The Current Committee
An executive committee is elected at the Annual General Meeting each year according to the rules of our constitution.
Vice President: Frances Lae
Treasurer: Katerina Novarina
Secretary: David North OAM (Life member)
Public Officer:
David North OAM
Committee members:
Vlade Jankulovski
Annmarie Katsoudas
Sean Kelly (Life Member)
Life Members:
David
Coates OAM (Deceased)
Kevin Grew (Deceased)
Gerry
McInerney OAM
Phil Morrisey (Deceased)
David North OAM
Sean Kelly
Sharon Doolan
She moved to NSW and became Credentialed to undertake collaborative medication reviews from 1997 commencing her own business, performing Home Medicines Reviews (HMR) and Residential Medication Reviews (RMMR) for South Coast NSW.
After relocating to Illawarra in 2007, she joined IPA as committee member and became President from 2022. She is a mentor to early career pharmacists in the region, locums in many local Community Pharmacies and is a pharmacist vaccinator.
Sharon is affiliated with Illawarra Diggers Aged Care facility providing RMMR’s and Quality Use Medicines services and is a member of the Medication Advisory Committee,.
In addition Sharon is a NSW PSA Branch committee member and Leadership member of PSA Consultant Pharmacist Community of Special Interest (CSI).
Outside of work Sharon enjoys spending time with family and training to compete in paddling competitions.
She is passionate about offering local area pharmacists ongoing support and access to clinical education that enhance their expertise as pharmacists.
Frances Lae
B.Pharm, MPS, CredPharm (MMR)
IPA Vice President
Born in Melbourne. Frances developed a strong interest in health and medicine from an early age. After completing high school at Smith’s Hill Selective High School in Wollongong, this passion led to a move to Sydney to pursue a Bachelor of Pharmacy at the University of Sydney. Following graduation, Frances completed credentials to undertake home medication reviews, certificate to administer vaccinations and currently undertaking additional certification to become qualified to prescribe medications. She has been an active member of the IPA since 2010 and became Vice President in 2017. After taking up working opportunities in locuming and managment roles across Victoria, Sydney and the Illawarra, she eventually went into ownership in 2011 at Albion Park Rail pharmacy. She enjoys meeting, sharing knowledge and experiences with other fellow pharmacist and believes that through strong peer relationships across the industry we will keep our pharmacy ecosystem thriving. Outside of work she’s a member of various run clubs and active participant in fundraising marathons.
Katerina Novarina
Graduated Bachelor Pharmacy Sydney University 1976.
IPA Treasurer
Born and bred in Sydney, relocated to the Illawarra region with her family in 1996.
Close to fifty years’ experience, either as locum or manager, in Community Pharmacy, all over Sydney and the Illawarra, 11 of those years as a pharmacy owner.
I promptly joined the IPA after moving to the Illawarra area, and have been a committee member since 2008, serving as President from 28 May 2014 till 24 August 2022. Currently I am the Association’s Treasurer.
Even after so many years, I can honestly say I still enjoy my role and the opportunity to contribute to people’s health profile.
Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with family & friends, delving into my family history, visiting art galleries and learning new skills. My community involvement includes being a volunteer at The Clifton School of Arts, having served on their committee for 5 years.
I feel that membership of the IPA provides a great opportunity to build and maintain strong relationships with each other, which will serve us well in being represented at State and Federal levels.
David North
David North OAM B. Pharm. M. Pharm. (Clin) MPS (Life member) (PSA Lifetime Achievement Award 2025)
IPA Secretary
IPA association
On 1 April 1984 on entering a partnership with Bill Ferguson in Wollongong Centretown Pharmacy I became a member of the Illawarra Pharmacists Association and Investment Company. Hence began a forty-year commitment to the Association. Involving IPA Secretary since 1995, membership of the Pharmacy Guild of Australia since 1984 (Zone 6 secretary) and now as an associate member, and membership of the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia since 1969 (Now Life Member – Ambassador). In 2004 a change in focus of practice, with the sale of our pharmacy and forming a locum pharmacy company, led to membership of COORDINARE - South Eastern NSW PHN (Since 2010), becoming Director of pharmacy Broken Hill hospital 2005 -2006 and expanding to participation in peer reviewing, mentoring, auditing, and assessing which was commenced in 1995. In 2014 commenced participation in professional performance assessments of NSW pharmacists and as an occasional member of the Occupational Division of the New South Wales Civil and Administrative Tribunal. Involvement in community projects have included coordinating a Community Palliative Emergency Supplies with Port Kembla Hospital, No Smoke is Good Smoke with ISHASDA, Asthma Project Sydney University, After Hours Project with ISAHS, Antibiotic Over Use with U.O.W, promoting medication safety & responding to overdose risk (Opioids) and the Naloxone/Nyxoid access program. Other activities have included the Lead pharmacist in a PSA/South-eastern PHN in “building capacity in the community pharmacy setting to improve access to appropriate end of life medicines for residents of SE NSW” (2020-21), being a volunteer member of the Pharmacists’ Support Service since 2017, a board member of Pharmacists’ Support Service since 2019, and the treasurer of the Pharmacists’ Support Service since 2021.
Community Involvement.
Wollongong Senior Citizen of the Year 2018.
These included a Towradgi Turtles Life Saving Club, a member of Campsie Apex Club (President, membership, program, and newsletter director) 1969 – 1977, Kentlyn Volunteer Bushfire Brigade (Secretary) from 1974 to 1981, President Epicurean Club of Wollongong (2005 and 2006) and Rotary International partner of District Governor District 9675 2019 -20. raising $50K to send an Interplast surgical mission to Myanmar.
A life member of Basketball Illawarra, currently Chair of Scouts Australia (South Coast and Tablelands), and member of Port Kembla Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Sean Kelly
B.Pharm. MPS
IPA Committee
Member
Graduated from Sydney university in 1980. Although born & bred in Wollongong completed his registration year in Sydney's Western suburbs & went into partnership with his uncle (Lach Lumsden) which included pharmacies in Schofields, Quakers Hill & Riverstone over a 20 year period.
Returned to Wollongong with wife & four daughters in tow after purchasing Kiama Pharmacy with his sister Megan Kelly in 1998. Joined IPA as a committee member in 2005.
Vlade Jankulovski
B.Pharm.
IPA Committee
Member
Born in Wollongong...I graduated from the University of Sydney in 1995 and completed registration at Warrawong...Funnily I am still there today as a sole owner of Warrawong Health Pharmacy.
Despite the changes and challenges that face our profession I still look forward to getting to work in the mornings. I believe collaboration amongst ourselves locally is vital so that pharmacy can withstand forces that threaten the industry.
Annmarie Katsoudas
BPharm (USyd) AdPhaM
FANZCAP (Consultant)
Clinical Hospital Pharmacist
IPA Committee Member
Annmarie was born & bred in the Illawarra. She proudly graduated from the University of Sydney in 1990 & became a registered, practising pharmacist in 1991. She has been a lifelong member of the Illawarra Pharmacist Association (IPA) & a Committee Member since 2022. Additionally, she is a member of Advanced Pharmacy Australia (AdPha), previously known as Society of Hospital Pharmacists Australia (SHPA).
She is an experienced Clinical Hospital Pharmacist, with over 30 years of expertise across both community and hospital settings. Her current pharmacy practice includes close to 10 years working for NSW Health in our Local Health District (ISLHD). She has recently been accredited as an ANZCAP Consultant Pharmacist (Fellow of Australia & New Zealand College of Advanced Pharmacy Practice) & comes with a wealth of therapeutic drug knowledge. She is passionate about optimising patient care & improving health outcomes by working as an integral part of a multidisciplinary team & implementing clinical interventions.
Her diverse experience spans across clinical areas such as acute medical assessment, medical/surgical, respiratory, mental health & geriatric wards. She leverages her advanced medication knowledge to ensure the quality use of medicines and takes pride in providing medicines information and education to healthcare teams & patients alike.
She has contributed to significant research & presented at national AdPha Medication Management Conferences (2023 & 2024). Her goal is to further specialise as a Clinical Hospital Pharmacist, continue her passion for excellence in patient care and advance in the field of pharmacy practice.
Outside of work she loves spending time with family & friends. She enjoys cooking, travelling, reading & keeping active.