2026 elections for the future Royal College of Pharmacy

Inaugural elections for the future Royal College of Pharmacy were held in early 2026.

Elections were for places on the three National Pharmacy Advisory Councils (currently called National Pharmacy Boards) in England, Scotland and Wales, which are a pivotal part of the new governance structure. The elections offered an exciting and unique opportunity to shape the new organisation – particularly pharmacy policy and practice - in each nation and across Great Britain.

Find out more about the candidates who stood for election

Results of the 2026 elections

Below are the results for election to the National Advisory Councils for the future Royal College of Pharmacy.

Download the full results (PDF)

English Pharmacy Advisory Council

The following candidates have been elected to the eight substantive places on the English Pharmacy Advisory Council:

  • Bruce Warner elected for a term of three years
  • Joseph Williams elected for a term of three years
  • Mahendra G Patel OBE elected for a term of three years
  • Claire Nevinson elected for a term of three years
  • Katherine Pearson elected for a term of two years
  • Sarah Baig elected for a term of two years
  • Mildred Johnson elected for a term of two years
  • Aisling Considine elected for a term of two years.

Scottish Pharmacy Advisory Council

The following candidates have been elected to the five substantive places on the Scottish Pharmacy Advisory Council:

  • Jonathan Burton elected for a term of three years
  • Kellie King elected for a term of three years
  • Joshua Miller elected for a term of three years
  • Paul Forsyth elected for a term of two years
  • Jill Swan elected for a term of two years.

Welsh Pharmacy Advisory Council

The following candidates have been elected to the six substantive places on the Welsh Pharmacy Board:

  • Aled Roberts elected for a term of three years
  • Gareth Hughes elected for a term of three years
  • Liz Hallett elected for a term of three years
  • Sarah Brown elected for a term of two years
  • Clare Clement elected for a term of two years
  • Amy Jayham elected for a term of two years.

2026 elections for the future royal college - key dates

The three National Pharmacy Advisory Councils for England, Scotland and Wales will contribute to the development of the College’s strategy and aid its implementation within each nation.

Each council, and its elected members, will be responsible for:

  • Developing pharmacy policy and practice in their nation
  • Supporting professional development activity in their nation
  • Engaging with members and representing the College.

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Information about the elections

If you would like to know more about the elections, please have a look at the following information:

  • Read the Elections Pack, which provides an overview of the elections process, roles and responsibilities of the governance structure, vacancies and criteria
  • If you’d then like further information, have a look at the Information for Candidates document, which gives additional detail on the elections process and criteria, as well as rules and guidance on campaigning
  • Take a look below at our FAQs on nominations.

More about the National Pharmacy Advisory Council elections

Once all shortlisted candidates have been announced, all full members (those able to use MRPharmS and FRPharmS post nominals) will be invited to take part in the vote which will open at 9am on Monday, 23 February and will close at 5pm on Wednesday, 11 March 2026. Anyone wishing to vote in these inaugural elections must be a full member on Thursday, 29 January 2026 at 5pm.

Read our news story about the 2026 elections for the future Royal College of Pharmacy.

Election Scheme

Read the full Election Scheme for the 2026 elections.

What’s it like to be an elected member?

Hear from previous elected members about their experiences of sitting on a National Pharmacy Board.

Professor Claire Anderson 2026 election quote Audrey Thompson 2026 election quote card

Tase Oputu 2026 election quote card

Officer roles – President, Vice President and Vice Chair

In a normal year, following these elections and once all elected candidates had been appointed and completed their induction, we would hold Officer elections for the President, Vice President and Vice Chair roles (voted for by fellow Council members). However, in order for us to manage a transition to the Royal College of Pharmacy that culminates in the population of five elected members onto the Board of Trustees, we need to hold Officer elections for these specific roles earlier than usual, immediately after the Council election results on Friday, 13 March 2026.

If you decide to stand for election and would also like to put yourself forward for an Officer role (President, Vice President or Vice Chair), you will therefore need to consider your personal statement which sets out to your fellow Council Members why you are the right person to hold one of these roles by 9am on Tuesday, 17 March 2026 – a few days after the election results are announced.

Find out more about the roles and responsibilities of the President, Vice President and Vice Chair:

Election FAQs

Here are some frequently asked questions about the elections, about both nominating and voting in the elections.

If you have a question which isn’t answered here, please email [email protected], and we will get back to you as soon as possible.

1. Voting

  • Who is eligible to vote in the National Pharmacy Advisory Council elections?
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    Any Members (MRPharmS) and Fellow (FRPharmS) who are members of the Society on the Electoral Roll Closure date, which is 5pm on Thursday, 29 January 2026, are eligible to vote in the election for their nominated nation.

  • When does voting open and close?
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    Voting in the elections to the National Pharmacy Advisory Councils for England and Wales opens at 9am on Monday, 23 February 2026 and closes at 5pm on Wednesday, 11 March 2026. 

    In Scotland the number of candidates matches the number of vacancies, so there will be no election.

  • How do I find out more information about the candidates?
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    You can read about each candidate in more detail on the Pharmaceutical Journal’s elections hub. 

    You can find detailed information about each candidate, and how to vote, on the website of our Independent Scrutineer Mi-Voice.

  • How many candidates can I vote for?
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    Each voting member will have the same number of votes as there are vacancies on the National Pharmacy Advisory Council that is being elected to. So, if there are three vacancies, you will have three votes to cast.

  • How many seats are up for election on each Council?
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    There are eight vacancies in England, six in Wales, and five in Scotland.

    In Scotland the number of candidates matches the number of vacancies, so there will be no election.

  • How do I vote?
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    Voting takes place online via our Independent Scrutineer, Mi-Voice’s website, or by using the link in the voting email that eligible Members will receive. Voting opens at 9am on Monday, 23 February, and you’ll need to enter your surname, date of birth, and RPS membership number on the Mi-Voice platform in order to vote.

    You will be able to cast the same number of votes as there are vacancies on the Council that you are electing. Select the candidate/s you wish to vote for; you must select at least one candidate to cast your vote, but you are under no obligation to use all your allocated votes. Once you have submitted your selection you won’t be able to vote again, change, or withdraw your vote.

  • How will terms of office be decided?
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    Terms of office are for either two or three years. 

    In Scotland, as there is no Member vote, this will be decided by randomised selection by the scrutineer, Mi-Voice. 

    In England and Wales it will be decided by the number of votes cast for the candidate.

  • What happens if a candidate decides to withdraw from the elections?
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    Candidates have until 5pm on 18 February 2026 to officially withdraw from standing in the elections. 

    In the event that a candidate withdraws after this date, their votes will not be re-allocated and the next candidate ‘past the post’ will be allocated the relevant space.

  • How are you ensuring the elections are fair and inclusive?
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    RPS is committed to ensuring a fair, rigorous, and transparent elections process. The Independent Scrutineer, Mi-Voice, is responsible for ensuring the integrity of the elections, supported by the Returning Officers for each country (RPS Country Directors). 

    RPS conducted an Equality Impact Assessment on its process and Election Pack prior to publication and candidates have been given clear guidelines about campaigning.

  • When will the results be announced?
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    All results of the National Pharmacy Advisory Council elections will be announced on Friday, 13 March, or as soon as possible thereafter, with successful candidates being those who received the highest number of votes.

2. Expenses

  • Will Trustees, Senate or Council Members receive expenses?
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    The Royal Pharmaceutical Society Travel and Expenses Policy applies until the date the Royal Charter is amended, and RPS becomes the Royal College of Pharmacy. On that date a new Expenses Policy that complies with guidance from the Charity Commission and Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR), and the amended Royal Charter will be put in place. RPS has opted for a governance model where National Pharmacy Advisory Council Members can sit as Trustees via Senate; therefore, the policy will apply to all governance body members. As of January 2026, RPS is still waiting for approval of this policy by charity regulators.

  • Why will the Royal College use a different expenses policy?
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    The Royal College will be a registered charity and therefore is subject to charity law, which requires that governance body members cannot benefit from their positions (including by receiving remuneration) unless there is authority for the benefit. Further, the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005, provides (in general terms) that remuneration can only be paid to Trustees if fewer than half of them are in receipt (and contains additional safeguards). Additionally, whether or not a Governance Body Member benefits from a payment made by the College, the College will need to be satisfied that the payment is appropriate in furtherance of its charitable purposes having regard to the Charity Commission’s and OSCR's guidance on public benefit.

  • What are the main differences likely to be between the current and future expenses policies?
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    Governance body members may continue to receive reasonable incurred expenses (travel, meals, accommodation etc). Payment of an allowance, such as the Day Rate, is potentially classed as ‘renumeration’. A Day Rate may be paid in limited situations to be set out in the new College Expenses Policy but would be subject to the discretion of the Chair of the Board of Trustees.