Monique Beedles

Dr Monique Beedles is a strategy specialist who understands that to achieve above average returns, companies must distinguish themselves from their competitors. As a Director, Monique brings to the Board a holistic approach, which balances the competing imperatives of risk management and strategic innovation.

Monique took on her first Non-Executive Director role in 1999, when she was elected as a Councillor of the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) in Queensland. As the peak professional body for pharmacists in Australia, the PSA sets the strategic direction for the profession and is involved with advising regulatory authorities and all levels of government on issues affecting the profession and healthcare more generally. “At the time I was involved with the PSA’s Young Pharmacists’ Group,” says Monique. “We were invited to observe a Council meeting, to see how the governance process of the organisation worked. When the next Council vacancy came up, I considered nominating and was encouraged by colleagues who had held National Council roles. I was subsequently elected and served five years on the PSA Council.”

During that time Monique completed a PhD in Strategy and in 2004 started her business, Pharmacist Holidays. Monique felt that running her own business would help her to build on her strategy knowledge and further develop her practical business skills. A particular issue in the management of retail pharmacies is that a pharmacist must be on the premises whenever the pharmacy is open. This means that sole owners are unable to take a day off, let alone a longer holiday, unless they can find a suitable temporary manager for their business. With Pharmacist Holidays, Monique helped to fill this niche by offering temporary management services, in week-long blocks, designed specifically to provide pharmacy owners with a holiday. Many clients were in rural areas and some of them had not been away on a holiday for over ten years. Most business came from word-of-mouth referrals and repeat clients, indicating that there was a high level of satisfaction with the service provided.

“Running a small business means that you have to do everything, from answering the phone to meeting with prospective clients, formulating business plans and marketing strategies, chasing unpaid invoices and preparing the BAS. In larger organisations where you may have a more specifically defined role, you don’t necessarily get this breadth of experience,” observes Monique. With Pharmacist Holidays Monique was essentially in the business of managing other people’s businesses. This is not unlike being a company director, in the sense that you must act in the company’s best interests, even if they conflict with your own. “It is a delicate balancing act,” says Monique. “I must treat the business as if it is my own, in terms of maintaining profitability, dealing with customers and managing staff. However, because I am not the owner, I must be a conservative steward and maintain a professional approach without taking unnecessary risks.”

Monique is now using her knowledge and experience in strategy and management to consult to clients in a range of industries and to make a contribution to other companies through new directorships. She was recently appointed Chairman of Franceiss Pty Ltd, a company that provides business management and administrative services, primarily to the accommodation sector.

email: monique@ecn.net.au