Our governing Council

The aim of our Council is to make sure we fulfil our statutory role to protect, promote and maintain the health, safety and wellbeing of the public. This helps to uphold standards in the pharmacy sector and build trust.

The Council is responsible for making sure we are managed effectively and efficiently. It operates separately from the Executive. This means the governing body can challenge us to improve the way we run so we achieve better outcomes for patients and the public.

Good governance is at the heart of what we do. Find out more about our approach to governance.

Council membership

Our Council members are drawn from the widest possible talent pools, bringing with them a diversity of life experiences, ideas and perspectives, to inform our discussions and decisions.

Seven of our 14 Council members are pharmacists or pharmacy technicians, and seven are ‘lay members’, who have never been registered health professionals.

All Council members are appointed by the Privy Council and are required to act independently from the government, professionals and all other interest groups.

Current members of our governing Council

Aamer Safdar

Aamer is an experienced hospital pharmacist who has mainly worked at one of the largest hospitals in England, Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust. His career in the NHS spans over 25 years and he has been involved with pharmacy education and...

Adeyemi (Ade) Williams MBE

Ade is Superintendent Pharmacist and Director of the M J Williams Pharmacy, lead Pharmacist at the Bedminster Pharmacy, Bristol and an independent prescriber. Ade is passionate about engaging and empowering patients also holding a number of Non...

Chair - Gisela Abbam Hon FBSA, FRSA

Gisela is a Global Executive who has a wealth of experience in delivering change in the health and life sciences sector, both in the UK and globally including through her Executive roles at General Electric Healthcare and Abt Associates. She was...

Dr Rima Makarem

Dr Rima Makarem initially trained as a scientist before going on to hold senior roles within the global pharmaceutical sector. She has built up a broad non-executive track record over recent years, including significant work locally, regionally and...

Gareth Powell

Gareth lives and works in Wales and has held roles in the private, public and voluntary sectors, including as Chief Operating Officer of BBC Cymru Wales from 2008 until 2023. He is a Chartered Accountant and currently serves as Vice Chair and Non...

Neil Buckley

Neil has had a range of non executive appointments including as Chair of the Regulatory Board of the IFoA as well as with the Personal Finance Society and Valuation Tribunal Service. Prior to pursuing a non executive career Neil was CEO and Board...

Penny Mee-Bishop

Penny has extensive experience working as a pharmacy technician in both the NHS and private sector, and has held Chief or Lead Pharmacy Technician roles at several NHS Trusts. She is currently Principal Pharmacy Technician for Operational Service at...

Professor Ann Jacklin

In January 2025 Ann commenced work as a Community Researcher working with the Institute of Development Studies and the London Borough of Ealing undertaking participatory action research into the social determinants of health. Ann provides consultancy...

Professor Dianne Ford

Dianne is Professor Emeritus in Molecular Nutrition at Northumbria University, where – until August 2024 – she held the position of Pro Vice-Chancellor of the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences. She is a Co-opted Governor at Northumbria Healthcare...

Raliat Onatade FRPharmS

Chief Pharmacist and Director of Medicines and Pharmacy, North East London Integrated Care System and Group Chief Pharmacist, Barts Health NHS Trust

Rose Marie Parr

Rose Marie Parr was the Chief Pharmaceutical Officer for Scotland from 2015 until October 2020. She was previously chair of the Scottish Pharmacy Board of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain (RPSGB) and chair of the GPhC’s Board of...

Selina Ullah

Selina has over 25 years of non-executive board experience. Selina is chair of a NHS hospital trust, board member of Locala Community Partnerships CIC, non-executive director of Accent Group and chair of various charities. Selina has experience in...

Tim Jaggard

Tim is Deputy Chief Executive and Chief Financial Officer at University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, having been first appointed to the Board in 2015 and previously holding the post of Deputy Finance Director. Tim has significant...

Yousaf Ahmad

Yousaf Ahmad is currently the Director of Medicines Optimisation and Integrated Care System (ICS) Chief Pharmacist at Frimley ICS. Yousaf has extensive experience within secondary care, having worked primarily in large acute health boards in Scotland...