An integrated care board (ICB) associate director has been elected as the first president of the new Royal College of Pharmacy.
Tase Oputu was elected to the role by the future college’s newly established advisory councils for England, Scotland and Wales, which will develop pharmacy policy and practice in their nations as part of the new college.
Her appointment is another key milestone in the Royal Pharmaceutical Society’s (RPS) transition into becoming a royal college on 15 April.
She is currently associate director for medicines optimisation, medicines value and performance at Kent and Medway NHS ICB.
Ms Oputu 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.
Ms Oputu said she was ‘delighted’ to have been elected and will focus on ‘rebuilding engagement and championing inclusion’.
She added: ‘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.’
RPS president Professor Claire Anderson welcomed Ms Oputu to the role and said her election ‘marks a key stage in the formation of the college’s governance and leadership structure’.
The advisory councils also internally elected their respective vice presidents who will serve as chairs, as well as vice chairs and additional members who will sit on the college’s senate.
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 president and vice presidents will also be full voting members of the board of trustees.
