Mahendra has a background spanning community pharmacy, academia, research, and health policy, with a focus on advancing health equity and inclusive practice and bringing frontline perspectives into leadership. 

He has held senior roles within the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, including national board member, assembly member, and treasurer. He also served as a Commissioner on the UK Pharmacy Commission, contributing to the establishment of the UK Pharmacy Professional Leadership Advisory Board, as Independent Expert Member. 

He played a leading role in the UK’s PRINCIPLE and PANORAMIC COVID-19 trials, pioneering inclusive recruitment strategies recognised internationally, including by the United Nations and World Health Organisation. This work led to the creation of the Centre for Research Equity at the University of Oxford, where he is Founding Director, collaborating with partners, including government agencies in Wales and Northern Ireland, to advance equitable participation in research. 

He has developed landmark partnerships across pharmacy and the wider health system, including with the National Pharmacy Association, the Guild of Healthcare Pharmacists, and pioneered student education and professional development through national work with the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, promoting evidence-based practice. 

He holds national advisory roles, including as Professional Advisor to the Chief Pharmaceutical Officer for NHS England and as a Commissioner on the BMJ Commission on the Future of the NHS. Equality, diversity, and inclusion underpin his work. 

Internationally, Mahendra works closely with the Indian Pharmaceutical Association on initiatives such as Antibiotic Guardians, collaborates with the International Pharmaceutical Federation, and is Patron of the Commonwealth Pharmacists Association. He is also a long-standing trustee of the Mouth Cancer Foundation and other charities supporting charitable fundraising, including recognition as a volunteer of the year by the British Heart Foundation.