PSNZ President Appointed to Lead Waikato University’s New Pharmacy Programme

PSNZ President Rhiannon Braund is to take up an academic leadership role later this year, midway through her latest elected period as president.

Professor Jo Lane, Dean of Health at Te Huataki Waiora School Health, University of Waikato, today announced the appointment of Professor Braund to lead the School’s new pharmacy programme. Professor Braund will join the University on 1 May.

In light of her new responsibilities, Professor Braund, who was initially elected President by the PSNZ Board in November 2020, has decided to step down from the President’s role and will tender her resignation from the National Executive at the next formal PSNZ Board meeting on 14 March 2023.

The Board will then follow the guidance in clauses 16.6 and 16.7 in the PSNZ Rules which outline the process that occurs when the President departs. The rules can be found here.

“Leading PSNZ through a pandemic, the impact of the changes to recertification on membership and other major changes in the pharmacy profession and sector has been an immense privilege,” says Professor Braund.

“I want to thank PSNZ members, my Board colleagues and the hard-working PSNZ team for supporting me through some incredibly challenging times.

“Significant challenges, and opportunities, continue to face PSNZ, the profession and sector. I look forward to supporting the Board, the CEO and the PSNZ team through another period of change in my current role as President and in my new role where I will continue to be championing for the pharmacy profession.

“I will be leaving the organisation in good hands at a governance and operational level and in my new role I will have a further opportunity to grow and strengthen the profession in this country at a time when building and retaining our pharmacy workforce has never been more critical.”