The Council of Pharmacy Schools Australia and New Zealand (CPS) is pleased to announce the election of Professor Joe Tucci of La Trobe University as its new President, effective 27 February 2025. Professor Tucci succeeds Professor Kevin Batty of Curtin University, who served as President throughout 2024 and stepped down from the role in February 2025.
During his tenure, Professor Batty made significant contributions to the CPS, including coordinating and hosting the 2024 Pharmacy Education Forum in Canberra in November 2024. The CPS extends its heartfelt gratitude to Professor Batty for his dedication and achievements in such a short period. CPS Vice President, Professor Andrew McLachlan said “Professor Batty navigated CPS through an important time pharmacy education, working closely with professional stakeholders and representing pharmacy educators across Australia and New Zealand”.
Professor Joe Tucci brings a wealth of experience to his new role, having practiced in both large metropolitan community pharmacies and small rural towns. He is currently a Professor in Clinical Pharmacy and the Pharmacy Discipline Lead at the La Trobe Rural Health School in Bendigo, Victoria and has been a longstanding member and contributor to CPS. Professor Tucci completed his PhD at the Howard Florey Institute of Experimental Physiology and Medicine in Melbourne and a post-doctoral fellowship in the Department of Biochemistry at the University of Leicester, U.K.
Joe is passionate about pharmacy education, and the enabling of pharmacists to play a more integral role in the health of people and communities in Australia. His current research interests include exploring bacteriophages as alternatives to antibiotics, using bacteriophages for microbiome manipulation, and personalizing medicines for HIV/TB patients in Papua New Guinea. The CPS is excited to welcome Professor Tucci and looks forward to his leadership in advancing pharmacy education and practice.
For more information, please visit the CPS website or contact the Secretariat at info@pharmacyschoolsanz.org.