Excellence Recognised in Medicines Australia’s Continuing Education Program
18 March 2026: Medicines Australia celebrates the winners of last year’s Medicines Australia’s Continuing Education Program (CEP) Awards.
These Awards are granted annually to individuals in the pharmaceutical and health sectors to recognise outstanding results during the 2025 academic year of the Medicines Australia CEP.
The Awards include three categories:
– The UTAS Prize for Excellence Award – presented to one student per semester and only applies to programs that require submission of a written assignment
– The Code of Conduct Award – presented to one student who achieves the highest mark for Program 1: Medicines Australia Code of Conduct
– The CEP Award – presented to 10 students who achieve the 10 highest aggregate marks for five core programs. This year, eleven recipients will be recognised, as two students achieved an equal qualifying score.
CEO of Medicines Australia, Liz de Somer explained that the CEP, delivered online through the University of Tasmania (UTAS), equips students with the confidence, skills and knowledge to ensure medical representatives operate to a recognised industry standard.
“We congratulate every one of our award recipients for this remarkable achievement. Their enthusiasm for learning and continuous improvement is genuinely inspiring,” Ms de Somer said.
“The CEP plays a critical role in supporting a highly skilled and ethical industry workforce. This year’s award winners have demonstrated exceptional capability and professionalism.”
Ruth Power was awarded the UTAS Active Learning Prize for Semester 1, while Joshua Hogben from AstraZeneca was awarded the UTAS Prize for Excellence Semester 2.
“While I come from a clinical pharmacy background, the Medicines Australia CEP has given me the confidence to thrive in the pharmaceutical industry as a representative. It has deepened my understanding of how we operate ethically and responsibly, and how we build and maintain trust in our profession and across the industry,” Joshua Hogben said.
On receiving a CEP Achievement Award, Adam Warren explained:
“The Medicines Australia CEP gave me the confidence to have deeper conversations with clinicians. It strengthened my ability to interpret and analyse research, placing me in a much stronger position to contribute meaningfully. It grounds my role and provides me with practical, tangible knowledge – knowledge that enables us to deliver real impact in our work, especially when patient outcomes are paramount
“I also believe it clearly demonstrates our industry’s commitment to training and educating our people so they can have credible, evidence-led conversations with healthcare professionals. Importantly, it reinforces a higher standard of professionalism across the industry.”
The year’s recipient of the Code of Conduct Award was Fiona Gardiner from Eisai Australia.
“This award shines a light on the work our industry does every day – guided by strong principles, committed to doing the right thing, and most importantly, doing the right thing for patients. Ultimately, it strengthens the reputation of our industry,” Fiona Gardiner said.
Ms de Somer said, “I commend Medicines Australia’s member companies for supporting their teams to undertake this critical training, and I congratulate all participants who successfully completed the CEP over the past year.”
Full list of winners re 2025 academic program
Ruth Power – UTAS Prize for Excellence Semester 1
Joshua Hogben (AstraZeneca) – UTAS Prize for Excellence Semester 2
Fiona Gardiner (Eisai Australia) – Code of Conduct Achievement Award
Adam Warren (Chiesi) – CEP Achievement Award
Dileepa Fernando (previously of GSK) – CEP Achievement Award
Kim-Maree Clerke (previously of GSK) – CEP Achievement Award
Leah Jacobsen (previously of AstraZeneca) – CEP Achievement Award
Libby Driffill (BMS) – CEP Achievement Award
Matthew Elias (Vertex) – CEP Achievement Award
Melissa Lim (Arrotex) – CEP Achievement Award
Nick Brown (Arrotex) – CEP Achievement Award
Shae Disney – CEP Achievement Award
Shree Rao (previously of BeOne Medicines) – CEP Achievement Award
Shehan Fernando (previously of Boehringer Ingelheim) – CEP Achievement Award
About the Continuing Education Program (CEP)
Medicines Australia’s Continuing Education Program (CEP) was launched in 1996 and is designed to educate medical representatives working within the prescription medicines industry, to a recognised industry standard.
The program is delivered by our education partner, University of Tasmania. Completion of the CEP is mandatory all medical representatives entering the Australian prescription pharmaceutical industry for the first time.
These courses are also recommended to people who may not be currently employed within the industry but would like to pursue a career as a medical representative.
Courses available include the Medicines Australia Code of Conduct, The Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Industry, Human Anatomy and Physiology, an Introduction to Pharmacology, Product Information, Understanding Product Information, and Understanding Clinical Evidence.
More information is available on Medicines Australia’s website here.
Media enquiries:
Anne-Marie Sparrow, Medicines Australia /Cube – media@medicinesaustralia.com.au or 0417 421 560.
About Medicines Australia:
Medicines Australia leads the research-based pharmaceutical industry of Australia. Our members discover, develop and manufacture the medicines that are the foundation of a healthy and prosperous society, including prescription pharmaceutical products, biotherapeutic products and vaccines. Our members invest in Australian medical research and take local discoveries and developments to the world.