ASCEPT is the professional and independent society in Australia and New Zealand for those with expertise in the use and toxicity of medicines and chemicals. ASCEPT is a member-based organisation and membership comprises clinicians, pharmacologists, pharmacists and scientists. Established in 1966, ASCEPT is affiliated with the International Union of Basic and Clinical Pharmacology (IUPHAR) and the International Union of Toxicology (IUTOX). ASCEPT has hosted International Congresses of Pharmacology (in 1987 and 2004) and Toxicology (in 2001 and 2004), and the South East Asian Western Pacific Regional Meeting of Pharmacologists (SEAWP-RMP) in 2007. The Society values its members and provides high-quality scientific meetings. It also recognises the achievements of its members by awarding prestigious Society prizes including the Rand Medal, the ASCEPT Lecturer and the ASCEPT Achievement Award, as well as student prizes and early career awards. As we look to the future it is an exciting and challenging time for our professions, and the Society will continue to enhance our national and international reputation through its work. ASCEPT continues to attract new members from Australia and New Zealand as well as from international universities, independent research centres, governments and health services.

The Asia Pacific Federation of Pharmacologists includes the pharmacological societies (and their members) of countries in the Asia Pacific region. The APFP defines pharmacology broadly as comprising pharmacology, clinical pharmacology, toxicology and clinical toxicology, and branches of pharmacology such as pharmacogenomics. It also includes the scientific study of traditional medicines and natural products with pharmacological activity, areas in which the region has a rich tradition.

The Australasian Pharmaceutical Science Association (APSA) is a professional society for individuals with an interest in the pharmaceutical sciences and their practice. The Association strives to promote and advance the study and application of the pharmaceutical sciences and to facilitate the exchange of information and experiences between pharmaceutical scientists, pharmacy practice researchers and pharmacy education experts in Australasia. APSA also aims to promote its own education arm and to foster early career researchers through dedicated symposia at our annual conferences. APSA is a member organisation of the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP), a global federation representing pharmacists and pharmaceutical scientists worldwide.

Josh is a Sunbury local through and through. He was born in Sunbury after his parents moved to the growing country town in the late 1970’s. He attended primary school at Sunbury Heights PS and was school captain at his high school, Sunbury College. Josh started his working life at Sunbury IGA and moved on to become a duty manager at Sunbury Safeway. After finishing high school, Josh undertook a double degree in Science and Education at Deakin University. In 2007, he graduated successfully as a secondary school teacher with a major in environmental science. Education, science, technology and innovation remain some of Josh’s great passions. During this time, Josh also went on to work as an Environmental Educator at the Gould League. Josh believes deeply in fighting for equality, fairness and social justice. He fights for world class education and health facilities in Victoria and will always stand up to fight for fair paying employment. Josh has always been a passionate believer in the power of education, and believes strongly that every child should have every opportunity afforded to them, regardless of upbringing or perceived future. Josh was elected the inaugural Member for Sunbury in 2014 and re-elected in 2018 and 2022, currently serving his third term in Parliament. As your elected representative, he is committed listening and acting to get things done. In 2014, Josh was appointed by the Premier of Victoria as the Caucus Secretary to the State Parliamentary Labor Party. He has since held the following Parliamentary Secretary positions as part of the Andrews and Allan Labor Government:  Parliamentary Secretary for Youth  Parliamentary Secretary for Multicultural Affairs  Parliamentary Secretary for Health  Parliamentary Secretary for Carers and Volunteers  Parliamentary Secretary for Transport  Parliamentary Secretary for Level Crossing Removals; and, as at May 2024, is serving as Parliamentary Secretary for Infrastructure Delivery. During his time in Parliament Josh has served on a number of committees. He has chaired the Environment, Natural Resources and Regional Development Committee. He was also a member of the Scrutiny of Acts and Regulations Committee, the Penalty Rates and Fair Pay Committee and the House Committee. Outside of politics and work, Josh enjoys supporting local sport, and you can often find him cheering on the local teams during footy season. He is a passionate Sydney Swans supporter, a keen runner and golfer, and enjoys history, reading, geography and travel. Most importantly, he loves spending time at home and in the garden with his wife, daughter and two cats Bowie and Georgia. Josh has a proud history of delivery in Sunbury, and continues to focus on getting things done for his local community.

Bellberry was formed in 2004 following the recognition of a need for a Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC) to service the valuable human and health research being conducted within the private sector. Bellberry not only reviews clinical drug trials, but also provide review for social science and observational studies. Bellberry Limited started with one Human Research Ethics Committee offering a monthly meeting to researchers in South Australia. The concept of the private, unaffiliated, non institutional based HREC grew and today Bellberry HRECs are able to provide the same high quality, independent ethics reviews with 12 committee’s running up to 3 meetings each week. Any surplus funds generated by the activities of the Committees are donated back into the Australian medical research community. Bellberry Human Research Ethics Committees comply with the strict guidelines for clinical trials as set by the NHMRC and ensure that “all kinds of research involving or impacting on humans conform to the highest standards of ethical practice and academic integrity.” Bellberry’s NHMRC certified HREC’s are the first of their type within Australia and were recognised in the McKeon review as a Best Practice example. Bellberry Human Research Ethics Committees (HRECs) are professionally managed and operate 24/7 through a dedicated electronic portal providing a paperless and secure HREC process.