Sir Graeme Douglas

Sir Graeme Douglas MNZM founded Douglas Pharmaceuticals in 1967. Since then, it has become one of the fastest growing pharmaceutical development and manufacturing companies in Oceania.

Sir Graeme was widely respected for his philanthropy and his support of the West Auckland Community. Notably, he has been a major supporter a number of medical and community causes including: the Waitakere City Stadium, the Waitakere City Athletics Club, the Cancer Society, the Neurological Foundation, the West Auckland Hospice, Medical Air Abroad, the Salvation Army, New Zealand the Heart Foundation, Auckland City Mission, the Liggins Institute and the Oliver Smales Memorial Trust. Sir Graeme and Lady Ngaire’s purchase of an MRI scanner for Starship Children’s Hospital remains the hospital’s largest single personal donation.

Sir Graeme was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 1998 for services to the pharmaceutical industry and in 2010 made Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to philanthropy and athletics. In 2012, he was inducted into the New Zealand Business Hall of Fame.

Sir Graeme died at the age of 87 and will be remembered as one of our greatest Kiwi innovators and businessmen as well as a pharmaceutical pioneer.