A pioneer in Australian retail pharmacy, Terry White has been one of Queensland's leading figures in business, politics and public administration for more than three decades and today was recognised with a QUT Outstanding Alumni Award for the Faculty of Health at a ceremony in Brisbane.
Mr White also received a Special Excellence Award for Lifetime Achievement.
Mr White graduated with a Diploma of Pharmacy from the Central Technical College (a QUT predecessor institution) in 1957 and purchased his first pharmacy at Woody Point, north of Brisbane, in 1958.
Mr White has gone on to become one of Australian pharmacy's leaders, innovators and entrepreneurs.
In 1994 he established Terry White Chemists Group, where he pioneered an innovative franchise model in Australian retail pharmacy, that led to a radical re-imaging of pharmacy ownership and management.
The Terry White Chemists Group now has 175 outlets across Australia, employing more than 4500 people and providing valuable business opportunities for the franchisees, who own and operate most of the stores.
Mr White has worked as president of the Pharmacy Guild of Queensland and chairman of the Australian Institute of Pharmacy Management.
Between 1979 and 1989, Mr White represented the seat of Redcliffe in the Queensland Parliament and served as Minister for Corrective Services, Family Services, Migrant and Ethnic Affairs between 1980 and 1983, and briefly as leader of the parliamentary Liberal Party.
Mr White has contributed to the community through honorary leadership positions in a number of charities, including the Australian Liver Foundation and the Princess Alexandra Hospital Foundation.
In 2012 he was appointed chair of the Metro South Hospital and Health Service Board. He also continues as chairman of the Terry White Chemists Group.
In 2011 he was inducted into the Queensland Business Leaders Hall of Fame and in 2012 recognised as a Queensland Great.
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