Gilead appoints new leader of ANZ Government Affairs

Gilead Sciences today announced the appointment of Belinda Wood as the new Senior Director of Government Affairs for Gilead Sciences in Australia and New Zealand (ANZ).

In this role, Ms Wood will be responsible for the design and implementation of important Government initiatives for Gilead Sciences ANZ. She will be leading advocacy efforts with policy makers on the challenges facing patients living with HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis B and C and other liver related diseases, and cancer, as well as advancing important federal health policies to ensure patient access to the best available therapies.

Ms Wood joins Gilead Sciences ANZ with more than 25 years’ experience in the pharmaceutical and healthcare sector. Her recent role as Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia saw her working in partnership with industry and government to shape national medicines policy and facilitate access to essential medicines.

Prior to this, Ms Wood was CEO of the Generic and Biosimilar Medicines Association (GBMA). During her tenure, she successfully guided the complex change process that saw the Generic Medicines Industry Association form strategic agreements with Government and expand to form GBMA, the premier Australian association for generics and biosimilars. On her departure from the GBMA, Health Minister Greg Hunt praised Ms Wood’s leadership at the organisation.

Ms Wood is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, holds a BMedSc in Pharmacology and has been a member of several industry committees including the Drug Utilisation Sub Committee (DUSC) and TGA Industry Working Group.

“Access to medicines is my passion and I am excited to join Gilead at this important time. I am looking forward to ensuring Gilead continues to deliver real outcomes for patients through collaborative and constructive engagement with politicians, policy makers and stakeholders,” Ms Wood said about her new role.

Gilead Sciences ANZ played a critical role working with the Australian government to secure reimbursed universal access to HCV direct-acting antiviral (DAA) therapies for the estimated 210,000 Australians living with the disease at the time. Gilead Sciences ANZ worked with the government and the HIV community to secure reimbursed access to all Australians for HIV prevention therapy (PrEP, or Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis), supporting Australia’s progress toward the UNAIDS’ 90-90-90 HIV treatment target.

Jaime McCoy, General Manager, Gilead Sciences ANZ, said “We are excited to have Belinda join the Gilead team and support our ambition to transform the lives of Australian patients.”

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