A message from our Conference Chair | Professor Lisa Nissen 

I am excited to invite you to Pride and Progress in Pharmacy, the first international LGBTQIA+ pharmacy conference, to be held in Melbourne, Australia, in February 2027, guided and endorsed by the International Pharmaceutical Federation. This will be an innovative forum for the discussion and sharing of information, resources, research and innovative care strategies with a dual focus on both LGBTQIA+ practitioners and LGBTQIA+ patients in a safe and supportive environment. It will provide the opportunity for LGBTQIA+ practitioners and allies to connect and network and gain support in what is often an isolating practice experience, while also offering an opportunity to upskill regarding the needs and preferences of this often vulnerable and underserved patient group.

So, save the date and join us in Melbourne in February, 2027.

Lisa

Conference Leadership
The conference is guided by an international steering committee of LGBTQIA+ pharmacy leaders, educators, researchers and allies.





Lisa Nissen 

Lisa has been a health practitioner, leader, educator, researcher, and implementation scientist in Australia for more than 25 years. Lisa’s research has led to major health system change, including the introduction of immunisation services by pharmacists throughout Australia and implementation of prescribing competencies and frameworks for health professionals nationally. More recently she led a Queensland team who implemented pharmacists’ treatment for Uncomplicated urinary Tract Infections. Her focus is on health service optimisation including scope of practice and Quality Use of Medicines. She is a Fellow of the both the Society of Hospital Pharmacists of Australia and the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia.






Greg Duncan (he/him)

Greg is a Senior Research Fellow in the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences at Monash University, Melbourne. He has a background in hospital, community and academic pharmacy in both Australia and the UK which includes 25 years of clinical and research experience in wound care. He has led a number of national health services research projects exploring the challenges of complex medicines use for older people, evaluating quality service provision, and giving it a wound management context.  Greg led the development of the Public Health curriculum in pharmacy at Monash including Evidence Based Practice (EBP) and research skills for health professionals, with a focus on putting pharmacy-provided care in a wider population context. He sits on the editorial board of two journals and a peer reviewer for several others. He is not the world’s tallest pharmacist as he once claimed! (And ask him about his side hustle!!)




Janie Sheridan

Janie is a retired Professor of Pharmacy Practice, specialising in addictions research. Janie's approach to supporting people who misuse substances is one of harm reduction, and her research into the role of community pharmacy has focussed on service development and education and training. Janie has also undertaken research into the emergence of new psychoactive substances. As part of the University of Auckland Youth 2000 team, Janie also explored the health and wellbeing of New Zealand rainbow youth. Janie is proud to be part of the inaugural Pride and Progress in Pharmacy Conference 2027.




Steven Walker

Steven is an Associate Professor for the Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences at Monash University. In this role, he has developed courses of study to support pharmacists and pharmacy interns to expand their scope of practice in fields such as aged care, vaccinations and prescribing.  He also works as a clinical pharmacist with experience in renal medicine, oncology/haematology and infectious diseases. He has a passion for healthcare professional education and can belt out a tune (if prompted or sometimes even when not).  




Jack Collins (he/him)

Jack is a Senior Lecturer in Pharmacy and a practising community pharmacist in Sydney, Australia. Jack's research and teaching spans a range of pharmacy practice areas, including health equity, mental health, sexual health, and self-care. Jack has a strong interest in LGBTQIA+ health and representation within the profession. He is honoured and excited to be involved in the inaugural Pride and Progress in Pharmacy Conference - a landmark event celebrating visibility, connection, and advocacy across the profession.






Peter Guthrey

Peter is a pharmacist with broad professional interests across policy development, advocacy, regulation and practice advice through my role as Senior Pharmacist, Strategic Policy at the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia, driving key strategic plans and flagship medicine safety series. Peter's after-hours practice in community pharmacy in Melbourne drives his passion for effective solutions that improve care for all people, including the LGBTQIA+ community. An Executive Committee Member of the Social and Administrative Pharmacy Section of FIP, Peter is a fierce advocate of improving health systems, particularly in improving access and equity in health care. He is looking forward to being part of the inaugural Pride and Progress in Pharmacy Conference to bring together bring practice and research together – helping make pharmacist care more responsive and centred around the individual needs of LGBTQIA+ people.






Kevin Astle

Kevin is a Clinical Pharmacy Specialist with Lee Health and the Florida State University College of Medicine Internal Medicine GME residency program based in Cape Coral. His current clinical practice is focused on providing comprehensive pharmacotherapy services to ensure continuity of care for patients of the residency program through both their inpatient admissions and outpatient chronic care.  Dr. Astle’s clinical practice and research interests are in the treatment and prevention of HIV, addressing health disparities in the LGBTQIA+ community, and prevention of cardiovascular disease in people living with HIV. Dr. Astle is passionate about advocacy and policy change regarding healthcare access for sexual and gender minorities and expanding access to healthcare for transgender patients. He is a Board-Certified Pharmacotherapy Specialist, Ambulatory Care Pharmacist, HIV Pharmacist, and Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist.




Elen Jones

Elen is Pharmacy Dean at Health Education and Improvement Wales and an honorary professor at Swansea University. She leads strategic work to develop the pharmacy workforce, education and professional practice across Wales. An experienced national leader, she is passionate about inclusive healthcare, compassionate leadership and creating environments where patients and staff feel safe, respected and valued. Elen has a strong track record in advancing national policy development and transformational programmes across Wales and Great Britain. She brings both professional insight and personal commitment to this important global conversation.




James White

James is a pharmacist with a passion for the weird, the wonderful, and the occasionally worrying world of toxicology. Based in Melbourne, James works as a Specialist in Poisons Information at the Victorian Poisons Information Centre (Austin Health), providing expert clinical guidance on poisonings, medication errors, and all things toxic. Equally, as Senior Specialist in Education and Training at the NSW Poisons Information Centre, he shapes the next generation of poisons experts. He also researches novel and emerging drugs through the EDNAV Clinical Registry. When he's not talking people through what not to ingest, James champions inclusive, affirming care for every patient and practitioner.




Jean Spinks

Jean is an Associate Professor and member of the Evolve Health, Health Workforce Optimisation Program, at The University of Queensland’s Centre for the Business and Economics of Health. As a health economist and pharmacist, Jean applies economic thinking and methods to address key challenges in primary care, including needs-based workforce planning, culturally appropriate and accessible care, quality improvement and digital innovation. Jean is excited to be part of the inaugural Pride and Progress in Pharmacy Conference, celebrating and supporting LGBTQIA+ pharmacists and the communities we serve.




Deni Salmon

Deni is a pharmacist and emerging prescriber committed to inclusive, culturally safe healthcare. As a transgender woman in the profession, Deni's work is grounded in advocacy for LGBTQIA+ communities and creating clinical spaces where people feel genuinely seen, respected, and empowered in their health decisions. Deni's interests include harm minimisation, emergency care and clinical toxicology, alongside trans and gender-affirming healthcare. Serving on the Pride and Progress in Pharmacy Conference 2027 committee is deeply meaningful to Deni - it reflects the kind of profession she hopes to help shape: reflective, compassionate, and proudly inclusive.



Joe Sasseen

Joe Saseen, PharmD, is Associate Dean for Clinical Affairs and Professor of Clinical Pharmacy and a Professor of Family Medicine at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus in Aurora, Colorado (United States). Joe’s academic and clinical practice contributions focus on cardiovascular risk reduction. He was a member of the 2018 and 2026 ACC/AHA Dyslipidemia guideline writing committees and is a past president of the National Lipid Association.





Sebastian Harper

Sebastian Harper is an Intern Pharmacist based in a community pharmacy in outback Queensland, and the Immediate Past National President of the National Australian Pharmacy Students’ Association, having served for a historic two terms. 

He has a passion for the intersection of health and politics, and led a successful national campaign to secure paid placements for pharmacy and allied health students.  

Sebastian oversaw the creation of NAPSA’s first five-year vision document, a Network of First Nations pharmacy students, the largest NAPSA Congress in over a decade, and the development of relationships with federal and state governments.