Council members role
Council members are initially appointed for a term of two or three years and may be reappointed for two more terms. Their role is to make sure the requirements of the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003 are carried out. They also set the Pharmacy Council’s strategic direction and monitor the performance of management.
Meet the current Pharmacy Council members
Chair
Ming-chun Wu
CMInstD, MBA, BSc, BBus, BEd, BA
Ming-chun was appointed to the Pharmacy Council in 2019 and has been Chair since 2025, having previously served as Deputy Chair for 18 months. She is a Chartered Director with the Institute of Directors and has over 18 years of experience in transforming and improving organisations.
Ming-chun has held senior strategy and policy roles in large public sector organisations and has in-depth knowledge of governing legislation such as the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003. She is also a Board Member and Deputy Chair of the Chinese Medicine Council of New Zealand and a Board Member of the Medical Council of New Zealand, where she contributes her expertise in regulatory oversight, professional standards, and governance.
In addition to her regulatory governance roles, Ming-chun is the Independent Chair of TechCollect NZ Ltd, leading an environmental stewardship programme in e-waste recycling. She is also a Board Director for Network for Learning Limited, a Trustee for the Wellington Community Fund, and a Board Member of the Plumbers, Gasfitters, and Drainlayers Board.
A New Zealand registered teacher, Ming-chun has a background in education and professional development. She previously served as National Executive and Auckland Regional Chairperson for the New Zealand Post Primary Teachers’ Association.
Ming-chun’s governance experience spans regulatory boards, advisory boards, professional bodies, volunteer organisations, and commercial boards. She is passionate about good governance and making a difference for all New Zealanders through her leadership and strategic oversight.
Read a message from Ming-chun here.
Ahmad F Zareh
BPharm (Hons), RegPharmNZ
Ahmad was appointed to the Pharmacy Council in August 2019. He is a community pharmacy owner from Hamilton (called by Ahmad the ‘city of the future’) and won the Good Sort Pharmacist of the Year Award in 2017.
Ahmad is a current preceptor and thoroughly enjoys training interns. He is the current chair of Council’s IAAG (Intern Assessment Advisory Group). Ahmad was a board member of Refugees as Survivors New Zealand, looking after refugee health and wellbeing.
Ahmad won the 2019 Kiwibank Local Hero Award in Waikato and was a finalist for the National Hero Award.
“I love working with patients and the community to provide health services and improve community and patient health. I strongly believe that as a pharmacist we can make a big difference to people’s health and well-being.”
Ben Oldfield
BPharm (Hons), RegPharmNZ
(Bio to come)
Chris Jay
MSc ClinPharm, RegPharmNZ
(Bio to come)
David Postlewaight
RegPharmNZ
(Bio to come)
John Roberts
BBA
Katrina Azer
BPharm, RegPharmNZ, PGCertClinPharm, CertClinGov, CPGx
Katrina was appointed to the Pharmacy Council in 2019. Based in Christchurch, Katrina works as a Consultant Digital Pharmacist in primary care, alongside operating her own independent consulting practice.
Katrina is a thought leader in the pharmacy industry, specialising in digital health and promoting virtual care. She is also an award-winning pharmacist, having won double awards in the 2020 NZ Primary Healthcare Awards.
She also got accredited as a Certified Pharmacogeneticist in 2022, becoming the first NZ pharmacist to earn membership to the Clinical Pharmacogenetics Implementation Consortium in the USA, where she helps to develop pharmacogenomic guidelines for safer medication prescribing.
Katrina’s passion is ensuring every patient receives ‘the right medication, at the right dose, and at the right time.’ Her long-term focus is on implementing precision medicine in NZ and advocating for accessible virtual healthcare in pharmacy.
“The biggest challenge that comes with my role as a Council member is reminding myself that I am a knowledgeable observer of the profession of pharmacy, rather than an advocate for pharmacists. I am here to enact the HPCA Act’s mandate by ensuring pharmacists are fit and competent to provide safe and effective pharmaceutical care to patients.”
Natalia Nu’u
BPharm (Hons), BSc, RegPharmNZ
Natalia was appointed to the Pharmacy Council in November 2021. She is a pharmacist and co-owner of an Auckland pharmacy and has worked in community pharmacy since 2002.
Natalia is an honorary academic at the University of Auckland School of Pharmacy and a clinical mentor as part of the Pharmaceutical Society EVOLVE Intern Training Programme.
A proud Samoan, Natalia has a passion for helping the Pacific community and promoting the pharmacy profession to Pacific youth. She is a founding member and Executive Board Member of the Pacific Pharmacists’ Association; a network for the Pacific pharmacy workforce around New Zealand that acts as representation for their members on issues and in initiatives that concern the profession and the delivery of Health services to the Pacific Community.
“My experience in community pharmacy has shown me the resilience and tenacity of pharmacists to continue to put patients first even in the most challenging situations. This is what motivates me to give back to the profession. In all that I do I am mindful that I represent my profession, my culture and my family, and this serves to keep me honest and grounded.”