National Pharmacies has appointed Brigid Hughes as its new Chief Executive Officer, marking a significant milestone for one of South Australia’s longest-established businesses.
Hughes, who has been acting CEO since July, officially takes on the role after previously serving as the organisation’s Chief Financial Officer from August 2025. She succeeds Mark Smith, who stepped down as CEO after relocating to Sydney for family reasons.
Founded in Adelaide in 1911 as a single dispensary, National Pharmacies has grown into a member-owned organisation with 46 pharmacies across South Australia, Victoria and New South Wales, alongside 19 optical stores in South Australia.
A new chapter for a 115-year-old organisation
Hughes’ appointment brings more than two decades of financial and commercial experience to the leadership role.
Before joining National Pharmacies, she was Head of Financial Planning and Analysis at Viva Energy Australia, the company behind OTR and Reddy Express. She previously held the same type of role at Nando’s UK and has held senior finance positions across consumer-facing businesses in Australia and the United Kingdom.
Born and raised in Adelaide, Hughes spent around two decades working in the UK before returning to Australia. Her previous roles included CFO of a private equity-backed UK restaurant group with an annual turnover of A$62.6 million and around 500 employees.
She joined National Pharmacies in August 2025 as CFO, bringing experience across multinational, ASX-listed and privately owned businesses.
Her move into the CEO position comes just over a year after joining the organisation.
From finance to leadership
Hughes’ transition from CFO to CEO gives her an understanding of National Pharmacies’ financial position and operations as she takes responsibility for the organisation’s wider strategy.
National Pharmacies operates as a mutual organisation, meaning profits generated through its operations are returned to members through benefits and discounts. Its business spans community pharmacy, optical services and healthcare.
The organisation has been expanding its role beyond traditional pharmacy services as the sector responds to changes in healthcare delivery, online retail and the broader responsibilities of community pharmacists. Hughes joined the organisation at a time when those changes were already reshaping the sector.
Focus on community pharmacy
Hughes said National Pharmacies has an important role to play in the future of community pharmacy, with a focus on expanding services, delivering greater value to members and continuing to invest in its people and communities.
Her appointment comes as community pharmacies across Australia take on a wider role in healthcare, including services that can provide patients with more direct access to health professionals.
For National Pharmacies, its member-led structure remains central to the organisation’s identity.
Hughes has described that model as an important part of the organisation’s approach to sustainable growth as she begins her tenure as CEO.
A milestone in leadership
Hughes becomes the first woman to serve as CEO of National Pharmacies since the organisation was established in 1911. The appointment also represents a progression from a senior financial leadership role into the top executive position of a longstanding Australian healthcare and retail organisation.
Her appointment reflects the changing composition of leadership across Australia’s business and healthcare sectors, while also placing a finance and commercial specialist at the centre of National Pharmacies’ next stage.
As the organisation enters its 115th year, Hughes will lead a business that has evolved considerably from its origins as a single Adelaide dispensary.
Her immediate focus will be on continuing to develop National Pharmacies’ services, strengthening value for its members and investing in its people and communities while navigating the changing role of community pharmacy in Australia’s healthcare system.
