Speakers

THE HON MEREDITH HAMMAT MLA

Hon Meredith Hammat MLA, is the Minister for Health and Mental Health, and the Member for Girrawheen.

Initially elected in 2021 as the member for Mirrabooka, Meredith was re-elected in 2025 as member for Girrawheen, reflecting a change of boundaries during the electoral redistribution of 2023.

Strong performances in several parliamentary secretary roles resulted in Meredith being appointed as Minister for Health; Mental Health following the 2025 State General Election.

The combined work of the health and the mental health portfolios is critically important to all Western Australians, commanding around a third of the Western Australian government’s investment in 2026/27.

KAREN TIGHE

Karen Tighe is one of Australia’s most respected and recognisable sports broadcasters, bringing warmth, professionalism, and a wealth of experience to every stage she steps onto. With a celebrated career at the ABC spanning more than three decades, Karen has covered some of the world’s biggest sporting events including the Olympics, Paralympics, and Commonwealth Games.

A skilled presenter and communicator, Karen is returning once again as host of the Pharmacy WA Forum, bringing her trademark energy to guide delegates through the program.

KATH KOSCHEL

A testament to the power of human spirit, Kath Koschel is a survivor who has overcome incredible odds and unimaginable tragedy to inspire ordinary people to do extraordinary things. A former cricketer and Ironman competitor, Kath is an internationally sought after speaker and author of best-selling book Kindness.

Driven by a passion to spread gratitude and kindness in the world, her journey led her to found Kindness Factory™ with the goal of encouraging one million acts of kindness all over the world. To date, Kindness Factory has recorded over 8 million acts of kindness and is now a registered not-for-profit in three countries.

Kath’s work has been celebrated globally, most recently being named the 2025 NSW Australian of the Year and recipient of the Australia Medal for courage in overcoming extreme adversity.

JASON CLARKE

Celebrated author, adventurer, gold medal Olympian and popular TV chef; Jason is none of these things.

He is, however, one of the most sought-after creative minds in the country.

As founder of Minds at Work, he’s helped people ‘think again’ since the end of the last century, working with clients across Australia in virtually every industry and government sector on issues ranging from creativity and trouble shooting to culture change and leadership.

JAY POTTENGER

Prior to helping build EQ Minds, Jay was a former athlete then corporate leader and worked at companies such as Westpac and Deutsche Bank. Holding a postgraduate degree in Mental Health and Neuroscience, Jay is a speaker and coach with brands including Amazon, Viatris, Johnson & Johnson, NAB and eBay. He teaches teams simple and actionable insights on how to achieve greater success and satisfaction.

DI DARMODY

Di Darmody is a high-performance speaker who helps leaders and teams become powerful under pressure. Drawing on over 20 years as an ABC radio presenter and extensive experience as an interviewer, facilitator and MC, she combines real-world, high-pressure experience, journalistic expertise and research to deliver deeply engaging keynotes.

A Gestalt-trained psychologist, Di brings personal experience of chronic pain and burnout and has created a bespoke system to enable audiences to better understand their relationship with stress to learn how they can become powerful under pressure, even in demanding environments.

TRACEE BLYTHE

Tracee Blythe is a naturopath, clinician, and educator with over 20 years of experience in complementary medicine. She is recognised for her work supporting the safe, evidence-based integration of nutritional and herbal medicines alongside conventional healthcare.

Tracee began her career working in health food stores and pharmacy before moving into practitioner education. Today, alongside running a busy clinical practice, she delivers education and training to healthcare practitioners across Australia, with a focus on helping pharmacists, naturopaths, and integrative clinicians confidently co-prescribe complementary medicines in clinical practice.

Committed to ongoing learning and professional collaboration, Tracee continues to engage with emerging research to support best practice in integrative healthcare.

MICHAEL JACKSON

Michael (MJ) joined API Wholesale in 2023 to lead Pharmacy Business Development, overseeing customer growth, new business, and key programs including MYAPI, Soul Pattinson, Pharmacist Advice and Club Premium.

A retail industry leader with more than 20 years' experience, MJ has held senior buying, marketing and commercial roles across Morrisons (UK), Coles, Woolworths' Endeavour Drinks (Dan Murphy's and BWS), and Penfolds Wines Australia before joining API.

TRENT TWOMEY

National President of the Pharmacy Guild of Australia, Professor Trent Twomey is a driving force in the development and implementation of the Guild’s national pharmacy policy.

A passionate advocate for accessible, community-based healthcare, Trent is the current President of the World Pharmacy Council, a role which provides a unique perspective into the global forces that are affecting community pharmacy in Australia.

When not working for the community pharmacy sector, Trent, who was one of the first cohort of Queenslander pharmacists to become a prescribing pharmacist, is a practicing community pharmacist in north Queensland.

A passionate advocate for accessible, community-based healthcare, Trent brings deep expertise in strategic health leadership and the future of pharmacy practice in Australia.

ANTHONY TASSONE

National Vice President of the Pharmacy Guild of Australia, Anthony Tassone is a community pharmacist and pharmacy owner, and is currently Vice President at Pharmacy Guild of Australia, Victoria.

Anthony played an integral role in negotiating the Eighth Community Pharmacy Agreement and has extensive experience across the pharmacy sector through his many appearances on Guild webinars, previous presentations at the Pharmacy WA Forum, and his engagement on advisory boards for the private and not-for-profit sectors, as well as federal and state regulatory body boards and committees.

GERARD BENEDET

Gerard Benedet is the Executive Director of the Pharmacy Guild of Australia, appointed in November 2023. Previously, he served as the Guild's Queensland Branch Director from 2019, where he collaborated with the Queensland Government to implement primary healthcare reforms, including the North Queensland Scope of Practice Pilot and the Community Pharmacy UTI Health Service. With a background in senior roles across government and industry, Gerard brings extensive experience in strategic leadership and public policy.

SIMON BLACKER

Senior National Vice President of the Pharmacy Guild of Australia, Simon Blacker is a community pharmacist, and has been a pharmacy owner for 27 years. He is also President of the ACT Branch, an National Councillor, roles he has held from 2017.

Simon has served on several national Guild Committees including as Chair, Clinical Governance Committee and Chair, Community Pharmacies for Rural and Indigenous Australia Sub Committee. He is currently a member of the Health Economics and Policy Committee and was a member of the Guild Negotiation Team for the 8th Community Pharmacy Agreement.

NATALIE WILLIS

Natalie Willis is the Senior Vice President of the Pharmacy Guild of Australia WA Branch and a National Councillor. Natalie chairs the Pharmacy Guild of Australia’s Clinical Governance Committee, was an integral member of the 8CPA negotiating team and has and continues to be instrumental to the development and implementation of the QSPP.

Natalie is currently studying the Graduate Certificate, a requirement of the Enhanced Access Community Pharmacy Pilot.

ADAM GOSS

Adam Goss is General Manager Pharmacy at Sigma Healthcare, where he leads pharmacy strategy and engagement across a national network of community pharmacies. With more than 30 years of industry experience, he brings valuable insights into innovation, emerging healthcare trends, and the future of community pharmacy.

AARON D'SOUZA

Aaron D’Souza is a community pharmacist, former pharmacy owner, business manager, accomplished speaker and industry leader who is passionate about driving the pharmacy profession forward. Aaron has received university awards and travel grants, has experience with government representation and has volunteered to promote HIV/AIDS education in Africa. He has played an important role in the development of pharmacy clinical service software and is now the Head of Government Programs for MedAdvisor.

ANDREW BROWN

Dr Andrew Brown is Chief Pharmacist at Pharmacy Hive, bringing over 30 years of experience across community pharmacy, clinical practice, academia, and global pharmaceutical system development. Beginning his career as a clinical pharmacist in the Australian public health system and progressing to pharmacist manager and Quality Care roles in community pharmacy, Andrew has maintained a strong grounding in frontline pharmacy practice and patient care.

He has led major health workforce and pharmaceutical service initiatives across more than 17 countries, including senior leadership roles with International NGOs (Management Sciences for Health and IntraHealth International), where he drove strategies to strengthen pharmacy services, workforce capability, and medicines supply systems.

Andrew continues to practise in community pharmacy while advising nationally and internationally on pharmacy operations, governance, and quality improvement. His work integrates practical pharmacy experience with system-level leadership, helping organisations deliver safe, effective, and sustainable pharmacy services. A published author and educator, he is committed to advancing the role of pharmacists in improving patient outcomes and strengthening healthcare systems.

PRIYA NARSING

With over 18 years of experience in pharmacy accounting, Priya Narsing brings extensive industry insight and a strong focus on building trusted client relationships. She understands that true success comes from aligning both business and personal goals, an approach that has helped her support pharmacy owners at every stage of their journey.

SARAH RENDELL

Sarah is the Head of Marketing at Peak Strategies, with more than a decade of experience in the pharmacy industry. Passionate about community pharmacy, she specialises in helping pharmacies raise awareness of their healthcare services, ensuring more patients understand how their local pharmacy can support their health through strategic, community-focused marketing.

SHAYLEE MILLS

Shaylee Mills is an early-career pharmacist and leading advocate for rural healthcare, recognised by her 100k+ online community as @theruralpharmacist. Based in Karratha, Western Australia, her clinical practice spans community pharmacy with Pharmacy 777, on-site care at Mawarnkarra Health Service, and leading student/intern development as a preceptor. As the 2026 WA PSA Early Career Pharmacist of the Year and a finalist for the 2025 WA Young Health Professional of the Year, Shaylee actively shapes the discourse on rural pharmacy careers. She is a published author in peer-reviewed journals and industry publications, a regular guest on professional podcasts, and has presented across Australia on rural workforce sustainability. Through her work, she hopes to prove that rural practice is a highly rewarding and impact-driven career path.

CHRISTINE TAWTEL

Christine Tawtel is Co-founder and Deputy Chair of FH Australia, the national voice for individuals and families living with inherited high cholesterol. Living with Familial Hypercholesterolaemia (FH) herself, Christine combines lived experience with extensive expertise in the not-for-profit sector to advance patient-centred care, improve health literacy and advocate for earlier detection and equitable access to care. She works collaboratively with clinicians, researchers and health leaders to amplify the patient voice, strengthen family-centred care and drive initiatives that support earlier diagnosis, education and the prevention of premature cardiovascular disease.

ANDREW MARTIN

Dr Andrew Martin is a general paediatrician working at Perth Children’s Hospital. Andrew has made major contributions to paediatric familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH) within Australia over the last 15 years; in recent years he has focussed his efforts on developing better approaches to detect FH in children, specifically innovative models of population screening in early childhood. He leads the “FH in Kids” study, an enhanced program for improving the care of children with FH in WA and is medical lead for Australia’s first paediatric Centre for High Impact Lipid Disorders, funded by the Stan Perron Charitable Foundation. Andrew believes that everyone caring for children and young people needs to take much greater responsibility in protecting their long-term cardiovascular health, which requires a paradigm shift, from treating established coronary artery disease in adults, to proactively safeguarding the heart health of children.

BO YOUN KIM

Bo Youn Kim is a clinical pharmacist with 20 years of experience across tertiary hospitals in Western Australia and the founder of EmpowHer Menopause Clinic. She is passionate about advancing menopause care through evidence-based practice and expanding the role of pharmacists in women's health. Combining extensive clinical expertise with her own lived experience of perimenopause, Bo is committed to improving menopause awareness, challenging outdated misconceptions, and promoting high-quality, person-centred care. Through Pause Health, she delivers education to pharmacists and other healthcare professionals, while also providing workplace and community education to improve access to menopause care and to support better health outcomes for women.

ERICA VOWLES

Erica Vowles is the Head of Quality and Safety at the Pharmacy Guild of Australia. In this position, Erica provides strategic leadership across quality, safety, and governance, shaping the direction and evolution of the community pharmacy quality accreditation program while ensuring its effective delivery. With more than two decades of experience in the health sector, Erica has held senior leadership roles spanning pharmacy practice programs, partnerships, and primary health care initiatives. She has led the design and implementation of community pharmacy health services, aligning policy intent, funding objectives, and patient outcomes, and has a strong track record in influencing system-level improvement. Erica brings extensive experience in strategic stakeholder engagement across government, industry, and the Indigenous health sector, and was involved in negotiating the Eighth Community Pharmacy Agreement Negotiation. She holds postgraduate qualifications in business and project management, supporting her focus on long-term program sustainability, governance maturity, and continuous improvement.

KATE HALL

Kate Hall is the Industrial Relations Officer at the Pharmacy Guild of Australia WA Branch. With a strong background in employment law and workplace relations, she provides expert support to pharmacy owners and managers across Western Australia. Kate advises on matters including award compliance, workplace disputes, performance management, and workplace relations best practices, ensuring members navigate their obligations with confidence and clarity.

ANNA GEHA

With over 30 years of experience as a pharmacist and the past 7 years supporting members at the Pharmacy Guild of Australia WA Branch, Anna brings a wealth of practical knowledge and pharmacy insight to her role as a Business Support Pharmacist. She works closely with pharmacy owners and teams across WA, providing guidance on a wide range of operational, clinical and business matters.

MELISSA BENSON

With over 15 years of experience as a pharmacist and the past 6 years dedicated to supporting Guild members as a Business Support Pharmacist with the Pharmacy Guild of Australia WA Branch, Melissa brings deep practical insight to her role. She is passionate about helping busy pharmacists navigate challenges, whether clinical, business or operational - by offering quick, tailored advice and support when it’s needed most.