Mr George Tambassis
Mr George Tambassis has owned and operated numerous community pharmacies for over 30 years in Victoria and joined the Pharmacy Guild Victorian Branch Committee in 2005. He is the immediate past National President of The Pharmacy Guild of Australia and was the Global President of the World Pharmacy Council.
His role at the World Pharmacy Council was to build international recognition of community pharmacy, its role, policies and value, and to influence, promote and secure acceptance of community pharmacy as an important and integral part of health systems. Representing industry associations such as the National Community Pharmacists Association, which is the voice for independent pharmacies, representing 21,000 pharmacies across the USA and employing 250,000 individuals nationwide.
During his time as National President of the Guild, he signed the 6th and 7th Community Pharmacy Agreements in 2015 and 2020 with the Australian Government. The Agreements underpin the distribution and supply of Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme medicines across Australia, through 6000 community pharmacies. He also played a key strategic role in numerous government and stakeholder agreements and has a strong understanding of the unique membership needs of the not-for-profit sectors.
Mr Tambassis aims to make sure pharmacies maintain and enhance their role in our health system by continually advancing the profession and providing the public with services, value and advice they will not get elsewhere. He travels regularly, representing community pharmacies at major international pharmacy meetings and events.
Mr Tambassis has a Bachelor of Pharmacy from Monash University and is a Heart Foundation Health Committee member. He was awarded the 2017 Distinguished Alumni Award for the Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences by Monash University.