Leading Queensland pharmacists awarded by peak body
20 October 2024
The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) has presented its 2024 Queensland Excellence Awards in Brisbane last night, recognising five outstanding pharmacists for their commitment to excellence in pharmacy practice.
The PSA Queensland branch presented the following awards:
- Queensland Pharmacist of the Year awarded to Associate Professor Esther Lau MPS
- Queensland Early Career Pharmacist of the Year awarded to James Buckley MPS
- Queensland Intern Pharmacist of the Year awarded to Antonia Hurd
- Queensland Lifetime Achievement Award presented to Professor Beverley Glass FPS
The annual Professor James Dare Pharmacy Graduate of the Year was also awarded to James Cook University student Shylee-Jade Hadar-Pagliari.
PSA Queensland President Shane MacDonald MPS acknowledged the achievements of the award winners as well as the continued dedication of pharmacists practising throughout the state.
“It’s an inspiration to see the amazing work pharmacists are doing in communities across Queensland, and a great privilege to recognise them for their dedication in advancing the profession.
“On behalf of the PSA I congratulate the outstanding pharmacists presented with awards and thank them for their commitment to bettering the health of Queenslanders.”
Media notes
PSA Queensland Pharmacist of the Year Associate Professor Esther Lau MPS has been a transformative force in advancing the pharmacy profession in Queensland. As course coordinator of QUT’s pharmacy program, she played a key role in implementing innovative curricula and leading research for Queensland’s vaccination and UTI pilot programs. One of the first trained pharmacy vaccinators in Australia, Dr. Lau also developed a vaccination training program during COVID-19 to support mass vaccination efforts.
Her work in establishing Australia’s first non-medical prescribing course laid the groundwork for expanded pharmacist prescribing pilots. Dr. Lau’s academic achievements include multiple teaching awards, over 50 peer-reviewed publications, and mentoring numerous postgraduate students who now hold leadership roles.
Beyond academia, Dr. Lau has been actively involved with the PSA Queensland Branch Committee and has contributed to professional standards and assessments in pharmacy. Her efforts have been pivotal in expanding the role of pharmacists in healthcare, driving practice change, and creating new opportunities for the profession. Dr. Lau’s lasting impact on pharmacy is evident through her dedication, innovation, and commitment to advancing healthcare.
PSA Queensland Early Career Pharmacist of the Year James Buckley MPS has embraced every opportunity early in his pharmacy career. As managing partner at Live Life Pharmacy in Port Douglas, James was among the first to complete the North Queensland Pharmacist Full Scope of Practice Pilot, providing expanded health services, including additional medicines management and prescribing for a range of common conditions.
James’s influence extends beyond his own practice; he has taken on a mentoring role, guiding other pharmacists through the transition to this broader scope of practice. His commitment to knowledge-sharing is evident in his active participation as a speaker at national conferences, where he shares insights on expanded pharmacist roles and the successful implementation of these services. His efforts are not only advancing pharmacy practice in Queensland but are also setting a precedent for broader national adoption of similar models, helping to transform how healthcare is delivered across Australia.
Through his leadership in the North Queensland Pharmacist Full Scope of Practice Pilot, James Buckley is driving significant change in healthcare delivery, demonstrating the critical role that pharmacists can play in improving patient outcomes and strengthening the healthcare workforce.
PSA Queensland Intern Pharmacist of the Year Antonia Hurd has demonstrated exceptional leadership and commitment during her internship, excelling in patient care, service delivery, and professional engagement. Antonia played a key role in managing essential pharmacy services, including vaccinations, cholesterol and blood glucose testing, and sleep apnoea screening, while also overseeing the dose administration aid service for patients with complex medication needs.
A key achievement of Antonia’s internship is her research on the link between chronic pain and mental illness, published as part of the PharMIbridge Randomised Controlled Trial. This work underscores her focus on advancing mental health care within the pharmacy profession. Her involvement in community outreach, including mental health initiatives and educational events, further illustrates her dedication to expanding the role of pharmacists in public health.
PSA Queensland Lifetime Achievement Award recipient Professor Beverley Glass FPS is recognised for her outstanding and sustained contribution to the development of pharmacy education, practice and research, and particularly her role in establishing the James Cook University Pharmacy program which has developed a generation of pharmacists ready for practice in North Queensland.
Under her leadership the JCU students have received several awards, including pharmacy student of the year, pharmacy intern of the year and runner up in the national pharmacy student business plan competition. She has invested incredible amounts of time and energy into the future academic workforce also and in supporting the health services and system to solve complex problems in an area of high need. Beverley has completed 50 honours students and 33 PhD and master’s students, many of whom now hold clinical, professional and academic leadership roles in Australia and overseas. Beverley has grown the discipline itself, its academics, and the research profile of the discipline.
Prof Glass shares the outcomes of her research with others so they can also learn, having published over 120 peer-reviewed Journal articles in the last 10 years alone and presented her research at both national and international conferences. She is a regular contributor to professional education articles (including Australian Pharmacist) and is part of the Australian Pharmaceutical Formulary compounding expert advisory group. She has given hundreds of research conference presentations and invited national and international keynote, plenary or workshop presentations.
Her contributions to the key practice change work within Queensland in UTI and vaccination particularly has seen pharmacists play a pivotal role in access to care in rural and regional Australia and has provided a policy platform for other initiatives, innovations and research work for her team, more recently the first nations children’s ear conditions diagnosis and treatment project and now the North Queensland Full Scope of Practice Pharmacy Pilot. Through her work as a clinician, teacher, researcher, academic and advocate, Professor Glass has been a driving force for rural and remote pharmacy training and practice, forging new roles and pathways for the pharmacists to contribute to healthcare teams. She is a quiet achiever, mentor, support and advocate for pharmacists and pharmacy.
As a final-year pharmacy student at James Cook University, Professor James Dare Pharmacy Graduate of the Year Shylee-Jade Hadar-Pagliari demonstrates exceptional leadership. Shylee’s passion for pharmacy is evident in everything she does, from her dedication to patients and peers, to the profession as a whole.
Shylee-Jade consistently goes above and beyond, always striving to ensure the well-being and success of those around her. This level of selflessness speaks to her character and her unwavering commitment to making a positive impact. Her academic achievements are equally impressive. Despite taking on a significant number of professional responsibilities, including as Internal & External Affairs Director for the National Australian Pharmacy Students’ Association (NAPSA), Shylee has managed to maintain a solid academic performance. Her ability to excel in both areas highlights her strong work ethic, determination, and excellent time management skills.
In addition to her academic and professional accomplishments, Shylee possesses outstanding leadership qualities. Her natural ability to inspire and guide others is already making a lasting impact on her peers. Shylee personifies the qualities that make a great pharmacist – she is humble, kind, and deeply caring. Her focus is always on the collective success of her patients and colleagues rather than on personal recognition. This integrity and commitment to the greater good reflect her sincerity and devotion to her chosen path.
Moreover, Shylee brings a positive and uplifting presence to any environment. Her approachable nature fosters collaboration and camaraderie, making interactions with her both enjoyable and productive. Her contributions to date, along with her potential to make even greater strides in the future, make her a deserving recipient of the 2024 Professor James Dare Pharmacy Graduate of the Year award.
Media contact: Georgia Clarke M: 0480 099 798 E: georgia.clarke@psa.org.au
