I am delighted to announce the appointment of PACFA’s new CEO, Ms Johanna de Wever, (as pronounced in Dutch), commencing 15 March 2021.
Johanna has worked in advocacy, media and communications for health and welfare organisations for nearly 20 years. Most recently, as General Manager, Advocacy and Leadership, at the Society of Hospital Pharmacists of Australia, she has led advocacy around medicine shortages and opioid harm resulting in legislative and policy change.
At the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists she successfully advocated for greater awareness of the life expectancy of people with serious mental illness, leading to physical health and mortality being included as priority areas in the Fifth National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Plan.
These projects demonstrate her outstanding advocacy skills and passion for mental health and high-quality healthcare. Johanna is excited about the opportunity to continue her career with professional associations by joining PACFA, and she’s looking forward to promoting the expertise of counsellors and psychotherapists as allied health professionals.
Johanna has also worked in not-for-profits and publishing companies in communications roles organising publicity for the likes of Edward de Bono, Geoffrey Robertson QC, Nawal El Saadawi, Doris Kartinyeri and Botswana’s first female High Court Judge Unity Dow.
Johanna has a Bachelor of Arts and a Graduate Diploma in Communications. She lives in Melbourne’s northern suburbs with her partner and two children.
We are so looking forward to Johanna joining with us as we embark on an exciting new chapter for PACFA.
Dr Di Stow
PACFA President
February 2021