Reputation event timely and relevant

2 April 2025

The Australian pharmaceutical sector is preparing to have one of its most timely and meaningful discussions of the year when MedNews hosts its ‘Pharma Reputation: Weighty Challenges‘ event later this month in Sydney, the speaker line-up and agenda now finalised for what is expected to be one of the most significant and influential events of 2025.

With a stellar line-up of political and industry speakers along with key insights from bespoke Australian research conducted exclusively by Apollo Communications, the ‘Pharma reputation: Weighty Challenges’ half-day event is not only perfectly timed three days before the Federal election, but also comes after the industry’s local reputation was battered due to potential US tariffs.

Apollo asked more than 2,000 Australians what they thought of the pharmaceutical industry in Australia, measuring their level of trust in the industry along with what they think are Australia’s greatest health challenges, who was responsible for fixing them, attitudes to PBS delays, chronic illnesses, appetite for the public funding of medicines, and a range of other issues relevant to companies, patient groups and people working in and with the sector.

Apollo CEO Adam Connolly, a former journalist and senior political advisor and now leading corporate and government affairs consultant, will present the research findings and discuss what it means for the sector in the opening address. 

Two of Australia’s top political lobbyists and commentators will then join BMS Australia General Manager Owen Smith in a discussion about the likely outcome of the Federal election and how to get your message across with – and secure positive outcomes from – the incoming government.

Former national journalist and political advisor Eamonn Fitzpatrick was a senior media advisor in the Office of the Prime Minister under Julia Gillard and Kevin Rudd before becoming one of Australia’s top lobbyists and most respected government relations professionals.

Instrumental in the last Federal election campaign in helping Anthony Albanese secure government, Fitzpatrick advised the Pharmacy Guild of Australia for its eighth Community Pharmacy Agreement (8CPA), the agreement delivering the Guild significant wins for its members and patients.

Balancing Fitzpatrick’s Labor background is his Sky News sparring partner David Gazard, also a former national journalist and twice named on the Australian Financial Review’s ‘Most Powerful Covert Political Operators‘ for his ability to open doors in the corridors of power.

Gazard’s significant experience working as a press secretary to John Howard and Peter Costello and senior advisor to Tony Abbott as Health Minister means what he doesn’t know about government isn’t worth knowing.

Together with Owen Smith, himself a former BBC journalist and British politician who has been a senior corporate affairs executive, and facilitated by former political journalist and MedNews editor Megan Brodie, the panel will discuss the many challenges facing industry in dealing with the new government -likely to be a minority government with an extensive crossbench of up to 18 Members of Parliament and 18 to 20 Senators.

The panellist will also discuss the reputational challenges facing industry after what could well be a gruelling and damaging election campaign with US pharma under attack for ‘targeting the PBS’.

The political panel will be followed by a fireside chat with leading industry allrounder Belinda Wood.

Having signed the first and second strategic agreement for the GBMA along with holding senior roles at the Pharmacy Guild of Australia and Pharmaceutical Society of Australia, Belinda has advised the medicines industry through the Medicines Australia Advisory Council and spent the past five years as Head of Government Affairs at Gilead. She left the sector in October to pursue a career in climate change advocacy.

Belinda’s knowledge of government relations and corporate affairs is legendary, enabling a down-to-earth discussion about the practical issues relevant to practitioners working in and with pharma, and what leaders need to know when working with their government, public and corporate affairs teams.

The second high-powered panel features three of the ANZ industry’s top leaders in Eli Lilly Regional President and GM Tori Brown, Novo Nordisk Oceania Corporate VP and GM Cem Ozenc, and Amgen ANZ MD Gabi Mittas.

Delving into the “weighty challenges” facing the sector in bringing new therapies to market for significant health issues such as obesity and dementia, the leaders will draw on their extensive experience to detail how pharma can maximise the benefits of innovative therapies while battling systemic challenges of affordability, sustainability, and reputation.

Finishing the half-day event, Megan Brodie and Adam Connolly will have a one-on-one conversation on the key take-outs of the morning with audience interaction.

Once again being held in the Ivy Sunroom in George Street, Sydney, and designed to promote audience engagement, this event will deliver actionable insights for people working in and with Australian pharma.

Having received rave reviews from attendees last year and with an unprecedented level of registrations already for this year, register today to secure your place or contact info@mednews.com.au to advise if we need to hold tickets.

©MedNews 2025