College President and Fellows recognised in Honouring Black Britain 2026
Published: 1 October 2026
The President of the Royal College of Pharmacy (RCPharm), Tase Oputu, and two College Fellows, Professor Diane Ashiru-Oredope and Ade Williams MBE, have been recognised as part of Honouring Black Britain 2026, in recognition of their contributions to pharmacy, public health and their communities.
Honouring Black Britain is a national recognition programme forming part of Black History Month. It features 54 people selected from hundreds of nominations, representing different generations, professions and experiences across the UK. Honourees are featured in the Black History Month Magazine, a national exhibition poster series and across digital platforms.
Tase Oputu, the first President of the royal college, has been recognised for her leadership within the pharmacy profession and her commitment to advancing equity, inclusion and professional excellence. As a pharmacist, educator and leader, she has championed opportunities for the next generation of pharmacy professionals while promoting the vital contribution pharmacists make to improving patient care and reducing health inequalities. She has consistently highlighted the experiences of Black pharmacy professionals and encouraged colleagues to take their place in leadership roles.
Professor Diane Ashiru-Oredope FRCPharm has been recognised in the Public Health, Pharmacy and Science category for her pioneering work in public health and tackling antimicrobial resistance. Through research, professional leadership and the Antibiotic Guardian campaign, her work has helped influence practice in the UK and internationally. Diane is Lead Pharmacist for healthcare-associated infections and antimicrobial resistance at the UK Health Security Agency and has been an RCPharm Fellow since 2017. She is passionate about mentoring and has worked to improve opportunities for Black people and others who remain under-represented in healthcare leadership.
Ade Williams FRCPharm MBE has been recognised for his contribution to making community pharmacy a trusted and accessible place for healthcare. A community pharmacist, independent prescriber and Lead Pharmacist at Bedminster Pharmacy in Bristol, Ade has championed prevention, vaccination and reducing health inequalities. He has been an RCPharm Fellow since 2018 and was awarded an MBE in 2022 for services to the NHS and the South Bristol community.
Tase Oputu, President of the Royal College of Pharmacy, said:
“I am honoured to be recognised alongside Professor Diane Ashiru-Oredope and Ade Williams MBE through Honouring Black Britain 2026.
“So many Black pharmacy professionals make an extraordinary contribution to patient care, public health, research and their communities. I hope this recognition will inspire future generations and highlight the positive impact pharmacy teams have across the country.”
Find out more about Honouring Black Britain 2026.
Related news
Celebrating South Asian Heritage Month at the Royal College of Pharmacy
Members, partners and colleagues came together on 29 July for Many Threads, One Fabric, the Royal College of Pharmacy's South Asian Heritage Month event celebrating the rich diversity, cultures and lived experiences of South Asian communities in pharmacy. Held both in person at the Royal College of Pharmacy's London headquarters and online, the event provided an opportunity to reflect on identity, inclusion and the contribution of South Asian communities to the pharmacy profession. The evening opened with welcome remarks from Amandeep Doll, Director for England at the Royal College of Pharmacy, before Alishah Lakha, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Lead at the Association of Pharmacy Technicians UK (APTUK), delivered the keynote address. Drawing on her personal and professional journey, Alishah reflected on identity, belonging and leadership. (Left: Amandeep Doll. Right: Alishah Lahka) A panel discussion, chaired by Carolyn Scott, Editor of Pharmacy Business, brought together Dalvinder Moman, Maheer Khan, Atif Shamim and Anisa Islam to explore heritage, leadership and representation in pharmacy. Panellists discussed the importance of creating inclusive workplaces, tackling health inequities, and ensuring that people from all backgrounds have opportunities to lead and thrive within the profession. (From left to right: Dalvinder Moman, Maheer Khan, Atif Shamim, Carolyn Scott and Anisa Islam) The event concluded with an original spoken word performance, Thread Count, by Poonam Lumb, Lead Pharmacist for Women and Children at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust. Introduced by Tase Oputu, President of the Royal College of Pharmacy, the poem reflected on the event's theme, Many Threads, One Fabric, celebrating identity, belonging and the strength found in diversity. (Left: Tase Oputu. Right: Poonam Lumb) The evening concluded with an opportunity for attendees to network over traditional South Asian food, continuing the conversations and connections inspired by the event. (All photographs courtesy of the Royal College of Pharmacy) The Royal College of Pharmacy would like to thank the Association of Pharmacy Technicians UK, the British Pharmaceutical Students' Association (BPSA), the Female Pharmacy Leaders Network, the Guild of Healthcare Pharmacists, Pharmacy Technicians of Colour, the UK Black Pharmacist Association and Pharmacy Business magazine for their collaboration in making this year's event possible. Thank you also to everyone who attended, shared their experiences and contributed to the thoughtful discussions throughout the evening. This event forms part of the Royal College of Pharmacy's wider programme celebrating diversity and inclusion across the profession. Upcoming events Evolving Threads – East and South East Asian Heritage Month 2026 – Wednesday 16 September, 7pm–8.30pm (online). Registration is now open. Black History Month Celebrations 2026 – Honouring Our Communities – Thursday 8 October, 5pm–8pm (in person and online). Registration is now open.
Royal College of Pharmacy welcomes new pharmacy minister
The Royal College of Pharmacy welcomes Dame Diana Johnson as the new minister responsible for pharmacy and calls for pharmacy to be central to NHS reforms.