Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC) Membership

Page last updated: 5 November 2025

The Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC) is an independent expert body appointed by the Australian Government. Members include doctors, health professionals, health economists and consumer representatives.

Its primary role is to recommend new medicines for listing on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS). No new medicine can be listed unless the committee makes a positive recommendation. The PBAC also makes recommendations regarding vaccines. The PBAC meets three times a year, usually in March, July and November.

When recommending a medicine for listing, the PBAC takes into account the medical conditions for which the medicine was registered for use in Australia, its clinical effectiveness, safety and cost-effectiveness (‘value for money’) compared with other treatments.

PBAC has two sub-committees and a working party to assist with analysis and advice in specific areas:

Contact details for the PBAC can be found in PBS Contacts

The Minister for Health and Aged Care, the Hon Mark Butler MP, provided a Statement of Expectations (PDF 1MB) for the role of PBAC Chair. Professor Robyn Ward, the current incumbent, responded with a Statement of Intent (PDF 128KB) for her tenure as Chair.

Agendas, outcomes and public summary documents of PBAC meetings can be found under elements of the listing process

Current Membership

Professor Robyn Ward AM (Chair) - Medical Oncology and Cancer Genetics

Professor Robyn Ward AM (MBBS, PhD, FRACP, FAHMS, FQA) is the Chair of the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC) as well as Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Enterprise) and Senior Vice-President of Monash University. An academic leader, cancer researcher and medical oncologist, she has contributed immensely to the development of Commonwealth and New South Wales health policy, in addition to her pioneering work on the concept of epigenetic changes. Professor Ward was awarded Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for significant service to medical research and patient care in the field of oncology. She is an ex-officio member of both the Drug Utilisation Sub-committee (DUSC) and the Economic Sub-committee (ESC) of the PBAC, as well as the former Chair of the Medical Services Advisory Committee (MSAC). Professor Ward has extensive experience in health technology assessment and provides expertise in the fields of medical oncology and cancer genetics.

Adjunct Associate Professor Jo Watson (Deputy Chair) - Consumer Member

Adjunct Associate Professor Jo Watson BA (Soc.Sci), MPH, FAICD) is the Deputy Chair of the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC) and a longstanding consumer nominee and advocate within the health industry. She brings extensive experience in Health Technology Assessment (HTA), specialising in the collaboration between researchers, clinicians, health economists, pharmaceutical companies and government agencies. She is Chair of the HTA Consumer Consultative Committee (CCC), and an ex-officio member of both the Drug Utilisation Sub-committee (DUSC) and the Economic Sub-committee (ESC) of the PBAC and of the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation. Associate Professor Watson provides expertise in HTA and consumer advocacy.

Ms Michelle Burke - Industry Representative

Ms Michelle Burke provides expertise as an Industry Representative with over 20 years’ experience in the Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology industries. She has contributed greatly to numerous areas, including access to medicines and industry development. She is a previous Chair and Board Director of AusBiotech Ltd, an industry association. She is a current Board member of three biotechnology companies and of one medical research institute. Ms Burke provides expertise in the field of medicines access, industry development and policy frameworks.

Professor Joseph Doyle - Infectious Disease

Professor Joseph Doyle (MBBS, BA (Hons), MPH, PhD, FRACP, FAFPHM) is an Infectious Diseases and Public Health Physician at Alfred Health and Monash University. He is also the Deputy Program Director of Disease Elimination at the Burnet Institute. With extensive experience in infectious and communicable diseases, his research is centred on eliminating threats to global health from communicable diseases, with particular interest in the epidemiology, management and prevention of blood borne viruses. Professor Doyle is President of the Australasian Society for Infectious Diseases. Professor Doyle provides expertise in the field of infectious diseases.

Professor Christopher Etherton-Beer - Geriatric and Clinical Pharmacology

Professor Christopher Etherton-Beer (MBBS, GCertHPEd, PhD, FRACP) is Professor of Geriatric Medicine at the University of Western Australia, and the Head of Geriatric and Rehabilitation Medicine at the Royal Perth Hospital. He has research interests in pharmaco-geriatrics, stroke, aged care and medical education. He is the current Chair of the Drug Utilisation Sub-committee (DUSC) of the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC). He is also a current member of the Medical Services Advisory Committee PICO Advisory Sub-committee (MSAC PASC). Professor Etherton-Beer provides expertise in the field of geriatric and clinical pharmacology.

Associate Professor Peter Grimison - Medical Oncology

Associate Professor Peter Grimison (MBBS (Hons), MPH, PhD, FRACP) is a Senior Staff Specialist in Medical Oncology and Director of Physician Training at the Chris O’Brien Lifehouse in Sydney. He is also Visiting Medical Officer at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, and Clinical Associate Professor at the University of Sydney. His clinical work focuses on testicular cancer and sarcoma. Associate Professor Grimson provides expertise in the field of medical oncology.

Associate Professor (Peter) Shane Hamblin – Endocrinology

Associate Professor (Peter) Shane Hamblin (MBBS (Hons), FRACP) is the Head of Endocrinology and Diabetes at Western Health, Melbourne. He also has appointments with the University of Melbourne and Deakin University. His research interests include diabetes and drug utilisation. He is President of the Endocrine Society of Australia. Associate Professor Hamblin provides expertise in the field of endocrinology.

Associate Professor Geoffrey Herkes - Neurology

Associate Professor Geoffrey Herkes (MBBS, PhD, FRACP, GAICD) is a Consultant Neurologist with clinical and teaching appointments at Royal North Shore Hospital, Adventist HealthCare, University of Sydney and The Australian National University. He has clinical research interests in neurophysiology, epilepsy and electroencephalography. He is a member of the Economics Sub-committee (ESC) of the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC). He has previously held Chair positions within the New South Wales Human Research Ethics Committee and Therapeutic Goods Administration Advisory Committees. Dr Herkes provides expertise in the field of neurology.

Professor Kirsten Howard - Health Economics

Professor Kirsten Howard (BSc (Hons1), MAppSc (Biopharm), MPH, MHlthEc, PhD, FAHMS) is a Professor of Health Economics at the School of Public Health at the University of Sydney and a Co-Director of the Leeder Centre for Health Policy, Economics and Data. Her research interests centre on health economics and health policy, with a focus on patient and consumer preferences, Quality of Life/Wellbeing measurement and economic evaluation. Her research, funded by the National Health and Medical Research Council and Medical Research Future Fund, targets the development of new nationally relevant preference-based wellbeing measures for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults and youth, quality of life measurement and valuation in children and young people, and the development of evaluation frameworks for gene therapies. She is the Chair of the Economics Sub-committee (ESC) of the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC). Professor Howard provides expertise in the field of health economics.

Dr Amanda Johnston - Haematology

Dr Amanda Johnston (MBBS) is a Staff Specialist in Haematology at Westmead Hospital, Western Sydney Local Health District and New South Wales Health Pathology. She is an active member of a multidisciplinary cancer care team that coordinates care for people with blood cancer. She previously held the role of Chair of the Haematological EviQ Reference Committee of the Cancer Institute New South Wales. Dr Johnston provides expertise in the field of haematology.

Associate Professor Kate Mahon - Medical Oncology

Associate Professor Kate Mahon (BSc (Med), MBBS (Hons), PhD, FRACP) is the Director of Medical Oncology at the Chris O’Brien Lifehouse in Sydney. She conducts extensive clinical research at the University of Sydney and the Garvan Institute of Medical Research, specialising in colorectal, appendiceal, and prostate cancers. She is also a member of the Economics Sub-committee (ESC) of the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC). Associate Professor Mahon provides expertise in the field of medical oncology.

Dr Kylie Mason - Haematology

Dr Kylie Mason (MBBS, PhD) is a Clinical Haematologist at the Royal Melbourne Hospital and Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre (Peter Mac). Her clinical and research focus is on new treatments for blood cancers, classical haematology, epidemiological models of disease and treatment, and clinical trials of novel agents. She is a member of the Economics Sub-committee (ESC) of the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC), Chair of anticoagulation stewardship committees at Royal Melbourne and Peter Mac and a member of the Human Research Ethics Committee Royal Melbourne Hospital. Dr Mason provides expertise in the field of haematology.

Dr Susannah Morris - Consumer Member

Dr Susannah Morris is a social policy expert by profession who works as health consumer advocate and representative with particular interests and experience in the field of cancer care. She is also a member of the Health Technology Assessment Consumer Consultative Committee.

Associate Professor David Newby - Pharmacy

Associate Professor David Newby (BPharm, GDipEpi, PhD) is Head of Pharmacy at the University of Newcastle, and a community pharmacist. His research and practice are focussed on clinical pharmacology, community pharmacy and evidence-based medicine, supporting pharmacists to provide high-quality, patient-centred and cost-effective care. He is a member of the Economics Sub-committee (ESC) of the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC) and is treasurer of the Council of Pharmacy Schools Australia & New Zealand. Associate Professor Newby provides expertise in the field of pharmacy.

Professor Richard Norman - Health Economics

Professor Richard Norman (BA (Hons), MSc, PhD) is Dean of the Graduate Research School at Curtin University. His research explores developing and disseminating cost-effectiveness analyses, utilising discrete choice experiments, to inform healthcare policy and decision making. He is a member of the Economics Sub-committee (ESC) of the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC) and previously held the role of Program Chair of the International Health Economics Association biannual meeting. Professor Norman provides expertise in the field of health economics.

Dr Ray Parkin - Cardiology

Dr Ray Parkin (FRACP) is a consultant physician and cardiologist practicing in the central west of New South Wales. He has interests in bioethics, the quality use of medicines and has coordinated numerous Phase II/III clinical trials. His clinical interests are cardiology and metabolic diseases as well as regional and rural health delivery. He has been a prior member of the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC) Economics Sub-committee (ESC). Dr Parkin provides expertise in cardiology and general medicine.

Dr Adrian Pokorny - Medical Oncology

Dr Adrian Pokorny (BMed, MPH, PhD, FRACP) is a Medical Oncologist at Chris O’Brien Lifehouse in Sydney and Alice Springs Hospital. He has research interests in health policy and ethics, exploring the interactions between the pharmaceutical industry and cancer physicians. He is also a member of the Economics Sub-committee (ESC) of the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC) and the Medical Services Advisory Committee (MSAC). Dr Pokorny provides expertise in the field of medical oncology.

Dr William Renton - Paediatric Rheumatology

Dr William Renton (MBBS, FRACP) is a Paediatric Rheumatologist at the Royal Children’s and Monash Children’s Hospitals in Melbourne. He is an adjunct research fellow at Monash University and chair of the Australian Rheumatology Association therapeutics committee. He has also been an expert panel member for several evidence-based guideline projects. Dr Renton provides expertise in the fields of rheumatology, paediatrics and rare diseases.

Associate Professor Ines Rio - General Practice

Associate Professor Ines Rio (MBBS (Hon), MPH (Hon), MHlth&MedLaw (Hon)) is a Specialist General Practitioner, Chief Medical Officer at Monash University and an Associate Professor at the University of Melbourne. She has extensive experience as a general practitioner across a variety of roles within the health system, through which she developed her interest in medical advisory and health care system governance, reform and leadership. She gained experience as a former member of the Victorian Human Research Ethics Committee, the Medical Board of Victoria and the Advisory Committee on Vaccines of the Therapeutic Goods Administration. Associate Professor Rio provides expertise in the field of general practice.

Clinical Associate Professor Rashmi Sharma OAM - General Practice

Clinical Associate Professor Rashmi Sharma OAM (MBBS, BSc (Hons), FRACGP, GCertHE, GAICD) is a practicing General Practitioner and Head of Training, North Coast, New South Wales for the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners. She is a previous Practice Principal of a large multidisciplinary teaching practice in Canberra and holds academic title at the Australian National University Medical School, with extensive experience in medical education. She is a member of numerous health committees and related bodies such as the Advisory Committee on Medicines, Therapeutic Goods Administration, Professional Services Review and her local Primary Health Network, Healthy North Coast. Associate Professor Sharma provides expertise in the field of general practice.

Associate Professor Melanie Turner - Psychiatry

Associate Professor Melanie Turner (MBBS, PhD, BAppSci, RANZCP, GAICD, CF) is the Deputy Chief Psychiatrist in South Australia. She is a specialist in child and adolescent psychiatry and is the owner of MC Psychiatry and Psychology. Her interests involve psychopharmacology and policy and advocacy in mental health. Associate Professor Turner completed a Churchill Fellowship in 2024 on crisis intervention in mental health crisis. She is a board director of Mental Health Australia and the presiding member of the Voluntary Assisted Dying Review Board of South Australia. Associate Professor Turner provides expertise in the field of psychiatry.

Top of page