The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) has announced the winners of the PSA New South Wales (NSW) Excellence Awards, which were held on 1 March.
The awards recognise outstanding pharmacists who have demonstrated excellence in their practice and dedication to improving healthcare outcomes for their communities.
And the winners are …
The 2025 Award recipients are:
- David North OAM MPS – Lifetime Achievement Award
David North OAM, recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award, has dedicated 5 decades to community and hospital pharmacy.
He has played a key role in numerous community health initiatives, including projects on palliative care medication access, smoking cessation, asthma management, and opioid safety.
His dedication to promoting medication safety and pharmacy’s role in public health has had a lasting impact.
A PSA Life Member and long-time advocate for the profession, Mr North has also served as a peer reviewer, mentor, and board member of the Pharmacists Support Service (PSS).
His leadership, commitment to patient care, and advocacy have left a profound legacy, making him a truly deserving recipient of this award.
- Ammar Altayib MPS – Pharmacist of the Year
Now a PhD candidate, former Sudanese refugee and NSW Pharmacist of the Year Ammar Altayib has been a clinical pharmacist for the past 7 years and has been nominated twice in recent years for patient safety awards for the Southern NSW Local Health District.
With numerous academic qualifications including a Masters in Pharmacy, the father of four, in addition to his hospital role, also works on Saturdays at Queanbeyan Pharmacy, teaches Arabic and is a leader in his local community.
While nominated for the AdPha Clinical Pharmacy Award last year, he instead took out the African Australian Inc Academic and Professional Excellence Award.
- Lily Pham MPS – Early Career Pharmacist of the Year
NSW Early Career Pharmacist of the Year Lily Pham has quickly established herself as a leader in pharmacy.
As Vice President of the PSA NSW Branch Committee, she has played a key role in policy submissions, stakeholder engagement, and expanding pharmacists’ scope of practice, particularly in mental health.
She has presented at PSA events, met with politicians, and contributed to PSA’s Medicine Safety: Mental Health report.
Ms Pham is also undertaking a PhD at the University of Sydney, focusing on perinatal mental healthcare and the role of pharmacists in mental health screening.
- Peter Figliuzzi – Intern of the Year
NSW Intern of the Year Peter Figliuzzi is recognised for his leadership, initiative, and commitment to patient care.
During his intern year Mr Figliuzzi developed a hospital discharge medication management system to ensure patients understood medication changes, reducing confusion and enhancing adherence.
His proactive engagement with Veteran patients improved health outcomes through tailored MedsChecks and stronger patient-provider relationships. Additionally, he streamlined vaccination services by creating a patient recall system, improving vaccination rates in his community.
‘Exemplify some of the best in pharmacy’
PSA NSW President Luke Kelly congratulates the recipients, recognising their leadership and commitment to advancing pharmacy practice.
“Each of these award winners has demonstrated exceptional leadership, dedication, and passion for improving health outcomes in their communities,” he says.
“Their contributions to the profession exemplify the some of the best of pharmacy in New South Wales.”
