Last week, the Peak team and I swapped our desks for name badges, coffee cups, and a whole lot of pharmacy talk at one of the highlights of our calendar, the WA Pharmacy Forum.
We kicked things off in style with the Advisors Lunch at Faraday’s, hosted by AP Group. It was the perfect blend of great food, great company, and the kind of networking that makes you realise how small (and connected) our industry really is. For me, it was extra special to finally meet a couple of long-time contacts face-to-face after years of emails and phone calls.
Thursday began bright and early with the Women in Pharmacy Annual Pre-Forum Breakfast. Massive thanks to my partners in crime; Rebecca Goodsell (Peak Strategies), Julie Bishop (The Lending Collective), and Negar Almassi (Pharmacy 777) and of course to the incredible WA women pharmacists who joined us. Carmen Braidwood’s keynote was a real highlight. She spoke about trusting yourself, stepping forward, and speaking up, something I’ll admit I still find nerve-wracking. (Apparently “mouthful of cotton wool” is not a professional presentation technique.) Her words were inspiring and a reminder that confidence is as much a skill as it is a feeling.
From there, we hit the Forum floor and wow, what a buzz! Attendance felt bigger, conversations felt bolder, and the vibe was all-round more upbeat. My top takeaways?
WA pharmacists are stepping into an exciting future with an expanding scope of practice that will boost healthcare access for all West Australians.
AI is coming for pharmacy… in the best way possible. The efficiencies and innovations ahead are huge - Marcus was positively “geeked out” about it and is already scheming ways to bring it into Peak.
FBI-style negotiation skills might just change the way we do business… and possibly how we negotiate with our kids.
I also had the pleasure of co-presenting a breakout session on Succession Planning for Sustainable Growth with Chris Swifte from AP Group. The turnout was fantastic, and I’m excited to keep these conversations going with pharmacists looking to step into ownership.
We rounded things off with Peak’s annual Post-Forum Cocktail Party at The Merrywell – the perfect place to debrief, unwind, and toast a great couple of days.
The WA Pharmacy Forum never fails to deliver. We came away with fresh ideas, new connections, and plenty of inspiration to keep pushing for better patient care and improved access to medicines.
Here’s to doing it all again next year!
