Appointments of Departmental Secretaries

Medicines Australia welcomes the appointments of Glenys Beauchamp PSM as the Secretary of the Department of Health and Dr Heather Smith PSM as the Secretary of the Department of Industry, Innovation & Science.

“I want to congratulate them both on their appointments by the Prime Minister,” said Medicines Australia Chief Executive Milton Catelin.

“Glenys and Heather are two exceptionally capable and experienced members of the public service and Medicines Australia and its members look forward to a close and constructive relationship with them both.”

“Having served as the Secretary of the Department of Industry, Innovation & Science, Ms Beauchamp has already seen the enormous value of our industry and the investment that it brings to Australia.”

“This is an important time for the Department of Health and our members as we look to steer through legislation that will support the Strategic Agreement recently signed between Medicines Australia and the Commonwealth.”

“We also look forward to working together with Ms Beauchamp and her Department on process reforms to both the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) and the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC) that will make a difference for Australians who rely on access to innovative medicines on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).”

“Dr Smith will be an excellent replacement as the Secretary of the Department of Industry and I look forward to working with her on policies that will continue to encourage investment by our members in manufacturing and vital medical research, such as clinical trials.”

“Our members undertake around 900 clinical trials a year in Australia and manufacture medicines that make up around half the exports of medicine products which are now Australia’s largest manufactured export and we want to see that grow even more.”

“Once again I congratulate both on their appointments,” said Mr Catelin.

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Contact: James Boyce – 0423 239 265