Medicines industry champion recognised in Queen’s Birthday Honours list

The former chairman of Medicines Australia and longstanding advocate of the Australian medicines industry Will Delaat has been awarded an AM in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list today.

Medicines Australia chief executive Dr Brendan Shaw said the recognition was a fitting reward for Mr Delaat’s exceptional leadership of the Australian medicines industry.

“I congratulate Will on this richly deserved honour,” Dr Shaw said.

“I am personally delighted that his immeasurable contribution to the industry over the course of four decades has been acknowledged in this way.

“Will has been a passionate advocate for the Australian medicines industry for many years and has been instrumental in driving key policy change and securing a viable investment environment for the medicines industry in Australia.

“It is in no small part because of Will’s leadership that we have a medicines industry in Australia that is recognised for the nearly $4 billion a year in exports and over $1 billion a year in R&D investment it generates.

“The Australian medicines industry continues to make available new medicines and vaccines for Australian patients and Will’s dedication has been a key part in helping develop that.

“He co-chaired the Industry-Government Access to Medicines Working Group, and chaired the Pharmaceuticals Industry Council.

“He led the industry through major reforms of the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, including the negotiation of the historic Memorandum of Understanding between Medicines Australia and the Australian Government, that have resulted in a sustainable, well-managed PBS with low expenditure growth.”

Mr Delaat served on the board of Medicines Australia from 1998 to 2011 and was chairman between 2003 and 2005 and then from 2008 to 2011.

-ENDS-

Contact Person:

Jamie Nicholson
Media Communications Manager
Phone: 0419 220 293
Email: Jamie.Nicholson@medicinesaustralia.com.au