Four pharma leaders vie for two Medicines Australia Board seats

Medicines Australia has received four nominations for its two vacant Board director positions and will proceed to a ballot later this month. Notably, all four nominees are strong female leaders: Joana de Castro, Area Managing Director of Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicines ANZ; Josie Downey, Managing Director of Merck Healthcare ANZ; Melissa McGregor, General Manager of Chiesi ANZ; and Liz Selby, Country Lead and Head of Pharma at Sanofi ANZ.

Joana de Castro, Area Managing Director of Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicines ANZ, assumed her current role in June 2024, succeeding Urs Voegeli. Previously, she served as Managing Director for Latin America North, where she led the business to historic growth and secured the number one market position across all key therapeutic areas. In a recent Health Industry Hub podcast, de Castro explored why social impact is not just an organisational strategy but a personal calling, and how purpose-driven leadership is shaping the company’s approach to its mission in healthcare.

Josie Downey, Managing Director of Merck Healthcare ANZ, brings over 25 years of experience in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors, having held senior leadership positions across both large and small companies in Australia and Asia. Under her leadership, Merck Healthcare recently launched a high-impact collaboration with Omico to enhance access to precision oncology in Australia. Downey is also deeply engaged in the broader healthcare community. In May 2025, she was appointed to the Board of Directors of Brain Cancer Australia, combining professional expertise with a personal commitment to advancing research and improving patient outcomes.

Melissa McGregor, General Manager of Chiesi ANZ, took on her current role in June 2024 and brings more than 30 years of experience in the biopharmaceutical and life sciences industries, including her prior role at Pfizer ANZ. She is recognised for her strong advocacy of gender equity and is a co-founder of the Pharma Australia Inclusion Group (PAIG), a special interest group of Medicines Australia. McGregor has also previously served on the Medicines Australia Board, contributing to policy discussions critical to the pharmaceutical industry.

Liz Selby, Country Lead and Head of Pharma at Sanofi ANZ, has held her current position since November 2024. She previously served as General Manager of Sanofi’s Specialty Care division and was Acting Country Lead from May 2024 following the departure of Karen Hood. Selby began her career as a frontline health worker in New Zealand, and her leadership aligns with Sanofi’s global “Play to Win” strategy, focusing on accelerating innovation, deepening investment in R&D, and integrating artificial intelligence into operations.

Medicines Australia emphasised that the leadership and vision of the Board will be pivotal in guiding the organisation through the next phase of HTA reform and “securing a PBS that is faster, fairer, and fit for the future”, ultimately improving patient access to innovative medicines.

The ballot will be open from 9:00am Friday, 26 September 2025, until 5:00pm Thursday, 16 October 2025, with results announced at the AGM on Wednesday, 29 October 2025.

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