Mystery surrounds resignations at Pharmacy Council

Two Pharmacy Council board members and two staff members have resigned suddenly for reasons that have not yet been made public.

Pharmacy Today received an email on 23 June from council member Charlotte Schimanski which stated she and a colleague had resigned from the board two weeks ago.

Chief executive Michael Pead confirmed Ms Schimanski and Emma Salis had resigned but had no further comment to make on the resignations.

Ms Schimanski told Pharmacy Today by email, “My colleague and I resigned from the council two weeks ago. To avoid any speculation, the resignations were not due to other commitments.”

When asked if she would comment further, Ms Schimanski said she could not say any more at this stage.

Mr Pead says two council staff members have also resigned recently but both had “very strong personal reasons” outside work for doing so. One of these staff has continued to be employed by the council on a different contract with reduced hours.

Mr Pead would not name the staff member who had resigned or give the dates they resigned.

Asked if staff had resigned due to the council having a toxic work environment, he says, “I feel very confident in saying that we don’t have a toxic work environment.”

The Pharmacy Council has eight members appointed by the health minister, and an independent adviser. Pharmacy Today contacted council chair Arthur Bauld, who referred questions to Mr Pead, and council board members Katrina Azer, Jeff Harrison, Ahmad Zareh, deputy chair Michelle Lomax, Dr Salis and Ming-Chun Wu.

Ms Lomax referred questions to Mr Pead and the others did not respond before press time.