NICK XENOPHON

Independent Senator

Nick first became involved in politics in the 1997 South Australian election, where he campaigned on a ‘No Pokies’ platform. He ran to simply make a point. Nick scraped in with a little under three per cent of the statewide vote due to a large number of preferences being directed to him.

Over the next eight years, Nick worked to fight the spread of poker machines. He also campaigned on issues where individuals and communities weren’t getting a fair go, including asbestos victims, victims of crime and land tax.

Nick made the decision to leave state politics and run in the November 2007 Federal Election because he believes that he can do more for South Australians in the Senate.

Nick was elected to the Senate with just under 15 per cent of the vote. Nick currently shares the balance of power in the Senate with the Greens and Family First.

Since assuming his role in the Senate in July 2008, Nick has continued to push for changes in the key areas of gambling regulation, water management, competition law and food labelling.

Nick believes the most important part of his job is speaking up for people who might not otherwise have a voice.

His approach to politics is perhaps best summed up in his First Speech in the Senate when he simply said:

I would rather go down fighting, than still be standing because I stayed silent.

ROGER DRAKE

Drake Supermarkets

In 1965, Roger Drake commenced his supermarket retailing career with the Coles Myer Group. In 1974, after 9 years at Coles Myer, Roger established his own business by purchasing his first store for AU$29,000 in Mitcham, a southern suburb of Adelaide, South Australia – a three-lane supermarket called Jack & Jill’s with 4 employees. After three successful years, Roger opened a larger supermarket at Torrensville, in the western suburbs of Adelaide. The company has grown opportunistically since then and now owns 46 stores throughout South Australia and Queensland, with a turnover in excess of $700M and 5500 employees nationally.

Drake Supermarkets is the largest independent grocery retailer in Australia and specialises in supermarket retailing. In addition, the company operates a liquor store, several newsagencies and a consulting service. The company also has a significant property portfolio.

The company’s strength lies in operating on the principles of a family business and supporting local manufacturers and suppliers. Roger prides himself on knowing as many of his staff as he can by name. He spends time every day out in his supermarkets, talking to staff and customers alike, and always endeavouring to improve the level of service the company provides.

Despite its expansion, the company has managed to keep its focus on the important aspects of the supermarket business – the customer – by always striving to provide superior customer service. This is the company’s competitive edge – along with its family values and South Australian roots. One of Roger’s best-known sayings is “I am not your boss, the customer is your boss, for without the customers, none of us would have a job!”

As a first generation family business, Drake Supermarkets has achieved great success as a ‘David facing two Goliaths’. The company is in a position to continue its significant contribution to the South Australian economy & culture into the next generation.

Bruce Annabel - FCA, MPS (assoc.), FACP, MAICD

Consultant and Industry Commentator, JR Pharmacy Services, Johnston Rorke Chartered Accountants

Bruce Annabel is the leading authority on the financial, strategic planning and business aspects of community pharmacy.

He has integrated these into the development of a unique healthcare service proposition fundamental to his strategic visioning.

The founding Partner of JR Pharmacy Services, which now consults to over 300 pharmacies Australia wide, allows an excellent overview of practice management, directions and externalities.

Bruce writes a monthly column in AJP and is a valued and respected speaker at industry conferences in Australia and overseas.

He was awarded the 2007 Pharmacy Practice Foundation pharmacy industry medal of excellence.

Bruce is an enthusiastic triathlete, and has competed at
both National and International level.

PAT SCOTT

John Martins and National Pharmacies

Pat Scott has over 30 years experience in the Retail, Healthcare and Training Industries. After graduating from Flinders University, she embarked upon a career with John Martin Retailers, initially as a Management Trainee. After many years with the organisation, she branched out on her own and established a training and consultancy business. Some years later, this was followed by Senior Management roles with Mutual Community and National Pharmacies, which focussed around customer service, sales, merchandising, store refurbishment and the profitability of Prestige Cosmetics sand Fragrance.

Since leaving National Pharmacies, Pat has moved back into her training and consulting role, focussing on the delivery of Customer Service and Cosmetic and Fragrance programs.

CATHY CAIRD

QUM Facilitator

Cathy is currently employed as the Quality Use of Medicines (QUM) Facilitator at Adelaide Western General Practice Network - a position she has held for over eight years. This role has encompassed both the Home Medicines Review (HMR) program and the National Prescribing Service (NPS) program. She has also been involved with the Aged Care Program and assisted in research with the QUMPRC, University of South Australia regarding medication management issues for people with dementia living in the community.

She is an accredited pharmacist and also has extensive experience as a community pharmacist, including both as a manager and a proprietor.

These roles have given Cathy a broad understanding of many of the issues confronting both pharmacists and pharmacy assistants in enabling people to gain maximum benefit from their medications.

Cathy also works for Healthfirst Training Australia – a Registered Training Organisation which delivers qualifications within the Health industry. Her work there includes that of both a course coordinator and a lecturer.
Healthfirst Training provides qualifications in Allied Health, Aged Care and General Practice.

Michael Heynen

Sports Physiotherapist –Mitcham Rehab Clinic

Michael is a Fellow of the Australian College of Physiotherapy and a Specialist Sports Physiotherapist. He is currently team Physiotherapist for the AFL Port Adelaide Football Club, consultant Physiotherapist to the Australian Dance Theatre and an adjunct lecturer on the Uni SA Masters of Physiotherapy program. Michael also continues to work in private practice, and is a practice principal of the Mitcham Rehab Clinic, Kingswood, SA.

Karen Green

Guild Training Services

Karen Green is a Trainer/Assessor with Guild Training Services with 37 years of experience in Community Pharmacies all over South Australia. With a passion for the industry, it’s customers and your staff, there is no better person to help pharmacy assistants understand this vitally important category of your pharmacy, and ensure customers have access to suitable knowledge in readiness for the allergy season.

Dr Ral Antic

Royal Adelaide Hospital

Dr Ral Antic is the Director of the Department of Thoracic Medicine at the Royal Adelaide Hospital, heading the Sleep Services and COPD Program. He also currently holds the position as State Director of the South Australian Tuberculosis Service.

Dr Antic holds a professional appointment as Clinical Senior Lecturer at the University of Adelaide. He consults as a Senior Visiting Respiratory Specialist to the Public Hosptials in Whyalla, Port Pirie, Port Augusta and Alice Springs.

He is the Chairman on the Scientific Committee of the Asia Pacific Region International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease and has held this position since 2006.

Professor B.E. Christopher Nordin AO

Royal Adelaide Hospital

Professor B.E. Christopher Nordin AO has been working on Osteoporosis for more than 50 years, first in England and Scotland until 1981 and since then at the Royal Adelaide Hospital in South Australia. He is now a Visiting Professor in the University of Adelaide, a Physician working in the Endocrine & Metabolic Unit of the RAH, and Chairman of the SA Health Working Party on Osteoporosis and Fracture Prevention.

Malcolm Scrymgeour

Business Increase Group

Over the last 20 years Mal has worked in executive roles for such blue chip organisations as Cadbury (NZ), Coca-Cola (UK), SAB-Miller (UK), Shell (Australia) and Mayne Group. In more recent years, he has worked as a retail consultant in countries such as Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, USA, Czech Republic and Poland.

With a background in marketing, merchandise and new product development Mal discovered the exciting world or retail consultancy. With his fellow Directors, he set up a consultancy company, Business Increase Group which is a boutique global retail consultancy working with retailers, or those suppliers who work closely with retailers. Business Increase Group’s current client list includes some of the largest players in the pharmacy, liquor and oil/convenience channels.

Mal has been immersed in the pharmacy industry for almost a decade and works with a number of different pharmacy chains and groups. Business Increase Group provides insight into Merchandise, especially in-store execution, Marketing, Store Layout, Retail Measurement/KPI’s, Loyalty Programs and Retail Operations. Having such a broad spread of skills, and clients in different parts of the world, means Business Increase Group’s consultants are aware of the latest retailing and consumer trends. Delivering ideas that work is something the company prides itself on. Learn more about the business at www.businessincreasegroup.com

With much of the year taken with presenting, consulting and travelling, Mal enjoys being home with family, friends, a little bit of fishing and a drop or two of any amber liquid that contain hops.

Lyn Costi

Senior Drug Information Pharmacist Children, Youth and Women’s Health Service

Lynn Costi has held the position of Senior Pharmacist in Drug Information at the Women’s and Children’s Hospital in Adelaide for over 5 years. The Drug Information Service takes about 1000 calls each month on Drugs in Pregnancy, Lactation and in Paediatrics, from both health professionals and the general public.

Dr Lisa Kalisch

Quality Use of Medicines Pharmacy Research Centre

Lisa’s research is focused on the quality use of medicines, and she is particularly interested in the use of linked databases to identify associations between health policy, medicine use and health outcomes. Lisa was awarded her PhD in 2008, and she is now a Post Doctoral Research Fellow within the Quality Use of Medicines and Pharmacy Research Centre, in the Sansom Institute at UniSA. Lisa works on the Veterans’ MATES program which aims to improve medication use and health outcomes for veterans, by using administrative claims data to study patterns of healthcare and medicines delivered to veterans. Lisa is also a registered pharmacist with hospital and community pharmacy experience.

Anita Abarno

BPharm, MClinPharm, CGP

Anita Abarno completed a Bachelor of Pharmacy in 1998 and later completed a Master of Clinical Pharmacy at the University of South Australia. She is accredited as a Certified Geriatric Pharmacist.

Anita has over 10 years experience working as a pharmacist in both public and private hospitals and at the SA Department of Health. Her previous experience covers a wide variety of areas including antibiotic utilisation surveillance, oncology and haematology, and stroke rehabilitation.

Anita is currently Acting Clinical Pharmacy Coordinator at the Repatriation General Hospital in Daw Park, SA. She specialises in General Psychiatry and Psychogeriatrics, providing clinical services including medication review, patient education and provision of drug information.

Anita lectures on pharmacotherapy for depression and mood disorders at the University of South Australia Pharmacy School and is a member of the Southern Adelaide Health Service / Flinders University Human Research Ethics Committee. Her current research projects focus on the pharmacological management of PTSD.

Justin Turner

Accredited Pharmacist and Proprietor

Justin is an accredited pharmacist and active facilitates interprofessional collaboration with local general practitioners and other healthcare professionals. His innovative ideas and practises promote pharmacy as a profession and enhance the role of pharmacists in the patient management team. Justin believ es that there is an increasing emphasis on pharmacy as a provider of professional services and a focus on chronic disease management and preventative health.

He performs regular Drug Utilisation Evaluations (DUEs) and has set up a regular diabetes clinic in the local area which further raises the profile of pharmacists as an important member of the health care team. Justin is a member of the local Medicines Advisory Committee, a mentor for pharmacists undergoing initial accreditation and a preceptor for pre-registrant pharmacists and students. Justin has setup his pharmacy to be a specialist provider of Sleep Apnoea and CPAP Services and a reputable PCCA compounding pharmacy.

Gavin O'Callaghan

MOptom FAAO FCCLSA

Gavin is a clinical Optometrist in private practice, completing his undergraduate Optometry degree at the University of Melbourne in the early 1990's and later a clinical Master of Optometry degree. He has had a continuous appointment as a visiting consultant to the Eye Outpatients at the Royal Adelaide Hospital since 1995. He has published in the peer reviewed literature in the sub-speciality of contact lenses and anterior eye, and has been involved in clinical trials of new contact lens materials and contact lens solutions. He holds a Fellowship of the Cornea & Contact Lens Society of Australia, as well as a Fellowship of the American Academy of Optometry. The majority of his clinical work is in the care of patients requiring contact lenses for vision rehabilitation for congenital and acquired eye disease, as well as cases of trauma & post-surgical vision restoration.