Andrew boasts over two decades of expertise in the complementary medicine and pharmaceutical industries and is currently the accomplished Managing Director for Vita Life Sciences, a prominent entity listed on the Australian Stock Exchange. As the head of this multinational healthcare company, Andrew orchestrates formulating and distributing a diverse range of vitamins and supplements, including renowned brands like Herbs of Gold and VitaHealth, across Australia and Southeast Asia.
His illustrious career includes a notable stint as the CEO of Go Vita Distributors, the largest health food distributor and retailer in Australia. Prior roles encompass a five-year tenure as Blackmores State Manager and a decade-long dedication to senior management and operational positions at Sigma Pharmaceuticals. Andrew brings extensive national and international experience in sales, marketing, and distribution, consistently steering robust business performances. His leadership is characterised by an inclusive and performance-driven management style, marking him as a stalwart figure in the industry.
An inclusive leader delivering success through people and teams with a passion for holistic living and health. Rachel has over 25 years of experience in Sales and Marketing and has combined this with her natural approach to health and lifestyle whilst becoming an advocate for complementary medicines. Rachel has depth and experience in contract manufacturing, product development, and brand management across the APAC region.
Rachel started her career after studying Sales and Marketing in retail, where she was the organisation’s youngest manager at 19. She then went on to follow her business-to-business ambitions in FMCG, where she enjoyed ten wonderful years, moving through the ranks from Sales Representative to Marketing Manager before becoming a mother to two beautiful girls.
Rachel is an authentic, inclusive leader who supports diversity and always considers the people’s voices and opinions. Rachel consistently seeks innovative ways to approach challenges and thrives in an environment of change.
She is studying for her MBA to enhance her commercial and business acumen, further reflecting Rachel’s growth and learning mindset.
Rachel has been a CMA board member for three years, leading the Marketing and Communications Team, the Practitioner Committee, the Membership Committee and most recently, as our interim VP.
John commenced as CEO of Complementary Medicines Australia in July 2023. He is an experienced business leader, with a wealth of experience across Public Affairs, Government Relations, Corporate Affairs, media communications, and law, finance and governance.
John is passionate about natural health and has worked in the complementary medicines sector since 2018, including as a CMA Board Director since early 2020. He has served as the Chair of the CMA Political Committee, showcasing his strong advocacy capabilities and commitment to advancing the interests of the sector.
John was previously Head of Public Affairs at Blackmores Group and has served in a Senior Adviser capacity for the Australian Government across the Health, Industry/Innovation/Science and Environment portfolios.
Prior to this, John worked in media and financial consulting. He has a Bachelor of Business, Bachelor of Laws, Graduate Diploma in Journalism, Diploma of Financial Services and a Graduate Certificate of Applied Corporate Governance and Risk Management.
John is a graduate of the Governance Institute of Australia and a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors
Ann is a complementary healthcare specialist with broad experience spanning 37 years. She is CEO of Go Vita Group Limited – Australia’s premier health food retail chain – a well-established co-operative owned by its members and celebrating close to 40 years of operation.
Ann is committed to delivering innovative strategies and initiatives that continue to drive Go Vita’s growth and enhance its position in the market. With her strong academic background in biochemistry, nutritional medicine and marketing and deep understanding of the natural health industry, she has bridged the gap between science and business, making her a unique asset in the health and wellness industry. Her strategic approach is rooted in evidence-based practices, ensuring Go Vita remains at the forefront of industry developments and trends. A passionate contributor to the industry, she was awarded the Lady Cilento Award for outstanding contributions and service in 2010.
Dr Aniss G. E. Chami, Chief Executive Officer and Co-founder of Vitex Pharmaceuticals is widely regarded as an industry leader with unrivalled experience and qualifications. Under Dr. Chami’s leadership, Vitex has become a leading Australian manufacturer of high-quality complementary medicines.
Dr. Chami graduated from Macquarie University with a Bachelor of Medical Science with Honours (B Med Sci (Hon)). He went on to complete his Master of Pharmacy (MPharm) at the University of Sydney and his Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) at the prestigious Sydney School of Medicine, University of Notre Dame. Dr. Chami also holds a Master’s degree in Financial Management (MFM) and a Master’s degree in Business Administration (MBA) from the world-renowned Macquarie Graduate School of Management.
With a remarkable list of credentials, Dr. Chami is also one of the youngest CEOs in the industry. Nonetheless, he is considered one of the most experienced, having been immersed in the industry from an early age under the tutelage of his father, Vitex Chairman Elie Chami. He was named Manufacturing Executive of the Year in 2017 and 2018 by CEO Magazine and received the 2019 Corporate Citizen of the Year Award from Blacktown City Council.
Dr. Chami currently serves as a Board Director of Consumer Health Products (CHP) Australia, the peak body representing the manufacturers and distributors of consumer healthcare products. He is also a Board Director of the Complementary Medicines Association of Australia (CMA).
In 2018, Dr. Chami signed an agreement with the NSW Government for a state-of-the-art pharmaceutical training and research institute at the Western Sydney Aerotropolis. The Institute will be the first in Australia to offer dedicated training in pharmaceutics and pharmaceutical process engineering. Having established one of the few Australian-owned manufacturing organizations in complementary medicine, Dr. Chami is passionate about Australian-made products. He has created a culture and international reputation for innovative quality systems underscored by an entrepreneurial spirit. Above all, he has demonstrated that profitability and integrity can go hand in hand.
Wayne Coote, Founder and Managing Director of Pathway International, has dedicated over 30 years to advancing the complementary medicines industry. Since establishing Pathway International in 1995, Wayne has built a business specialising in scientifically validated, natural ingredients that promote health and wellness. Under his leadership, Pathway has pioneered new healthcare categories, achieving TGA approvals for novel ingredients backed by clinical research, setting benchmarks for quality, safety, and service across diverse sectors, including complementary medicines, food and beverages, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics.
Wayne brings previous CMA Board experience, having served during the transition from CHC, giving him a unique perspective on the organisation’s evolution. His expertise in international sourcing, supply chain management, and regulatory approvals underscore his commitment to maintaining rigorous product standards. Passionate about innovation and integrity, Wayne looks forward to leveraging his extensive industry knowledge to contribute to CMA’s mission of fostering sustainable growth, quality assurance, and consumer trust.
Senior Manager in the areas of Product Development, Compliance and Regulations. With over 22 years of industry experience in a variety of R&D and commercialisation areas mainly focused on Pharmaceuticals and Complementary Medicines.
Primary strengths are with compliance within the TGA environment, GMP manufacturing and operations encompassing the requirements of TGA and FSANZ. One of the key managers who are responsible for the manufacturing and marketing of Natural Health products in Consumer Healthcare. To date she has launched over 250 Listed Medicines with the TGA and 8 Supplemented Sports Foods/Medical Foods under the requirements of FSANZ.
Natasha is a positively driven professional with an upbeat spirit. Describing herself as phenomenally lucky and perspicacious, she boasts a rich history in the complementary healthcare industry dating back to the mid 90s. Throughout her journey as a National Sales Manager, Herbalist, Trainer, Mentor, and public speaker, Natasha has been surrounded by incredible individuals, gaining mentors, friends, and wisdom.
Her extensive experience spans the entire complementary medicine (CM) landscape, from retail pharmacy and health food store management to New Product Development (NPD), manufacturing, training, and successfully implementing product launches. Natasha is well- versed in executing advertising plans to propel sales growth across diverse distribution channels, including MLM, pharmacy, and health foods.
Zephanie has worked in the Consumer Healthcare industry for more than 25 years in Australia and overseas. She has experience leading and balancing regulatory compliance, innovation and policy influence in healthcare, food, cosmetic and chemical companies.
She has worked for RB, J&J, GSK, Boots Healthcare, Faulding and P&G. She has also worked for ASMI (now CHPA) as Scientific Director and it was during this time that she collaborated with the former Complementary Healthcare Council (CHC) on a range of issues. In 2004-5, she was an independent consultant and was contracted by the TGA to work on the Complementary Medicines Evidence Guidelines. Zephanie holds qualifications in Food Science, Pharmaceutical Science and Wine Science.
She is an advocate for self-care, championing policy reform to drive proportionate regulation and incentives for innovation.
Nick is the CEO for Australia, New Zealand and Asia for the Health & Happiness Group, a global company that owns brands including Swisse Wellness and Biostime. Nick has held senior leadership roles in sales, marketing and general management across South East Asia for almost 30 years.
Nick joined Swisse as Director of Sales for ANZ and re-energised the sales team, bringing a new sense of purpose and vibrancy. Nick was promoted to Managing Director at ANZ in September 2019 and to CEO of ANZ and Asia in March 2022.
Blair Norfolk, Founder and Managing Director of Biome Australia, is a seasoned leader in the global nutraceutical and probiotics industry, with over 14 years of experience spanning management and executive roles. Under his leadership, Biome Australia has become a high-growth, values-driven company specialising in evidence-based probiotics, with its flagship brand, Activated Probiotics, recognised for innovative, clinically validated products regulated by TGA, EFSA, and FSANZ.
Blair has been instrumental in facilitating novel clinical trials for disease-targeted probiotics, fostering collaborations between Australian universities and manufacturing partners to advance the body of evidence supporting complementary medicines. A passionate advocate for education and transparency, he has championed initiatives to expand practitioner knowledge and improve patient outcomes.
With a strong focus on innovation, regulatory balance, and sustainability, Blair aims to leverage his global expertise and extensive network to support CMA’s mission of strengthening the industry and advancing the integration of complementary medicines into preventive health strategies.
Dr Michael is the Managing Director and owner of Bio Concepts. With scientific prowess and a passion for the industry, Dr Michael is at the forefront of education in nutritional medicine.
Michael was awarded the inaugural CMA Young Achiever of the Year in 2021, representing a person under 35 with outstanding contributions and vision to the complementary medicine industry.
PhD, BBE (Chemical), BBiotech (Hons)
Alastair is the Group CEO and Managing Director of Blackmores Group, having joined in 2019. Alastair is a global business leader and brand builder with over +25 years in consumer health and beauty across multiple geographies. Alastair has held global leadership roles across China, Asia Pacific, Latin America, Europe and the Middle East.
Alastair has a Bachelor of Economics and a Post-Graduate Diploma in International Business from Monash University and studied Mandarin while living and working in Shanghai. Being CEO of a company rooted in the foundations of naturopathy, Alastair is very passionate about the role traditional and complementary medicines play in providing holistic health solutions to people worldwide.
Alastair is a proud member of the Climate Leaders Coalition, reflecting Blackmore’s ambition for a world where people and nature thrive together.
Alastair is based in Sydney, Australia.
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