Remembering Professor Gabrielle Cooper OAM
21 November 2025
Pharmacists from across the ACT gathered for the inaugural Professor Gabrielle Cooper OAM Address last night, a joint event hosted by the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA), the University of Canberra – Pharmacy School, the Pharmacy Guild of Australia – ACT Branch, and Advanced Pharmacy Australia.
The event celebrated Professor Cooper’s extraordinary contributions to pharmacy and encouraged collaboration among pharmacists from all practice settings and organisations.
In a significant announcement during the event, the Hon. Bill Shorten announced that the University of Canberra will establish the “Professor Gabrielle Cooper OAM Integrated Clinical Practice Suite” in honour of Professor Cooper’s profound impact on pharmacy and her enduring legacy within the UC community.
The inaugural keynote address was delivered by Dr David Caldicott, who spoke about the journey towards implementing pill testing services in Australia – a topic close to Professor Cooper’s passion for harm minimisation and toxicology.
Alongside the keynote, reflections on Professor Cooper’s life and influence were shared by the Hon. Bill Shorten, Professor Mark Naunton, and Professor Cooper’s husband, Dr Bill Burke, on the profound impact Gabrielle had on pharmacists, her colleagues, and the Australian community.
Professor Cooper’s distinguished career spanned clinical pharmacy, academia, and professional leadership. She founded the Discipline of Pharmacy at the University of Canberra and served as PSA’s first ACT Branch President.
Professor Cooper’s extraordinary dedication transformed and inspired pharmacy practice across Australia, recognised with an Order of Australia Medal (OAM) in 2017 and PSA’s ACT Lifetime Achievement Award in 2021.
The PSA’s National Vice-President, Professor Mark Naunton MPS, said:
“PSA was proud to collaborate with leading organisations to honour the contributions Professor Cooper made to the profession.
“Gabrielle’s ambition was not about personal glory. Gabrielle was the mother who nurtured the future generation. People always came first. Her mentorship and influence continue through the generations of pharmacists and health professionals she educated and inspired.
“It is clear to see, by the abundance of people celebrating her life and legacy, that she was a positive role model to students, pharmacists, healthcare workers, and policymakers alike,” Professor Naunton said.
Last night’s Address was chaired by PSA’s ACT Branch Committee President, Erin Cooper.
“We were honoured to be joined by the Hon. Bill Shorten, Professor Mark Naunton, Dr Bill Burke and more of Gabrielle’s family, alongside Dr David Caldicott, to celebrate Prof Cooper’s extraordinary life and legacy,” she said.
The PSA extends thanks to those who attended to celebrate the life and legacy of Professor Gabrielle Cooper.

Media contact: Leah Jacobsen M: 0480 099 798 E: leah.jacobsen@psa.org.au
The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia is the only national peak body that represents all of Australia’s pharmacists across all practice settings. We want every Australian to have access to the best healthcare, and this must include optimising access to pharmacists’ knowledge and medicines expertise at the forefront of our healthcare system.