Port Macquarie-based pharmacist Judy Plunkett is a leader in her community and industry.
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And she has the award to prove it.
Ms Plunkett was named the inaugural winner of the Rhonda White Leadership Award at the recent Terry White Chemmart gala awards night.
The pharmacist has operated a pharmacy for 36 years and has been a member of the franchise for 25 years. Twelve months ago she was elected as a member of the NSW Pharmacy Guild.
Ms Plunkett is arguably best known for her advocacy work in relation to public health matters.
Despite admitting to be "speechless" when her name was read out, Ms Plunkett says the award acknowledges her willingness to speak out on health-related topics.
"I've really learnt the leadership role," she said.
"You have to speak up to make change; always speak up if you have too.
"I really believe that speaking up is not about personal gain either. It should always be for the greater good.
I really believe that speaking up is not about personal gain either. It should always be for the greater good.
- Judy Plunkett
"As a leader within the Terry White Chemmart brand, you have to remain strong and have direction.
"Particularly in relation to maintaining professional standards through providing good service."
Ms Plunkett said maintaining a high level professional standard enables the pharmacy to show its worth and value to government.
She also said NSW, as the largest state, needed to be seen as a leader with the provision of health services.
"We (as a guild and an industry) need to increase the scope of services available to the community," she said.
"We need to offer the opportunity for government to listen to us.
"And we can do that my making a positive contribution, by keeping government on their toes by providing a pharmacists' perspective on health issues and maintaining our highly professional standards."
Ms Plunkett said she was proud and honoured to be selected for the leadership award given there were some 500 Terry White Chemmart pharmacies throughout Australia.
"There were over 600 people at the awards night. I was speechless when I was announced the winner," she added.
She said the 15-member NSW Pharmacy Guild committee now featured six women members, including three from rural and regional NSW.
