Associate Professor Ramesh Walpola has been elected as the new Council of Pharmacy Schools Australia and New Zealand (CPS) President.
CPS members held an Extraordinary General Meeting of CPS Councillors from across Australia and New Zealand yesterday to elect a new President after Professor Joseph Tucci stood down as President in late 2025.
During his term as President, Professor Tucci made a valuable contribution to pharmacy education and to the work of the CPS, including through his leadership as Chair of the Australian Pharmacy Leaders Forum (APLF). The CPS extends its sincere thanks to Professor Tucci for his commitment, service and leadership during his year as President.
Associate Professor Ramesh Walpola is a pharmacist, certified health manager and the Pharmacy Academic Lead at the School of Health Sciences at the University of New South Wales (UNSW) Sydney. As a highly regarded researcher and educator, Ramesh is currently leading the implementation of the new pharmacy program at UNSW Sydney.
Associate Professor Walpola said “I thank the CPS Councillors for the opportunity to serve as President at such a pivotal time for pharmacy education and the wider profession. I also extend my sincere gratitude to Professor Tucci for his leadership of CPS in 2025. His contributions to pharmacy higher education over many years have left a meaningful and lasting impact on the profession.
Professor Andrew McLachlan, CPS Vice-President, said “The CPS Councillors are delighted to have an academic pharmacist and leader with the education and research experience of Associate Professor Walpola to take on the role of President. Ramesh is well placed to lead CPS over the next 12 months with a strong track record of working closely with pharmacy stakeholders and partners”.
About the Council of Pharmacy Schools of Australia and New Zealand
The Council of Pharmacy Schools Australia and New Zealand advances and promotes pharmacy education and research by connecting students seeking quality education in pharmacy with pharmacy schools across Australia and New Zealand.
For further information, visit the CPS website or contact the Secretariat at info@pharmacyschoolsanz.org.