Dr Desmond Williams

Des is a pharmacist, chartered chemist, teacher and researcher within the School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences at the University of South Australia. He is currently the Program Director for the Bachelor of Pharmaceutical Science and the Bachelor of Pharmaceutical Science / Bachelor of Pharmacy Double Degree. He commenced working at the University of South Australia in 1999 as a Senior Lecturer. Des has had a total of 23 years in the pharmaceutical industry in various roles, mainly in technical areas, also some time in sales and marketing. His last position in the industry was in a leadership role as Group General Manager of Research and Development within a large pharmaceutical manufacturing company. Des' earlier experience included hospital and community pharmacy. His BPharm was from the South Australian Institute of Technology (the precursor to the University of South Australia). He has practised as a pharmacist in South Australia and in Victoria, Australia. He obtained his PhD through a joint program, called ‘Intersearch’, of the Victorian College of Pharmacy (now Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University) and the Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of Kansas, USA. Former director of a publically listed company and unlisted companies. Industry experience has included seven years in the Research and Development Group, Faulding Pharmaceuticals, and many consultancies in the pharmaceutical industry in Australia and various international jurisdictions. Consultancies and collaborations have included various government groups and the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO). Technical work of note has also included work for various legal practices to provide expertise in patent disputes, most commonly involving large international pharmaceutical companies. Des has presented seminars in Australian, European, Asian and US venues, including as an invited key-note speaker. He has been engaged in aid projects in Vietnam through AusAID (malaria and iodine deficiency projects). Undergraduate teaching has included presentation of lectures and support for teaching students in Malaysia as part of a Bachelor of Pharmacy teaching program (2 years on each campus). A proportion of our most successful graduates have come from this twinning program which ran for 10 years. Research work has focussed on understanding the biochemical basis and dietary factors of colorectal cancer (in collaboration with CSIRO), formulation of new pharmaceutical compounds and their evaluation (preclinical and clinical) and pain control. Des is a member of the Pharmaceutical Subcommittee, Advisory Committee for Prescription Medicines, within the Therapeutic Goods Administration, Canberra. He is a member of the Institutional Drug Subcommittee, Human Research Ethics Committee, Royal Adelaide Hospital. More recently, Des became a member of a committee within the Australian Pharmacy Council. This committee is responsible for overseeing and reviewing the suitability of examinations for foreign pharmacists wishing to practice in Australia, also for the examinations for preregistration pharmacy personnel. These activities are conducted on behalf of the Pharmacy Board of Australia. Des is part of the Scientists in Schools program, an initiative of the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO). He is partnered with a secondary school and a primary school. The program aims to assist school teachers in increasing the awareness of students towards science.

Australasian Pharmaceutical Science Association,American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists,Royal Australian Chemical Institute,Controlled Release Society,Australian Institute of Company Directors,AusBiotech,Scientific Advisor to the Editors of the Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences (JPharmSci®) 2013 – ongoing,Manager, external evaluation group (within the Sansom Institute, University of South Australia) to undertake expert reviews of marketing applications on behalf of the Therapeutic Goods Administration.,Committee member, Australian Pharmacy Council, Canberra, for reviewing examinations (on behalf of the Australian Pharmacy Board) intended for foreign pharmacists wishing to practice in Austalia.,Australian Institute of Company Directors, Graduate and Fellow, membership now lapsed.

Qualifications

• Doctor of Philosophy Uni of Kansas & Victorian College of Pharmacy

• Master of Science University of Kansas

• Bachelor of Pharmacy South Australian Institute of Technology