Executive Team
Mr Gerard Benedet | Executive Director
Mr Gerard Benedet joined the Guild as Executive Director in November 2023. He is an experienced and effective executive, having served as the Pharmacy Guild’s Queensland Branch Director since October 2019. As Branch Director, Mr Benedet worked closely with Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and the Queensland Labor Government to develop and implement nation-leading reforms to primary health care, including the North Queensland Scope of Practice Pilot, the Community Pharmacy UTI Health Service, and the Free Flu Vaccination Program. Mr Benedet also led the Guild’s response to the COVID pandemic in Queensland, which was the first state to allow community pharmacists to administer COVID vaccines and the first state to do school-based COVID vaccine outreach.
Prior to joining the Guild, Mr Benedet held senior roles at News Corp Australia, Careers Australia, and the National Rugby League. This culminated in the successful realisation of Rugby League Central and its associated hall of fame and education centre, via a grant from the then Infrastructure Minister, Anthony Albanese. Gerard was also Chief of Staff to the Leader of the Opposition in Queensland, Chief of Staff to the Queensland Treasurer, and National Director of not-for-profit advocacy organisation Advance Australia.
Mr Colm Maguire | Chief Operating Officer
Mr Colm Maguire is the Chief Operating Officer of the Guild after joining in August 2017 as the Group Executive Pharmacy Transformation and subsequently the Group Executive Member Services and Innovation. His role incorporates effectively motivating and directing the National Secretariat workforce to deliver on the objectives under the Guild strategy, while also managing the business operations within the National Secretariat. He is also responsible for the Guild’s operational matters to ensure the effective implementation of the Guild’s Strategic Plan while prioritising the importance of wellbeing, accountability, balance and team culture.
Mr Maguire previously was the CEO of Touch Football Australia where he had led the overall recovery of the organisation, significant growth, a collaborative focus to outcomes and achieved outstanding results. He was also a Director on the Board of the Council of Small Business Associations (COSBOA) until 2023. Mr Maguire has worked at leadership levels from state through to national within a member focused environment. He is an experienced and authentic leader who has a genuine belief in those working for and with him, and is focused on the need for balance, accountability, positivity and innovation.
Mr Mark Hill | Chief Finance Officer
Mr Mark Hill is the Chief Financial Officer of the Guild and previously held positions as the National Manager, Finance and Corporate Governance and National Accountant. At the Guild he is responsible for the overall financial governance of the organisation, management of strategic financial risks, and ensuring the organisation is financially resourced to achieve its strategic goals.
Mr Hill previously had experience in a number of accounting firms, providing audit, tax and financial services to clients ranging from ASX listed companies through to government agencies, not-for-profits and small businesses. He is also a member of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand, and holds degrees in Commerce (Financial Accounting) and Business (Industrial Relations).
Page last updated on: 01 December 2023