Appointments to the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland Council - 21 June 2021

The Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly TD, has appointed/re-appointed the following persons to the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland Council. These appointments are for the period from 21 June 2021 to 20 June 2025.

Rory O’Donnell

Rory O’Donnell graduated in 1990 from Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen with a BSc(Hons)Pharm degree. He also holds a degree in Natural Science (Chemistry major) from Trinity College Dublin and a diploma in Strategy and Innovation from the Irish Management Institute. Rory has wide experience serving within the profession of pharmacy, having served as President of the Irish Pharmacy Union 2012-2014 and more recently has served as President of the PSI Council for two terms. He is the current Chair of the total health pharmacy group and has served on several commercial boards as well as having some experience in the charity sector. He operates a community pharmacy in Gweedore, Co. Donegal. He is appointed by the Minister for Health on the nomination of the PSI, following an election by the PSI.

John Given

John Given has a B.Sc Biochemistry from UCG(NUIG) and a B.Sc in pharmacy from Strathclyde University, Glasgow. He currently works as the Chief I Pharmacist in Galway University Hospital and Merlin Park Hospital. He has completed a Masters in Clinical Research and a Diploma in Public Procurement Law. John has extensive experience working in many different pharmacy sectors, including hospital and retail pharmacy both in Ireland and the UK, and as a Commercial Director and Qualified Person in the pharmaceutical industry. His special interest is drugs procurement and aseptic production. He is appointed by the Minister for Health on the nomination of the PSI, following an election by the PSI.

Katherine Morrow

Katherine Morrow is a graduate of the School of Pharmacy, Nottingham University and has over 25 years’ experience working a cross a breadth of sectors to include primary care, secondary care, regulation and academia. She qualified as a Supplementary Prescriber in the UK, achieved an Advanced Diploma in Leadership, Personal and Executive Coaching in 2017 and has recently been accredited by the EMCC as a Mentoring Programme Manager. In her role as Operations Director of the Irish Institute of Pharmacy (IIOP), Katherine oversees the educational and quality assurance activities of the IIOP in line with the statutory CPD framework for pharmacists in Ireland. She is appointed by the Minister for Health on the nomination of the PSI, following an election by the PSI.

Grainne Power

Grainne Power joined the HPRA in 2018 to lead the Human Products Authorisation and Registration Department. Her responsibilities include the authorisation or registration of Human Medicines together with Clinical Trials authorisation for the Irish market. Ms. Power studied Biotechnology at Dublin City University and has worked in a number of Quality leadership roles within the Irish Pharma/Biopharma manufacturing sectors over a period of 25 years before joining the HPRA. She is appointed by the Minister for Health following nomination by the Health Products Regulatory Authority.

Sean Reilly

Sean Reilly graduated from Trinity College, Dublin in 1986 with BA(mod) in Natural Science and worked in the pharmaceutical industry. He returned to study pharmacy in John Moore’s University, Liverpool and graduated with a B.Pharm in 1992. He worked in the UK for a year before returning to Ireland and registering with the PSI. He recently sold his own pharmacy and now practices as a locum, frequently. He has a wide range of experience in pharmacy representation (board of IPU 2010-15), and information technology (Camara, Touchstore and Caragon board). He is passionate about the synergies that modern technology can offer to patient safety. Returning to the Council for a second term, a priority for him is to mentor and assist a younger generation to step up to leadership positions both inside and outside the organisation. He was awarded a certificate of completion for the Strategic Management of Regulatory and Enforcement Agencies Program, John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, Executive Education and very much wants to see world class regulation principles adopted by PSI. He is re-appointed by the Minister for Health following nomination by the PSI.

Marie Louisa Power

Marie Louisa Power graduated from the School of Pharmacy, Royal College of Surgeons, Dublin, in 2007. She also has a postgraduate diploma in clinical pharmacy from Queens University, Belfast. Louisa has worked as a clinical pharmacist, up to Chief Pharmacist level, in private and public hospitals both in Ireland and the UK. She was appointed as the first medicines management inspector with the Health Information and Quality Authority in 2013. Most recently, Louisa is a HSE Pharmacist with HSE Mid-West Community Healthcare.

She is re-appointed by the Minister for Health following nomination by the PSI.