Executive Team

Gerard Benedet joined the Guild as Executive Director in November 2023. He is an experienced and effective executive, having served as the Pharmacy Guild’s Queensland Branch Director since October 2019. As Branch Director, Gerard worked closely with Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and the Queensland Labor Government to develop and implement nation-leading reforms to primary health care, including the North Queensland Scope of Practice Pilot, the Community Pharmacy UTI Health Service, and the Free Flu Vaccination Program. Gerard also led the Guild’s response to the COVID pandemic in Queensland, which was the first state to allow community pharmacists to administer COVID vaccines and the first state to do school-based COVID vaccine outreach.

Prior to joining the Guild, Gerard held senior roles at News Corp Australia, Careers Australia, and the National Rugby League. This culminated in the successful realisation of Rugby League Central and its associated hall of fame and education centre, via a grant from the then Infrastructure Minister, Anthony Albanese. Gerard was also Chief of Staff to the Leader of the Opposition in Queensland, Chief of Staff to the Queensland Treasurer, and National Director of not-for-profit advocacy organisation Advance Australia.

Mark Hill is the Chief Financial Officer of the Guild and previously held positions as the National Manager, Finance and Corporate Governance and National Accountant. At the Guild he is responsible for the overall financial governance of the organisation, management of strategic financial risks, and ensuring the organisation is financially resourced to achieve its strategic goals.

Mark previously had experience in a number of accounting firms, providing audit, tax and financial services to clients ranging from ASX listed companies through to government agencies, not-for-profits and small businesses. He is also a member of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand, and holds degrees in Commerce (Financial Accounting) and Business (Industrial Relations).

Anthony joined the Guild as Director of Government & Public Relations in November 2022. After the Guild’s Save Your Local Pharmacy campaign in 2023 and the Heads of Agreement for the 8th Community Pharmacy Agreement in early 2024, Anthony was appointed Chief of Staff. Prior to the Guild, Anthony was a General Manager at the Australian Hotels Association and has an advanced understanding of how advocacy and strategic communications create member-value in employer organisations.

Anthony has a bachelor’s degree in political science, a Master’s in Business Administration and is a Graduate of the Australia Institute of Company Directors.

Erica has worked at the Guild for over twenty years, developing extensive experience in leading, implementing and delivering projects and programs in challenging environments and timeframes leading to her role as General Manager, Practice and Health Services,

Growing up on a farm, Erica is passionate about the role of community pharmacy as a small business especially in regional, rural and remote communities. She is recognised for developing proactive and positive relationships with stakeholders at all levels and has a track record of identifying and progressing opportunities that provide tangible and cost-effective outcomes for community pharmacies, their patients and funders.

Erica has a bachelor’s degree in business (information systems) , a Master’s in Business Administration and a Diploma of Project Management.

Lisa has worked in the health care advocacy sector for over 15 years across various areas related to the development of funding models, policy and program design, delivery and evaluation. She holds qualifications in health informatics and data science and is passionate about driving public health service delivery that maximises opportunities for patients and healthcare providers to thrive.

Lisa started working with the Guild’s Health Economics division in 2015, and now heads up the team responsible for delivering econometric modelling, public health funding analysis, and policy and regulatory advisory to create a community pharmacy landscape that benefits Guild members and their patients.

Scott Harris brings over 25 years of expertise in workplace relations across diverse industry sectors. Currently serving as the General Manager, Workplace Relations and Business at the Pharmacy Guild of Australia, Scott has held pivotal roles in both public and private sectors. His career spans positions as a workplace relations manager, specialist, and human resources manager for international firms, where he has significantly enhanced corporate performance and employment management.

Scott holds Master's degrees in Industrial Relations, Business Administration, and Legal Studies from Charles Sturt University. His extensive knowledge and experience uniquely position him to provide strategic and operational advice on managing obligations, responsibilities, and ensuring compliance for businesses.

Mel joined the Guild in 2010 after over 14 years in the healthcare sector. Her journey to General Manager People, Culture, Operations and Member Engagement has been fuelled by her love of people and community.  She has worked across a diverse portfolio at the Guild, from Government Relations and Policy through to Member Services and Innovation and has a deep understanding of the community pharmacy landscape and its people, she has built strong relationships throughout industry and provides holistic insight into strategy and operations.

Mel is passionate about creating a workplace that is connected, where people feel valued and genuinely cared for and that business operations support the team to high performance. She is deeply committed to delivering a meaningful and rewarding employee experience, based on strong values, accountability, care and leadership. Mel holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Deakin University.

Meagan Lawson joined the Guild as General Manager Government Relations and Advocacy in August 2024. She is a seasoned CEO, Government Relations, Corporate Affairs and Communications professional with over 25 years of experience working across a broad range of corporate, not-for-profit, and public service organisations at the highest levels.

Prior to joining the Guild, Meagan was a Director at Nexus Public Affairs, where she worked with clients across a range of industries to support their interactions with government. She has worked with several Ministers and MPs in state and federal governments and has extensive skills in stakeholder engagement and consultation, advocacy and campaigning as well as media and communications experience.

As General Manager – Communications and Marketing, Laureta Wallace leads the Guild’s communications, marketing and brand strategy including communicating the critical role community pharmacy plays in the lives of all Australians.

Laureta has significant experience working for members in national advocacy organisations leading the strategic communication of policy positions and consumer-focussed campaigns. Before beginning with the Guild in August 2024, Laureta headed up government relations and member engagement at the Regional Australia Institute and immediately prior was the National Farmers Federation’s General Manager of Communications. Laureta began her career as a journalist and has worked in publishing and as parliamentary staffer.