Chris Budgen

Biography

Chris has a pharmacy degree and post graduate qualification from London University.  He has had wide experience in his pharmacy career starting at Westminster Hospital, London, in clinical pharmacy practice and followed by a post in the Research Division of Pfizer UK.  He then moved to New Zealand in 1972 and spent many years teaching at the School of Pharmacy at the Central Institute of Technology Heretaunga near Wellington.

Chris has undertaken sabbatical leave at Washington State University and the Chelsea School of Pharmacy of London University.  He was for many years the academic member of the national Pharmacy Education Advisory Committee.

Following the amalgamation of the two Schools of Pharmacy in the mid-eighties, Chris moved to the Nelson district and took up pharmacy ownership.  He later sold the pharmacy and has since worked independently in a number of capacities.  These have included Advisory Pharmacist to Nelson Marlborough Health, tutor to the School of Nursing, locum pharmacist, and consultant to various bodies such as the Independent Nurse Practitioners Association, the Podiatrists Association, the Pharmaceutical Society of New Zealand and to the Ministry of Health on drug registration applications.  During some of his time in Nelson Chris owned a commercial beekeeping operation. Currently Chris is a member of the Pharmacy Sector Action Group (PSAG) developing a strategic plan for the profession for the next ten years.

Operating now as an independent Pharmacist Practitioner, Chris works part time in a community pharmacy providing medication reviews and other professional services.  He also provides an advisory service to pharmacists on Ministry of Health Quality Assurance requirements.  He is an examiner for the Pharmacy Intern training programme and the Pharmacy technician’s qualification.  Chris is visiting lecturer to the School of Pharmacy, University of Otago and to the NZ College of Pharmacists.  From time to time he is called as an expert witness in drug related legal cases.

In 1998 he was engaged under a New Zealand aid scheme to develop an Essential Drug List for the Cook Islands.  In addition to working with the medical staff on the EDL he also:-
• Re-organised storage arrangements, purchasing and inventory control in the Rarotonga government store and hospital pharmacy
• Re-organised medicine distribution and control in the wards of Rarotonga hospital
• Established a computer based dispensing and stock control system for both the store and hospital pharmacy
• Trained the staff in good dispensing practices, stock control and developed standard operating procedures.
Since this undertaking Chris has maintained formal and informal links with the Cook Islands providing advice and help to the Minister and Secretary of Health on pharmaceutical planning and budgeting.  In 2003 he set up a similar dispensary system with staff training at the hospital on Aitutaki in the Cooks Islands.
Chris is currently contracted by the Dept of Foreign Affairs & Trade to upgrade the pharmaceutical service to the Tokelau Islands for a three year term.

In the year 2000 Chris received the Pharmaceutical Society of NZ Award for "Innovative Pharmacy Practice", and in 2001 was awarded ‘Fellowship’ of the Pharmaceutical Society of NZ for his ‘untiring efforts for his profession’. 
He is President and Continuing Education Co-ordinator for the Nelson Pharmacists Association and in 2004 he was awarded a Fellowship of the New Zealand College of Pharmacists and is a member of its national executive.
In September 2005 Chris was elected President of the Pharmaceutical Society of New Zealand.

Chris enjoys a range of outdoor sporting activities (hunting, shooting & fishing) and is a warden for the local Anglican church. 
He is a member of the Spirit of Adventure Trust and a volunteer crew member for the sail training ship Spirit of New Zealand.
Chris and wife Sheila have three adult offspring