Under the Therapeutic Goods Regulations 1990 (the Regulations), the Committee comprises of nine nominated members and no more than eight appointed members.
Under the Therapeutic Goods Act 1989 (the Act), the Commonwealth, each State, the Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory are entitled to nominate a member on this Committee. These Committee members are referred to as 'nominated' members.
Under the Regulations, the Minister must appoint no more than eight additional members, selected through an open invitation process. These Committee members are referred to as 'appointed' members.
Membership of ACMS comprises professionals with specific scientific, medical or clinical expertise, as well as appropriate consumer health issues relating to medicines.
Appointed members
Chair
Associate Professor Suzanne Nielsen (BPharmSc[Hons] PhD MPS) is the Deputy Director of the Monash Addiction Research Centre in Melbourne, and is a current NHMRC Career Development Fellow. Her research has focused on understanding and responding to prescription and over-the-counter, drug-related problems; understanding the therapeutic effects of cannabinoids; and monitoring new psychoactive substances including high potency opioids. A/Professor Nielsen has been a registered pharmacist for over 20 years with extensive clinical experience in the treatment of substance use disorders including specialist drug treatment and community-based alcohol and drug treatment settings in Australia and the United Kingdom. A/Professor Nielsen is a Senior Editor for Drug and Alcohol Review, has acted as an advisor for the World Health Organisation Expert Committee on Drug Dependence. A/Professor Nielsen provides expertise in clinical pharmacology.
Members
Ms Elise Apolloni is a community pharmacist. She is also a credentialled diabetes educator, Mental Health First Aid instructor and board director. Ms Apolloni holds positions with various pharmacy organisations as well as local and national government committees and boards. She has extensive experience in the supply of scheduled medicines, working with consumers and multi-disciplinary teams on a daily basis to optimise medicine use. Ms Apolloni provides expertise in the field of pharmacy practice and industry relating to the regulation of therapeutic goods.
Ms Carol Bennett has significant experience in the medicines policy area. She was previously national CEO of peak health bodies including the Consumers Health Forum of Australia and Painaustralia. Ms Bennett has also served on the Medicines Australia Advisory Board and worked in partnership with NPS MedicineWise on consumer and health professional education and awareness about medicines. Ms Bennett provides expertise in consumer health issues relating to the regulation of therapeutic goods.
Dr Danielle McMullen is a practicing GP with interest in women’s health, mental health and adolescent health. She is a seasoned healthcare leader with a sound understanding of the Australian healthcare system across primary care and hospital care, both public and private. She is currently the Vice-president of the AMA. Dr McMullen provides expertise in the fields of medical practice and the regulation of medicines in Australia.
Miss Jennifer Morris is a patient safety professional and healthcare consumer representative with a particular focus on regulation, governance and safety systems in healthcare. Miss Morris has qualifications in science, humanities, science communication, health quality and safety, consumer and community engagement and governance. She has brought her consumer expertise to roles as a healthcare safety researcher, patient safety investigator, board member, patient perspectives advisor, educator and public speaker. Miss Morris provides expertise in consumer health issues relating to the regulation of therapeutics goods.
Associate Professor Bridin Murnion is a practising physician with fellowships in Clinical Pharmacology, Pain Medicine and Addiction Medicine. Associate Professor Murnion has over 15 years' experience in the Australian public health system providing addiction, pain and clinical pharmacology/toxicology care. She has held expert roles on multiple state bodies advising on high risk medicines and controlled substances. Associate Professor Murnion provides expertise in the field of scheduled medicines in Australia, pharmacology and clinical practice.
Mrs Julie Viatos is the Quality Use of Medicines Manager at Consumer Healthcare Products Australia. She has more than 25 years' experience in regulatory affairs roles in the pharmaceutical industry across prescription and non-prescription medicines. She is a registered pharmacist with previous experience in community, hospital and drug information pharmacy. Mrs Viatos provides expertise in the fields of the regulation of scheduled medicines in Australia and industry issues relating to the regulation therapeutic goods.
Associate Professor Michael Ward is Discipline Leader: Pharmacy Education in the School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences at the University of South Australia. Dr Ward is a practising pharmacist with research interests in biologic medicines and factors that influence medication response including drug metabolism, drug-drug interactions, pharmacokinetics and pharmacogenetics. Associate Professor Ward provides expertise in the field of clinical pharmacology.
Nominated members
- Professor Robyn Langham
Commonwealth - Ms Amanda Galbraith
Australian Capital Territory - Peter Gilfedder
New South Wales - Mr Samuel Keitaanpaa
Northern Territory - Mr Justin Lee
Queensland - Vacant
South Australia - Mr Martin Neumeyer
Tasmania - Ms Wendy Yang
Victoria - Ms Jane Carpenter
Western Australia