The Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) has appointed Dr Justine Scanlan FRPharmS as its new director of pharmacy, a key leadership role as the organisation transitions to become the Royal College of Pharmacy in April.
Justine is currently head of the NHS Specialist Pharmacy Service and director of the Pharmacy Practice Unit, Liverpool. She was appointed a Fellow of RPS in 2021 and will take up her role in June 2026.
A hospital pharmacist by background, Justine is a former director of Pharmacy at Salford Royal Foundation Trust and chief pharmacist at East Cheshire Trust.
She has a strong background in service and quality improvement, patient safety and is the only pharmacist to have been awarded a fellowship at the NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement, where she was part of the teaching faculty.
Justine’s appointment is part of carefully planned and managed leadership changes announced in August 2025 and designed to ensure that key appointments are in place as RPS transitions to become a royal college.
As director, Justine will lead the new Royal College’s ambitions to effectively champion pharmacy with policymakers, partners and stakeholders across Great Britain.
She will work with National Pharmacy Advisory Councils and country directors and teams in Scotland, Wales and England to drive forward pharmacy policy and practice.
She will also lead royal college activities across standards and guidance and science and research in pharmacy practice as well as the College’s heritage and library functions.
RPS chief executive Paul Bennett said, "I’m delighted to welcome Justine as our new Director of Pharmacy. This is a pivotal appointment for the organisation and Justine’s expertise, leadership experience and energy will be a great addition to the organisation and Executive team.
"She will play a central role in ensuring we deliver on our commitments and continue to champion the highest standards of patient safety and care.”
Regarding her new appointment Justine Scanlan, said, “I’m looking forward to joining the future Royal College of Pharmacy and working with colleagues, members and stakeholders to drive high standards in pharmacy practice, to ensure that the pharmaceutical care delivered to patients is of the best quality and that the safe use of medicines remains at the centre of everything we do.”
The transition to the Royal College of Pharmacy is expected to be completed by mid-April.
