CAPA strives to introduce and support innovative clinical pharmacist services and has developed collaborative relationships with medical and other health care organisations, particularly involving the implementation of clinical pharmacists working in general practice, on marae and liaising between primary and secondary care services. It provides core support to prescribing pharmacists in primary care. In the primary care sector CAPA envisages a career structure leading to increasing clinical advisory and prescribing pharmacists being fully integrated in general practices / health care homes, residential care and other locations where here is a high unmet need.
The provision of clinical pharmacist services by suitably qualified pharmacists independent of a supply and distribution function, such as has been invested in the United Kingdom, will lead to an increasing positive impact on health care and expansion of this fledging primary care-based branch of pharmacy.
CAPA aims to address the sector needs and to sustain the development of specialist clinical pharmacy practitioners working in new areas of practice.
Under the CAPA umbrella, membership forms a self-supporting peer network of pharmacists working to develop a sustainable professionally focused future.
You can find out more about becoming a member here
PGDipClinPharm(dist), PGCertPharmPres, MCAPA, FPSNZ, MNZHPA, MNZCP, RegPharmNZ(prescriber)
Penny is a pharmacist prescriber and has been working in the 3 NorthCare general practices in Hamilton since 2011, and more recently also in Huntly West. Encouraged by a specialist while on a clinical visit as an undergraduate student, her career vision was to be able to use her pharmacotherapy skills as a prescribing pharmacist, although this reality took a long time to eventuate! Originally a hospital clinical pharmacist, her career includes undertaking clinical medication reviews (CPC) for over 10 years for patients in aged residential care and primary care as well as community pharmacy practice, before moving to general practice. Throughout her career she has promoted continuing and post graduate education and has been involved with teaching and mentoring pharmacists, GPs and nurses.
Her focus and passion as a pharmacist prescriber is working with people, particularly those with complexity and high unmet health needs, to individualise their medicines to achieve the best possible health outcomes and reduce inequity and medicines related harm. She also supports other clinicians at the practices to promote excellence in prescribing. Penny is enthusiastic about promoting the benefits of having clinical advisory and prescribing pharmacists as part of the general practice and primary care team in Aotearoa.
Penny was awarded a fellowship by the Pharmaceutical Society of NZ in 2020. Outside of work she loves spending time relaxing with family and friends
MClinPharm, PGDipHospPharmAdmin, PhD, PGCertPharmPres, FNZHPA, FNZCP, FPSNZ, Gold Medal (PSNZ), MCAPA, RegPharm NZ (prescriber)
Linda began her career in hospital pharmacy and then moved into primary care as a pharmacist facilitator working with general practitioners to help improve prescribing. This role evolved to working in general practice and currently she is a pharmacist prescriber in two practices with very high unmet need in Wellington and Porirua. During her career Linda combined her clinical work with management roles within East Health Trust PHO and CMDHB, with postgraduate study for her PhD, and with teaching postgraduate clinical pharmacy for over 20 years. During this time she has been awarded Fellowships by the NZ Hospital Pharmacists Association, the NZ College of Pharmacists, the Pharmaceutical Society of NZ, a Gold medal from the Pharmaceutical Society of NZ, and the NZ Order of Merit.
Linda is passionate about optimising medicines therapy and reducing drug-related morbidity and mortality, particularly for those people with high unmet need.
BPharm(hons), PGDipClinPharm(dist), MCAPA, MPSNZ, RegPharmNZ
Emma began her pharmacy career in 1999 as an intern in Naenae, Wellington. With experience in community, hospital and general practice pharmacy, she brings a well-rounded perspective to her current role in Tāmaki Makaurau, Auckland as a Practice Pharmacist. Her passion for palliative care led her to serve as a specialist pharmacist at Mercy Hospice for 16 years, honing her skills in holistic, patient-centred care. Emma’s recent postgraduate studies sparked her enthusiasm for general practice, and she thrives on the challenges and continuous learning it offers.
Emma is an honorary senior lecturer at the University of Auckland and a member of the NZ Clinical Senate. Outside of work, Emma enjoys the outdoors, playing the cello and spending time with family and friends.
MClinPharm, MPallCare, FNZCP, FACHSM, MCAPA, MPSNZ, RegPharmNZ (Prescriber)
Clare Randall has served as Chief Executive of Arohanui Hospice since 2010, bringing over a decade of visionary leadership to one of New Zealand’s most
respected palliative care organisations. A registered pharmacist prescriber, Clare holds a Master of Clinical Pharmacy and a Master of Palliative Care, reflecting her
deep clinical expertise and commitment to compassionate, evidence-based care. Her career is defined by a passion for equity of access and the delivery of high-
quality palliative care. Clare is a respected advocate for ensuring that all New Zealanders, regardless of background or circumstance, receive dignified and person-
centred care at the end of life.
Beyond her role at Arohanui Hospice, Clare contributes to national and regional initiatives aimed at improving palliative care services across Aotearoa. She is a
member of PHARMAC’s Therapeutic Products Advisory Committee (TCAC), where she helps shape medicine access and policy decisions that impact the lives of
thousands. Clare’s leadership is grounded in collaboration, clinical excellence, and a steadfast belief in the power of compassionate care to transform lives.
Spare time involves breading Arapawa goats, Pygmy goats, Vlais Blacknose sheep and miniature Belted Galloway cattle.
PGDipClinPharm(dist), MCAPA, RegPharmNZ (prescriber)
Ben is a Pharmacist Prescriber with a rich background spanning community, hospital, primary care advisory, and palliative care practice. Driven by a passion for improving patient outcomes through the quality use of medicines, Ben has developed a deep commitment to person-centred care through his work in palliative care.
In his current role at Kensington Health, Ben applies this broad clinical expertise to support patients with long-term conditions, individualise therapy, and reduce treatment burden. Ben is deeply passionate about collaborative care, preventative medicine, and helping patients get the greatest benefit from their treatment while promoting evidence-based practice across multidisciplinary teams.
Outside of work, Ben enjoys unwinding over a game of chess, exploring the rich nature Northland has to offer.
Dip Pharm, PGDipClinPharm(dist), MCAPA, RegPharmNZ (prescriber)
Bernadette is based in Manawatū . After spending 30 years in community pharmacy, she moved into a general practice role with Health New Zealand Te Whatu Ora in 2018. She now works as team leader based at THINK Hauora and in an iwi-based general practice, where she supports whānau with a particular focus on cardiovascular risk reduction and type 2 diabetes management. This shift has allowed her to build on her broad community pharmacy experience and further develop her clinical practice within the primary care setting. Bernadette completed a postgraduate diploma in clinical pharmacy through the University of Otago in 2019 and completed the pharmacist prescriber qualification through the University of Auckland in 2025. She values the opportunity to work alongside general practice teams to support safe, effective and individualised use of medicines for patients and whānau. Outside of work, Bernadette enjoys running including travels to compete in events, spending time with her family, and being on the family farm with the animals.