The curtain raiser to the largest pharmacy event in the Southern Hemisphere has started, with the official program now available for the Australian Pharmacy Professional Conference and Trade Exhibition (APP2024), HERE. Delegates can also network with 450 exhibitors and suppliers at the trade exhibition which will be held on the Gold Coast from 14-17 Mar. Past Pharmacy Guild President and conference convenor Kos Sclavos (pictured) said the program reflects the conference theme, ‘Navigating the future together’, and will focus on the profession heading towards 8CPA. APP last year saw a record 6,000 plus attendees (PD 24 Mar), and Sclavos said what makes APP unique is that it “offers a range of education streams to cover all aspects of community pharmacy including business, innovation and leadership, clinical pharmacy/ product updates, rural pharmacy, cultural engagement, harm minimisation, and an Early Career Pharmacist stream”. “The Opening Plenary will showcase and recognise awards of excellence including The Pharmacy of the Year Award, the MIMS/ Guild Intern of the Year and the Pharmacy Guild of Australia/ Maxigesic Pharmacy Assistant of the Year,” Sclavos explained. “The Alan Russell Oration on Thu afternoon will provide an update on where we are at with 8CPA and Fri morning’s State of the Industry Panel is always a highlight. “I also look forward to hearing from our keynote speakers, 2019 Australian of the Year, Thai cave rescue diver and anaesthetist, Dr Richard “Harry” Harris and history-making humanitarian, Rabia Siddique,” he remarked. With the 8CPA negotiations planned to be concluded close to APP in Mar 2024, “this is one year you must attend,” urged Sclavos. APP2024 features pre-conference workshops on Wed 13 Mar. APP2024 also offers delegates an exciting networking and social program including a ‘Glowchella’ themed Street Party, the everpopular Welcome Reception, a Women’s Networking Lunch and a Pharmacy Assistant Networking Lunch with the 2023 Pharmacy Assistant of the Year, Colby Diek. JG