Branch Committee

Branch Committee Members

Branch Committee members are elected every three years and are drawn from around the state.

Meetings are held every second month either in Hobart or in Launceston or online via Teams.

Members are welcome to attend meetings as observers. Please contact the Branch Director Monique Mackrill by email at monique.mackrill@guild.org.au if you would like to attend the next meeting.

The Branch Committee members listed below are your representatives in the Guild. Please feel free to contact them if you have any pharmacy related issues you would like to discuss.

Helen O’Byrne – President & National Councilor

TerryWhite Chemmart Riverside, TerryWhite Chemmart Windsor

I have loved my 20 years as a pharmacy owner and I have enjoyed the ride. For me it is vital to keep engaged and continually find new areas of interest and enjoyment. I am a compounding pharmacist, Pharmacist Immuniser, member of the Naturopaths and Herbalists Association of Australia and I conduct Home Medicine Reviews.

I have had many years as a Branch Committee Member of the Pharmacy Guild of Australia, Tasmanian Branch, I was appointed to the Australian Community Pharmacy Authority from 2008 to 2012, and I am now experiencing new territory as a National Councilor.

The things I am most passionate about are keeping our pharmacies viable and dynamic while serving our communities. Making pharmacy led professional services financially rewarding and encouraging diversity in pharmacy ownership and on our boards.

If you would like to discuss any pharmacy related issues please contact me via email at helen.obyrne@guild.org.au

John Dowling – Vice President Finance

I am a registered pharmacist and Certified Practising Accountant.

As well as Tasmanian State Vice President I am: National Vice-President (Finance) of the Pharmacy Guild of Australia (PGA).  Chair of the Guild’s Corporate Services Committee and a member of the Pharmacy Viability Committee. Director of Guild Group companies, including Guild Insurance, GuildSuper, Guildlink and Gold Cross and Chairman of Meridian Lawyers.

I am also a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and the Australian College of Pharmacy.

Please contact me if you would like to discuss any pharmacy related issues either state or national via email at john.dowling@guild.org.au

Katie Hayes - Senior Vice President & Alternate National Councilor

Risdon Vale Pharmacy

I have been a registered pharmacist for 17 years and have been an owner of a community pharmacy (Risdon Vale Pharmacy) for 6 years. I felt it important to become an owner in my pharmacy as I had invested a significant amount of time in the pharmacy as the pharmacist manager, and also wanted the local community to understand that I was invested in their health.

I became a Tasmanian Guild Branch Committee Member as I have a strong desire to contribute to the future of community pharmacy and feel that appropriate remuneration for the holistic health care we provide will assist in the sustainability of community pharmacy and improve the health of our communities. I enjoy advocating for our profession and take every opportunity to describe how amazing pharmacists are to everyone, and the importance of community pharmacy in Australia’s health care.

I have many interests in community pharmacy, particularly in professional services (and appropriate remuneration for these services), and professional development, which assists us to provide exceptional health care to our patients. If you have any specific questions regarding these, other areas of community pharmacy, or would just like to talk about pharmacy, please contact me via email at katie.hayes@guild.org.au

Joe O’Malley – Committee Member & National Councilor

Westside Pharmacy, Penguin Pharmacy

I had worked for a number of community pharmacies - some good, some the other thing. I felt that owning was the best way to have control over professional aspects of pharmacy (business). Also you are seeing your patients in your shop regularly, which they seem to prefer and is more professionally rewarding. One can make a more meaningful contribution to the patient cohort and ultimately the community this way I feel.

I think unfortunately a lot of what The Guild does goes unnoticed by a large group of owners. Advocacy and negotiation is tricky and one cannot provide a running commentary on many items that are in progress, sensitive or other.

The health system in Australia is not perfect but it is pretty good; having seen the mediocrity of managed care/private health funds dominating the US system and the inadequately funded National Health Scheme (NHS) in the UK, it seems to me that while there are areas of wastage, duplication, and inadequate capacity in our system, we should focus on improving those.

My areas of interest include rural health, Medication Management Reviews. (MMRs)/Home Medicine Reviews (HMRs) and mentoring students & early career pharmacists. If you have any specific questions regarding HMRs, rural pharmacy programs, or where to start mentoring…please email me at joe.omalley@guild.org.au

Jack Muir Wilson - Vice President & Alternate National Councilor

Wilkinson's TerryWhite Chemmart

After starting my career as a hospital Intern I soon realised that Community Pharmacy was my calling. Working weekends as an early career pharmacist highlighted the immediate impact I could have on patients in my local community. To get an idea of how other pharmacies operate, I worked at a number of pharmacies along the North West Coast before settling on a full-time role in Burnie at Wilkinson’s Pharmacy.

I am very passionate about pharmacists and the vital role we play in the health care system. Becoming an owner was the obvious next step - which allowed me to take on more responsibility and turn my ideas into action. It also allowed our pharmacy to grow with the three of us sharing the load and focussing on our areas of interest.

There came a point where I realised that I could use my passion for community pharmacy in an additional way – becoming a guild representative. I see this role as a great opportunity to represent our profession at a range of levels. I believe that my work ethic and passion for our industry and most importantly our patients will lead to new ideas and opportunities. I really enjoy just being Jack the pharmacist – truly, this is where my heart lies. But in order for me to be Jack the pharmacist, I see areas we can improve and advance as a profession, and for us to get to point X – I think I can be a passionate voice to get there.

If you would like to discuss any pharmacy issues with me please contact me at jack.muirwilson@guild.org.au

Brad Turner - Committee Member

TerryWhite Chemmart Mowbray

Scott Chambers - Committee Member

TerryWhite Chemmart Newstead

Jason Martin - Committee Member

Youngtown Pharmacy

Melissa Johnson - Committee Member

TerryWhite Chemmart Mowbray

Kristina Fox - Committee Member

TerryWhite Chemmart Rosny Park

Branch Annual Reports

Annual Reports & Financial Statements are made available to members through this website and are also available from the branch office on request.

Follow this link to access Annual Reports & Audited Financial Statements for 2010 - 2022

Branch Officer Disclosures

In accordance with the Fair Work (Registered Organisations) Amendment Act 2012, Branches are required to make available to Members by 31 December each year the following disclosures:

• Identity, remuneration and non-cash benefits details of the five highest paid officers of the Guild (National) and the two highest paid officers of each Branch
• Material personal interests disclosed by each officer of the Guild (National) and each officer of a Branch
• Payments to a related party of the Guild (National) or Branch or a declared person or body of the Guild (National) or Branch

Follow this link to see the Tasmanian Branch Officer Disclosures