuring services to small business clients, both local and international, and specialises in Pharmacy services, Information Technology and Property and Construction. Kian’s involvement typically involves providing budgeting, cashflow, forecasting, tax planning and strategic advice to put his pharmacy clients on a growth path.

Session Details: PRe-Conference Workshop: Commbank Pharmacy Owners Masterclass | Wednesday, 13 March 2024 | 12.30pm - 4.30pm

Dr Richard “Harry” Harris has worked in anaesthesia, diving and aeromedical medicine. His passion for cave diving has taken him to the corners of the globe in search of new adventures, and he has a professional and voluntary interest in search and rescue operations, establishing the first flooded cave rescue capability in Australasia. In 2018, the Thailand cave rescue was an opportunity for Harry to put this training to work. That same year, he received the Star of Courage, Australia’s second highest civilian award for bravery, and the medal of the Order of Australia for his role in the rescue. In 2019, Harry was the joint Australian of the Year with his dive partner, Craig Challen. Harry is now a speaker, author and film maker and an advocate for sensible risk taking in young people, encouraging youth to get off their screens and get outside to build independence, resilience and improve mental health.

Session Details: Against all odds - an inside account of the Thai cave rescue | Friday, 15 March 2024 | 9.40am - 10.30am

Chloe Hennessy leads Clinical Governance and Quality at the Pharmacy Guild of Australia, which includes the Quality Care Pharmacy Program, a quality assurance program designed to guide community pharmacies in providing high quality, consistent and safe care to their patients. Chloe has a rich and varied experience including customer and stakeholder engagement, program design and development, new system implementation, change management and leadership. With more than 15 years of experience working in pharmacy accreditation, Chloe has a deep understanding of quality management systems, standards and accreditation and how these translate to the pharmacy environment. Chloe’s passion for quality accreditation and continuous improvement was the driving force behind Quality Care 2020, a contemporary accreditation program for community pharmacy which is centred around enabling continuous improvement, innovation and bringing together best-practice business operations with excellence in safe and quality care.

Marina Holt is an experienced pharmacist who is well-known in compounding circles for her dedication to improving compounding pharmacy practice through education, training, mentoring and stakeholder engagement. Marina has recently been a reviewer of the APF Compounding chapters and is a member of the Quality Standards Development Committee. She is a proud former elected member of the Pharmacy Council of NSW. Marina is passionate about the difference compounding can make to patient lives, whilst always considering risk minimization and patient -centred care.

Session Details: Major regulatory changes in compounding are here! | Thursday, 14 March 2024 | 11.00am - 11.30am

Naomi Lim is a Professional Officer at PDL and is the Chair of the Victorian Local Advisory Committee. Naomi has practised as a pharmacist in three states in Australia across diverse settings. Her industry experience includes hospital, retail, COVID-19 vaccinations, knowledge development, IVF and Aboriginal health. Naomi enjoys inspiring pharmacists to broaden their professional identity and resilience in the ever-changing landscape of pharmacy.

Session Details: PDL's perspective on Pharmacist Prescribing | Saturday, 16 March 2024 | 3.30pm - 4.00pm

Dr Melissa Manahan is a dermatologist who undertook her medical degree at The University of Queensland, graduating in 2010 with first class honours and the University medal. Melissa undertook her dermatology training at the Queensland Institute of Dermatology, Nambour General Hospital, the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, the Qld Children’s Hospital, the Princess Alexandra Hospital and Central Brisbane Dermatology. Prior to medicine, Melissa completed a Bachelor of Pharmacy in Queensland and was awarded prizes for the highest mark in the Quality Use of Medicines and Drug Discovery courses as well as the 3rd year student with the highest GPA. She has worked as a pharmacist in both hospital and community pharmacy settings. She has an ongoing relationship with her previous profession, teaching pharmacy students and pharmacists on the management of skin diseases.

Professor Patrick McGorry is a psychiatrist known world-wide for his development and scaling up of early intervention, youth mental health services, mental health innovation, advocacy and reform. He is Executive Director of Orygen, Professor of Youth Mental Health at the University of Melbourne and founding editor of the journal Early Intervention in Psychiatry. In 2010, Prof McGorry was named Australian of the Year. He has received numerous other awards including the Schizophrenia International Research Society Lifetime Achievement Award, has published over 980 publications and has played key advocacy and advisory roles to government on health system reform in Australia and overseas. Prof McGorry is President of the International Association for Youth Mental Health, Past President of the Society for Mental Health Research and Founding President of Early Intervention in Mental Health.

Session Details: Harm Minimisation Stream | Friday, 15 March 2024 | 4.00pm - 5.30pm

Morris Misel, a dynamic business futurist and globally sought-after presenter and foresight strategist, has been inspiring Guild audiences for over two decades with his visionary foresights. As an Industry Fellow with Griffith University’s Inclusive Futures: Reimagining Disability, Morris chairs the Industry Advisor’s Board and mentors Disability Centric researchers. His passion for exploring tomorrow’s possibilities captivates audiences and inspires corporations and brands around the world to want to explore their future possibilities by fostering a culture of inclusivity where every voice is heard and valued. Join him on this exciting journey into the future of Community Pharmacy, where innovative thinking and possibilities abound.

Suzanna Nash is the Chief Pharmacist at the Australasian College of Pharmacy. In this role, she oversees the development of continuing professional development education and education that enables the expansion of pharmacists’ scope of practice across Australia. Suzanna has worked in the delivery of community pharmacy programs, including the Queensland’s COVID-19 vaccination response, the QLD Free Flu program, the NIP Influenza Program and the Urinary Tract Infection Community Pharmacy Program. Suzanna has also worked in the role of Policy Manager at the Pharmacy Guild of Australia’s Queensland Branch and contributed to policy change for pharmacists in Queensland. Prior to these roles, Suzanna worked as a community pharmacist for 15 years and also as an accredited pharmacist delivering home medication reviews.

Hayley Ryan has 22 years’ experience in nursing and has worked in both acute and aged care. Hayley has a passion for healing wounds as a Clinical Nurse Consultant across Australia and New Zealand in private practice with her own company, WoundRescue. Hayley has presented at national and international conferences and has a proven track record of providing advanced wound care education. She also lectures at Universities and has been appointed as an adjunct fellow at the University of Technology Sydney. Hayley is also Chair of the Board for Wounds Australia, Board Director of Diabetes Feet Australia and sits on the Dean’s Industry Advisory Board for the University of Technology Sydney. Hayley's interest includes, aged care, chronic wound management, palliative care, and Telehealth technologies whilst optimising comfort.

Session Details: Pre-Conference Workshop: Mastering Wound Care - Hoe to elevate your pharmacy practice | Wednesday, 13 March 2024 | 9.30am - 4.30pm

Jessica Simonis is a dedicated and passionate Clinical Nutritionist and Western Herbalist with over 20 years of experience in the nutritional and natural medicine field. In addition to over 10 years of clinical practice with a focus on the research and treatment of chronic skin conditions (Psoriasis Eczema Clinic, Melbourne), Jessica has authored/co-authored several published articles, been a guest on renowned podcasts and developed/presented educational programs to other industry professionals. Her special interest lies with host-microbiome-environmental relationship and its role in human health and disease. Jessica is currently a Scientific Educator for Life-Space Group.

Lloyd Smith has co-founded multiple start-up businesses including community pharmacies, medical centres, property developments and software ventures, with a combined annual turnover in excess of $20m. Throughout his career, Lloyd has successfully tendered and received Commonwealth, State and other grants in excess of $1m. Lloyd currently holds multiple directorships, is a regular speaker at industry conferences and events, and provides in-depth industry knowledge and a commercial network built on years of successful commercial transactions. Lloyd’s passion for innovation and constructive disruption to better patient outcomes is critical to Scrypt’s current and ongoing success.

Session Details: Pre-Conference Workshop: Commbank Pharmacy Owners Masterclass | Wednesday, 13 March 2024 | 12.30pm - 4.30pm

Rosemaree Wardle has over 20 years’ experience in financial services, during which time she has worked in claims for financial hardship and contribution processing and managed a 30-person call centre team. Rosemaree has been an Employer Partnership Executive at GuildSuper and Child Care Super for 13 years, where she is highly regarded for going above and beyond to assist employers and partners. Rosemaree holds an RG146 in superannuation and has a diploma in vocational studies, banking.

Session Details: What's new at GuildSuper | Saturday, 16 March 2024 | 2.35pm - 3.05pm

Daniel Yu is a Medical Affairs professional in the pharmaceutical industry with a clinical background in pharmacy and experience as a pharmacist in the community and in the private and public hospital healthcare systems. Daniel completed a Bachelor of Pharmacy and a Post-graduate Certificate of Pharmacy Practice in Health Economics at Monash University and is currently undertaking a Masters of Public Health at UNSW. He is currently the Medical Manager of the influenza portfolio at CSL Seqirus.

From his humble upbringing in Patagonia, by the age of 22, Gus Balbontin had hitchhiked across Latin America, built and sold his first business, and secured his dream job at one of the most familiar travel brands in the world, Lonely Planet. Fast forward a few more years and Gus was global leader of the company, working with companies such as Google X, Nokia and Amazon on the latest technology, creative cultures and high performing teams. His lessons hit a chord, his simplicity disarms you, his energy infects you and his counterintuitive way of looking at the world will motivate you to do things different. Gus is often thought of as a futurist, not because he predicts the future, but because he helps you focus on what you can control to deal with the future.

Session Details: Adapt | Friday, 15 March 2024 | 11.50am - 12.35pm

Celia Bloxsom is the Principal Optometrist of Eyeconic Optometry Southport. After graduating with first class honours and with the Don Noack prize for contact lens studies from QUT, Celia worked in a Brisbane CBD practice where she became an expert in fitting contact lenses for all types of corneal conditions. It was during this time that she discovered a love for orthokeratology contact lenses, with her enthusiasm leading her to the position of secretary of the Orthokeratology Society of Oceania, a position which she still holds today. Celia is also a guest lecturer and supervising clinical at QUT’s School of Optometry and has twice been awarded the QUT Vice Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Learning and Teaching. As part her everyday practice, Celia diagnoses, treats and manages patients with dry eye and other ocular conditions as well as providing expert fitting of contact lenses and other optical professional services.

Paul Cross is Director of Daily Dispatch Pty Ltd and publisher of BioPharmaDispatch, BiotechDispatch and HealthDispatch, three leading mainstream publications covering Australia's pharmaceutical, biotechnology, private health and medical device sectors. An experienced Senior Executive in the US and Australia and a former Senior Adviser to two Health Ministers, Paul is also the Founder of The Bim, a social media platform for the Australian life sciences sector.

Dr Sarah Dineen-Griffin is a full-time teaching and research academic in the School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy at the University of Newcastle. A registered pharmacist, Sarah’s expertise lies in community pharmacy consultation services, minor ailments, self-care and optimising scope of practice as part of primary health care. Sarah has led national and international pharmacy research projects and published extensively. She was Chief Investigator on the first trial of an innovative community pharmacy Minor Ailments Scheme and is leading two high profile research grants which involve the implementation and evaluation of the state-wide roll out of expanded scope of practice for pharmacists in New South Wales. Internationally, Sarah has been elected to the International Pharmaceutical Federation’s Community Pharmacy executive committee and is an editorial board member for two international pharmacy journals. In 2022, Sarah was awarded an International Excellence Award for Women in Science in Education from FIP.

Session Details: The Prescribing Pharmacist - the Australian lived experience | Thursday, 14 March 2024 | 11.00am - 11.45am

Richard Gorman is Managing Director of Corporate Financial Services P/L, a company established in 1984 which specialises in pharmacy specific services ranging from sales, business advice and financial needs. Richard leads a team of pharmacy specialists and enjoys strong working relationships with the major banking groups, wholesalers and pharmacists throughout Australia. He is committed to improving the efficiencies within all pharmacies with the intent of maintaining sustainable, long-term profitability.

Session Details: Buying and selling a pharmacy today | Saturday, 16 March 2024 | 2.00pm - 2.30pm

Brenton Hart is the Chief Pharmacist for TerryWhite Chemmart, which is Australia’s largest community pharmacy network. Brenton is a passionate community pharmacist, pharmacy proprietor and advocate with extensive experience in clinical practice, pharmacy operations, business, leadership and the pharmacy industry. Brenton is increasingly sought after as a thought-leader in various aspects of community pharmacy practice, in particular vaccination and public health. As a confident influencer and communicator, Brenton enjoys overcoming the challenges facing patients, our health system and community pharmacy itself. Brenton’s vision is to drive positive health outcomes in communities around Australia and to assist fellow pharmacists become the primary healthcare leaders of tomorrow by maximising their full scope of practice.

Session Details: Panel Session: The Prescribing Pharmacist | Thursday, 14 March 2024 | 11.00am - 11.45am

Dr Rupert Hinds commenced working as a Paediatric Gastroenterologist at Monash Medical Centre in 2009. Prior to this he worked in the UK as a consultant at King’s College Hospital and St Thomas’s Hospital in London from 2004, following his specialty training at Great Ormond Street Hospital, London. Dr Hinds manages children and adolescents with gastrointestinal problems. His clinical interests include nutrition, hepatology and inflammatory bowel disease. Dr Hinds is Head of the Department of Gastroenterology at Monash Children’s Hospital as well as a senior lecturer in paediatrics at Monash University.

Session Details: Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders (FGIDs) in infants - guidelines and management | Friday, 15 March 2024 | 2.00pm - 2.30pm

Dr Lauren Kunde is a registered Queensland-based dermatologist specialising in general dermatology and paediatric dermatology. She practices privately at Paddington Dermatology and publicly at the Queensland Children’s Hospital, while holding an appointment in tele-dermatology at Princess Alexandra Hospital. Her particular areas of interest are paediatric dermatology, vascular malformations, skin cancer management, acne and photodamage. Lauren was educated in both Australia and the United Kingdom, mastering specific knowledge of inflammatory skin conditions while working in the UK. Her responsibilities as both parent and doctor underscore a passion for educating families about sun safety and skin cancer prevention, as lives and heartbreak can be saved by establishing smart habits.

Phil Lynch has over 30 years’ experience working at Johnson & Johnson in Consumer Health care in Asia Pacific markets and as leader of the Australian & New Zealand businesses for a six-year period. While leading J&J’s Australian business, Phil was a member of the ASMI Committee of Management and led its finance committee. In November 2020, he re-joined the Consumer Health Products Australia Board as an Independent Chair. Phil is also a Non-Executive Director of Race Oncology.

Working within a national team leading the development and execution of the broader health sector strategy for Business Banking, Ben’s role focuses on the pharmacy industry strategy, insights and appetite. The team specialise across the full spectrum of the health sector, from primary care businesses (General Practice) to Pharmacy, Aged Care and Seniors Living and support front-line banking and risk teams in deepening their understanding of these highly specialised businesses. Based in Adelaide, Ben specialises in transaction analysis and structuring, credit risk management, data analytics/research and strategy.

Session Details: Pre-Conference Workshop: Commbank Pharmacy Owners Masterclass | Wednesday, 13 March 2024 | 12.30pm - 4.30pm

Joyce McSwan is the Clinical Program Director of the Gold Coast Primary Health Network Persistent Pain Program, as well as the Managing Director of PainWISE. A multi-award-winning clinical pharmacist, pain educator and pain program developer, Joyce is well-known for her work in the area of pain and is an advocate of achieving patient outcomes with a focus on the whole person approach, based on current scientific evidence and innovative collaborative systems. Her area of focus includes encouraging talent and innovation in her fellow pharmacists to enhance their health care role, especially in the fields of pain management and responsible use of medicines. Joyce is also President Elect of the Australian Pain Society and Principal CPD Director of the Australian Health Practitioner Advisory Solutions (AHPAS).

Session Details: Should we approach pain differently in men and women? | Thursday, 14 March 2024 | 11.35am - 12.05pm

Session Details: A sensorial approach to natural pain relief | Thursday, 14 March 2024 | 4.00pm - 4.30pm

Professor Rebekah Moles is a pharmacist from The Sydney Pharmacy School at the University of Sydney Faculty of Medicine and Health. An academic for over 25 years, Rebekah’s research focuses on Medication Safety, particularly for vulnerable populations such as the very young and very old. She also has experience in both community and hospital pharmacy. Rebekah is currently ranked fourth in the world for fever research and simulated patient/mystery shopping research. Her work has highlighted that caregivers, pharmacists and pharmacy assistants alike have some room for improvement when it comes to managing pain and fever in children.

Session Details: Managing pain and fever in children - the importance of the parent/carer conversation | Friday, 15 March 2024 | 2.35pm - 3.05pm

Andrew Pattinson is passionate about the future of pharmacy and is committed to supporting pharmacies so that they can support their communities. Andrew has helped pharmacies develop their health solutions and programs and has worked with suppliers to develop innovative programs to provide a complete solution for patients in pharmacies. Currently Chief Innovation Officer for The Platform Alliance Group, Andrew is a psychologist by profession and leads, coaches and develops high-performing teams.

Session Details: What Australians need from pharmacy now - health retail vs health services | Thursday, 14 March 2024 | 11.50am - 12.35pm

Anne Seah is a highly experienced professional in the fields of accounting, tax, and business advisory, with a strong track record spanning eight years. She is passionate about providing comprehensive and outcome-focused services to her clients and specialises in working with pharmacy owners to help manage their business performance and tax obligations and achieve a balanced commercial outcome.

Session Details: Pre-Conference Workshop: Commbank Pharmacy Owners Masterclass | Wednesday, 13 March 2024 | 12.30pm - 4.30pm

Frank Sirianni is Managing Director of Medici Capital. Having provided management and economic advice to pharmacy for over 44 years, Frank is the industry expert on Pharmacy Valuations, Business Analysis and Finance. He holds Bachelor of Economics (Honours) and Masters of Economics degrees and consults to the owners and prospective owners of community pharmacies, banks and lending institutions, industry bodies, manufacturers and wholesalers. In addition, Frank is working with major clients on some legacy projects while also assisting partnership facilitation and exit planning.

Session Details: Exploring the pharmacy market and financial landscape - 40+ years of challenges and successes | Saturday, 16 March 2024 | 4.20pm - 4.50pm

Sam Turner is the General Manager at Scrypt Ventures Pty Ltd, a company dedicated to revolutionising digital solutions for community pharmacies in Australia. Sam has 15 years’ experience within the pharmacy industry with experience in community pharmacy, policy/advocacy and now digital health.

Session Details: Pre-Conference Workshop: Commbank Pharmacy Owners Masterclass | Wednesday, 13 March 2024 | 12.30pm - 4.30pm

Dr Leona Yip is a medical, surgical and laser dermatologist and founding partner and Director of Skin Partners, a leading specialist dermatology practice in Brisbane. She has also worked extensively in private and public practice and has provided private specialist care to various embassies and international diplomatic missions. Dr Yip is one of very few alopecia subspecialty experts in Australia and her PhD work on the genetics of female pattern hair loss received national and international recognition. She is a member of several expert groups and advisory committees and has published widely in peer-reviewed medical journals. She is also an Editorial Consultant for The British Journal of Dermatology and a reviewer for numerous leading international medical journals.

Session Details: Adapalen - the first over the counter topical retinoid for mild to moderate acne | Saturday, 16 March 2024 | 9.55am - 10.25am