New President for professional home for nation’s pharmacists

The Pharmaceutical Society of New Zealand (PSNZ) is to be led by Michael Hammond, of Auckland.

Michael was elected president of PSNZ’s National Executive Committee by NEC members with the result announced today.

The other two officers elected by NEC were Brooke McKay as Vice President and Bronwen Shepherd as Treasurer. Ms McKay is due to go on parental leave shortly and NEC member Sandy Bhawan will be Acting Vice President from today until the annual election of officers in November this year.

The election follows the resignation of former President Rhiannon Braund and NEC member Paul Larson.

An election was held for the two vacancies created by their resignations with Callum Porter and Amanda Stanfield elected to the National Executive Committee.

Under PSNZ’s rule NEC members select their elected officers of President, Vice President and Treasurer and this process ended today.

Michael says they are thankful for the support of fellow NEC members and can’t wait to get to work.

“PSNZ and the profession as a whole face significant challenges and opportunities. I’m looking forward to representing the pharmacists and technicians working in a variety of settings across the health sector who make up our membership.”

Society Chief Executive Helen Morgan-Banda is looking forward to working with Michael and the other elected officers.

The elected officers will remain in their roles until November this year when the normal annual election cycle for NEC’s election officer resumes.