The Royal Pharmaceutical Society on Friday (27) announced that Tase Oputu has been elected as the college’s first president by the newly-established National Pharmacy Advisory Councils for England, Scotland and Wales.
Tase was elected as a member of the RPS English Pharmacy Board in June 2021 and has served as Chair of the Board since June 2023. She is also a member of the RPS Assembly.
The councils of England, Scotland and Wales have also elected vice president, who will serve as chair of the Council, a vice chair, and another member who will sit on the Senate.
English Pharmacy Advisory Council
| Vice president/chair | Mahendra G Patel |
| Vice chair | Mildred Johnson |
| Senate | Claire Anderson |
Scottish Pharmacy Advisory Council
| Vice president/chair | Catriona Sinclair |
| Vice chair | Josh Miller |
| Senate | Laura Fulton |
Welsh Pharmacy Advisory Council
| Vice president/chair | Liz Hallett |
| Vice chair | Aled Roberts |
| Senate | Eleri Schiavone |
The president will lead the Senate, which will help determine the strategic direction of pharmacy professional leadership and advise the Trustee Board on professional matters.
The vice presidents and their vice chairs will sit as members of the College’s Senate.
The president and vice presidents will also be full voting members of the Board of Trustees, ensuring strong professional representation at the highest level of decision-making.
RPS president Professor Claire Anderson said, “I warmly welcome Tase as the first President of the Royal College of Pharmacy and wish her every success. Her election marks a key stage in the formation of the College’s governance and leadership structure as we work to establish the new Royal College as a modern and unifying professional leadership body for pharmacy.”
Tase Oputu said, “I am delighted to have been elected as the first-ever president of the Royal College of Pharmacy. The creation of the college presents a unique chance to shape the future of pharmacy.
“As president, I will focus on establishing the college as a confident voice, developing our five-year strategy, rebuilding engagement and championing inclusion.”
A unique chance to raise standards: Patel
Shortly after his election as English Pharmacy Advisory Council vice president, Professor Mahendra G Patel told Pharmacy Business, "The transition to a Royal College of Pharmacy is a true game changer, celebrating the strength, ambition, and growing confidence of pharmacists and pharmacy technicians alike. As an elected member of Council, Chair of the English Council, and Vice President, I see this as a unique moment to unite our voice, raise standards, and support our workforce across sectors and nations - building a profession recognised, trusted, and valued at the heart of patient care.
"This is our chance to inspire, collaborate, and co-create a College that everyone can be proud of. By working together, we can drive excellence, champion inclusive and equitable practice, and deliver real impact for patients, communities, and the public—fostering pride, belonging, and shared ownership across the whole pharmacy workforce."
