Your independent organisation owned by its pharmacist members
Who we are
As Australia’s first national pharmacy body, PDL was established in 1912 by pharmacists, for pharmacists. Now over 100 years old, we are still 100% owned by our pharmacist members and are dedicated to supporting them throughout their professional life. We are a not-for-profit organisation and support over 29,000 national members in the Australian pharmacy profession, comprised mostly of hospital, clinical, research and community pharmacists, students, and interns.
What we do
At PDL, we provide member support through professional indemnity (PI) insurance that is tailored to pharmacists, covers everything in the scope of pharmacy and meets the requirements of the Pharmacy Board of Australia (Ahpra). Along with advice and procedures for risk minimisation, we aim to advance the professionalism of members through leadership, advocacy and building awareness of risk minimisation strategies.
We offer our members expertise and unbiased assistance through confidential support services, which are not punitive or judgemental. One-to-one member care and support is given via our professional officers who are themselves experienced pharmacists, so members can be assured of immediate and exceptional service.
We operate an Australia-wide, 24/7 professional incident and claims support and advice service to protect our members and to minimise patient harm. Beyond member advocacy, we support pharmacy organisations and events, research, and projects designed to enhance the profession, its standards, risk management and professional service to the Australian public.
Our Professional Officers are experienced pharmacists who provide assistance to our members when they need support.
PDL Registered Office: 40 Burwood Road Hawthorn Vic 3122
PDL is governed by a Board of Directors, elected by fellow PDL members in each state to represent them.The PDL Constitution governs how PDL operates. Read more
PDL Directors
Paul Naismith
Chair
Celia Sansom
WA
Gilbert Yeates
Deputy Chair QLD
Kirstie Galbraith
VIC
Curtis Ruhnau
ACT / NSW
Ian Todd
SA / NT
Joe O'Malley
TAS
David Brown
CEO
Local advisory committees
Local Advisory Committees (LACs) also operate across all states of Australia. The role of the LACs is to:
- Provide a central focus for all PDL member pharmacists in each State
- Provide strategic care and guidance for all PDL members if necessary
- Bring to the attention of the PDL board any matter that it regards as relevant to the enhancement of pharmacy such as risk management, pharmacist support services, use of scanners in the dispensary, packaging and labelling, warnings to members and any other matter it sees fit
- Act as the PDL representative as required
Committee members
Australian Capital Territory / New South Wales
Left to right
Olivia Collenette
Harriet Wright
Curtis Ruhnau
Katrina (Kate) Short
Georgina Woods
Queensland
Left to right
Andrew Petrie
Michelle Bou-Samara
Gilbert Yeates
James McDowell
Gary West (Chair)
South Australia / Northern Territory
Left to right
Jack Janetzki
Paula Kwan (Chair)
Leigh Harrison
Amy Minion (not pictured)
Ian Todd (not pictured)
Tasmania
Left to right
Joe O'Malley (Chair)
Camille Boland
Justin Cousins
Robert Scanlon
Victoria
Left to right
David Brown (PDL CEO)
Jane Mitchell
John Guy (Chair)
Kirstie Galbraith
Paul Naismith
Western Australia
Left to right
Celia Sansom
William Bryan
Bridgett McKay (Chair)
Dean Schulze (former member)
John Forster