Appointments to the Council of the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland - 18 June 2023

The Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly has appointed/reappointed the following members to the Council of the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland with effect from 18 June 2023 until 17 June 2027.

Joan Peppard studied Pharmacy in UCD in 1980 and worked in hospital pharmacy from 1984 to 2023, having previously worked in community pharmacy. Joan has a range of experience in representing the pharmacy profession. She was twice elected as President of the Hospital Pharmacists Association of Ireland (2006-2008 and 2011-12) and elected as President of the European Association of Hospital Pharmacists in 2015 for a three-year term.

Joan has been elected to the Council by PSI registered Pharmacists.

Emily Kelly is an accomplished pharmacist with extensive board and senior management experience in the pharmacy sector. Emily obtained her first-class honours degree in Pharmacy from the University of Brighton in 2000, and later earned a Diploma in Corporate Governance. Emily also completed Executive Management training through Hult Ashridge Business School in the UK. Emily is currently a practicing community pharmacist for McCauley in Dublin.

Emily has been elected to the Council by PSI registered Pharmacists.

Denis O’Driscoll has 26 years’ experience in pharmacy, including 22 years with HSE Addiction Services as Chief Pharmacist. Denis currently is the clinical lead for one of the largest pharmacy chains in Ireland, 85 pharmacies and is responsible for management and delivery of quality pharmacy service to the public. His interest in addiction continues as he is voluntary independent chair for Naloxone Advisory Group for HSE Strategy on Overdose Prevention.

Denis has been elected to the Council by PSI registered Pharmacists.

Mark Jordan is a community pharmacist based in Co. Mayo. He has experience in regulatory affairs and fitness to practice matters, the supplement industry and as an online educator. Mark is also an appointed member of the Nursing and Midwifery Board’s registration committee, and is an invited member of the constitutional reform committee of the Irish Pharmacy Union (IPU), an elected member of the IPU’s employee committee, and appointed member of the IPU’s IT steering group and pharmacy workforce working group.

Mark has been re-appointed and elected to the Council by PSI registered Pharmacists.

Dr Laura Jane Sahm received a B.Sc. Pharm(Hons) from University of Brighton (1990) and obtained her Ph.D. in Pharmaceutics (University of Bath) in 1995.

From 2018-2021, Laura was appointed to the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI) by ministerial appointment as a lay member of the Board.

She has served as a member of the Education, Training and Standards Committee, Audit and Risk Committee as well as The Fitness to Practice Committee of the NMBI. In 2021, Laura was appointed as Vice Dean of the School of Pharmacy and Acting Head of Clinical Pharmacy Practice.

Dr Laura Jane has been nominated by the current schools of Pharmacy.

Cyril is a qualified accountant with a primary degree in computer science, an MBA and doctorate in governance, his experience has been in the areas of Chief Officer, strategy, operations, finance, governance and audit, ICT and support services. Cyril’s current role is one of Chief Officer/Director of ECC Ireland. This role encompasses all aspects of operations and all support functions. Cyril is Director/Chief Officer of the European Consumer Centre Ireland.

Cyril has been appointed to the Council following a Public Appointments Service campaign.

Martin Higgins is a career public servant with vast experience at senior executive (up to CEO) and board levels in the Department of Health and in state agencies. Martin’s specialisms are governance, finance, audit and risk, and regulation. Martin is a qualified accountant, a Fellow of the Chartered Management Institute and has additional qualifications in governance, strategic planning and regulatory affairs. Martin is also a trained mediator and experienced leadership and executive coach.

Martin has been appointed to the Council following a Public Appointments Service campaign.

Martin has substantial legislative experience as reflected by his central role in the formulation, drafting and passage of the Credit Union Act, 1997. Martin has experience as a member of a Commercial State Board and subsequent experience as Chairman of that State Board ( VHI Healthcare ). Martin is currently Chairman of a Regulatory State Board ( IAASA - Irish Auditing and Accounting Supervisory Authority) and he is a member of another Regulatory State Board (State Examinations Commission). Martin also served as Independent Director of the government’s Interim Procurement Board. Martin is currently also on the Board of the Irish League of Credit Unions having served as President and also member of the Board of Malahide Credit Union.

Martin has been appointed to the Council following a Public Appointments Service campaign.

Ms. Geraldine Crowley is the Assistant National Director for Primary Care, Strategy & Planning (HSE). She studied in the University of Limerick and holds a Masters in Project Management and a B.A. (Public Administration). She has extensive experience working in the HSE, in her current role and previously, as Head of Planning, Performance & Programme Management in the Social Care Division. Recently, Geraldine has been involved in GP Contractual Reform and Service Development. Geraldine has been appointed to the PSI Council as an HSE nominee.

Geraldine has been re-appointed to the Council following nomination by the Health Services Executive.