Chris Peck is adjusting to some major changes in his life. Earlier this year he was married, and the couple are now expecting their first baby in February next year. “Yes – exciting times ahead,” says Chris. “Everyone is telling me how much my life is going to change when the baby arrives, I’m really looking forward to it.” Both Chris and wife Jess hail from the deep south – if you listen closely enough you can still hear Chris’s Southland burr. But they’re now confirmed Wellingtonians with established jobs in the capital. In Chris’s case his role at PHARMAC began in 2006, via a Bachelor of Commerce in economics and operations research at Canterbury University, and a graduate position at the Ministry of Education. “Education is a big ministry and you feel quite a small part of it,” explains Chris. “PHARMAC appealed because it’s smaller and you can really see how your work influences PHARMAC’s decisions, and ultimately how that affects people.”

Chris initially joined PHARMAC as an analyst, looking at pharmaceutical usage data so PHARMAC knew how much was being spent – essential for its budget-management role. More recently he’s finding fresh fields to use his problem-solving skills as a strategic development adviser in the pharmaceutical funding systems team. The team looks across PHARMAC’s work to see that the Pharmaceutical Schedule rules and funding systems work effectively and efficiently. Chris has also been doing some career development work, and this has confirmed why he has found the PHARMAC work so rewarding.