New Registrar and Chief Officer appointed to the PSI

The Council of the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland (PSI), the pharmacy regulator, has announced the appointment of a new Registrar and Chief Officer, Joanne Kissane. The appointment was made following a public recruitment process. Ms Kissane will take up her new role in January 2023.

Ms Kissane is a pharmacist and has a wealth of knowledge of the pharmacy, education and regulatory sector. In addition, she brings significant leadership, strategy and change management experience to her new role as head of the regulatory body.

She is currently the Director and National Coordinator for APPEL (Affiliation for Pharmacy Practice Experiential Learning), a joint office of the three Schools of Pharmacy in Ireland which manages the student experiential learning placements for the integrated Masters degree programmes in pharmacy. Ms Kissane has worked in community pharmacy as a practising pharmacist and for seven years, was the superintendent pharmacist followed by the Head of Operational Excellence for the Lloyds Pharmacy group.

With a keen interest in safe and effective healthcare services, Joanne has been involved with the regulator as a member of the PSI Council since 2015. She has also been a member of advisory committees tasked with developing and overseeing strategic work programmes at the regulator, most recently as Chair of its Regulatory and Professional Policy Committee. During her time on the Council, Ms Kissane also held the role of President of the PSI (2019-2021). During her term, the PSI dealt with significant regulatory matters, including the impact of COVID-19 on the health landscape with resultant changes to facilitate the involvement of pharmacists and pharmacies in the continued provision of care and the national COVID-19 vaccination programme.

"Her practical experience of the pharmacy sector and more latterly in pharmacy education, means she brings a knowledge of stakeholders and the broader healthcare environment, which will serve to further inform and enhance our approach in fulfilling our regulatory remit to assure public and patient trust in the quality and safety of pharmacy healthcare.

The PSI has a broad remit and functions as regulator of both pharmacists and pharmacies. Our current Corporate Strategy details a formidable programme of work, one which aims to ensure that the pharmacy sector is as resilient as possible to meet future healthcare needs and the future integrated healthcare model. Together with the Council, I look forward to working with Joanne in her leadership and management of the organisation.

I would also like to acknowledge the work of our Interim Registrar, Dr. Lorraine Horgan, who has demonstrated exceptional commitment and energy in her leadership of the PSI since January. On behalf of the Council, I thank Lorraine most sincerely for providing the Council and staff with the benefit of her many years’ experience and for her careful stewardship of the PSI throughout this time.”

Reflecting on her appointment, Joanne Kissane said, “I am pleased to continue my involvement with the PSI in taking up this role. The pharmacy regulator has an important contribution to make as part of the broader health system and is an integral component in ensuring pharmacy-led care and treatment are safe and appropriate for patients and the public.

“As a health regulator, the PSI is on a continuing journey, enhancing and adapting regulatory approaches to best meet the changing population, health, and technology landscape. Collaborative and participative work with stakeholders, including pharmacists, pharmacy owners and pharmacy users, is important to the PSI. I look forward to continuing this work as the PSI fulfils its public protection functions and in pursuing strategic priorities, such as considering the availability of the pharmacy workforce to meet future health service needs and devising a prioritised programme of legislative reform that will best support the PSI’s regulatory work.”