This was published when the organisation was the Royal Pharmaceutical Society

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1. Engagement
2. What do regional ambassadors do?
3. Which regions do the ambassadors cover?
4. How can my regional ambassador help?
5. Who is my regional ambassador?

1. Engagement

The aim of the professional engagement team is to increase the impact of RPS engagement within the profession, for both members and non-members, to create a sense of professional belonging to the professional leadership body.

Meet the engagement team

2. What do regional ambassadors do?

Here to help

Sometimes, you don’t need the entire RPS to help you out. Perhaps you need support on a regional issue, introduction to a nearby contact, to promote a local event – anything that doesn’t necessarily involve all of GB pharmacy.

You can reach out to your Ambassador through RPS to ask for advice, introductions, a helping hand, and more. As experienced pharmacy professionals, they’re here to encourage discussions and local networking, and act as a bridge between RPS and our members. They have extensive local knowledge and networks – but they’re also volunteers, so there are limits to their powers!

Regional Ambassadors are here to help you and all the members of the profession in your region. Get to know them – and how they can represent – you, via the list of ambassadors below.

To contact your Ambassador, email [email protected]

3. Which regions do the Ambassadors cover?

1. England – East
2. England – London
3. England – East Midlands
4. England – West Midlands
5. England – North East & Yorkshire
6. England – North West
7. England – South East
8. England – South West
9. Jersey
10. Scotland – East
11. Scotland – North
12. Scotland – West
13. Wales – East
14. Wales – North
15. Wales – South West

4. How can my regional ambassador help me?

What can your Ambassador do to help you?

Please complete this form.

What can your Ambassador help with?

Regional ambassadors can:

• Encourage discussions and networking
• Link you, our members, to us, the RCPharm
• Introduce you to other healthcare professionals
• Liaise with professionals in other sectors
• Help to address recurring local issues (e.g. drug shortages)
• Share best practice
• Develop events to boost your skills
• Solve particular problems in your region.

Professional support

And don’t forget, even if your ambassador can’t help, our professional support team almost certainly can.

5. Who is my regional ambassador?

England – East

Chris Grahame

After completing the Bradford University Sandwich course in Pharmacy, Chris spent many of his formative years in the Pharmaceutical Industry in a variety of Sales and Management roles.

Returning to Pharmacy in 2010 Chris worked for several multiples and developed a passion and hunger for delivering Patient facing services and medication reviews. After completing a Prescribing qualification from Keele Pharmacy School (with Contraception as the speciality) in 2019, his desire for a more Clinically focussed role led to his current Clinical Pharmacist position in Northampton and Blue PCN.

Chris’ specialism in contraception has expanded into HRT & Menopause which interest and he now run his own menopause clinics in 2 separate Surgeries in Northampton.

Ever keen to develop and progress, Chris completed his Advanced Pharmacist Portfolio under the CPPE & RPS pilot in during 2024 and was awarded the digital signature through the Centre for Advancing Practice in May 2025.

Since completing the CPPE Primary Care Pathway in 2021 Chris has been heavily involved in post graduate education and mentoring. This includes working as a DPP to support three Trainee prescribers to achieve their IP accreditation.

Regarding development, Chris’ favourite quote is “If you’re not going forward, you’re standing still as the rest of the world races ahead”.

England – East Midlands

Rajshri Owen

Rajshri Owen is a Pharmacist and Independent Prescriber, RPS Ambassador, and senior healthcare leader with extensive experience across community pharmacy, system leadership, and national professional advocacy.

She is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Community Pharmacy Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland, where she provides strategic leadership at place and system level, working closely with Integrated Care Boards, NHS partners, and national stakeholders to shape the delivery, sustainability, and future clinical role of community pharmacy. Her work focuses on financial resilience, workforce development, service transformation, and enabling pharmacists to practise at the top of their licence.

Rajshri is recognised for her national contributions to community pharmacy policy, contractor engagement, and service implementation. She regularly supports and influences discussions on commissioning, clinical service expansion, and workforce capability, translating national policy into practical, deliverable models for frontline pharmacy teams.

Her clinical interests include women’s health, particularly menopause care, hormone replacement therapy (HRT), and personalised prescribing. Alongside her leadership role, she is developing pharmacy-led clinical and digital initiatives to improve access to evidence-based women’s healthcare.

As an RPS Ambassador, Rajshri is passionate about inclusive leadership, professional empowerment, and amplifying the voice of community pharmacists at regional and national level. She is committed to advancing pharmacy as a trusted, accessible clinical profession and to creating safe, supportive spaces for both professionals and patients.

England – North West

Sadie Pinkney

Sadie is currently a Lecturer in Pharmacy Practice at the University of Liverpool, where she is supporting the development and delivery of a brand new MPharm programme.

She has a diverse background spanning primary care, secondary care, and national roles, including previous experience as a Chief Pharmaceutical Officer’s Clinical Fellow based at CPPE. Her prior roles include Lead Integrated PCN Pharmacist, Medicines Safety Officer, and Lead Cardiology Pharmacist, with extensive experience in clinical governance, medicines optimisation, education and training, and workforce development.

Sadie has a strong interest in inclusive pharmacy practice, professional development, and preparing the future pharmacy workforce for evolving roles across the system. As an RPS Ambassador, she aims to bring pharmacy professionals together across sectors, support local engagement, and create opportunities for networking, shared learning, and collaboration within the North West region.

Steph Pacey

Steph is an experienced clinical pharmacist and independent prescriber working in primary care across Greater Manchester. Currently serving as Head of Medicines Optimisation and Prescribing for Stockport,  East Cluster Lead Pharmacist for Stockport and Tameside, and co-chair of the GM Pharmacy Workforce Group; Steph brings extensive expertise in medicines optimisation, strategic leadership, and service development.

Steph’s career spans primary care, community pharmacy, care homes, and NHS hospital settings, with a strong focus on improving patient outcomes through structured medication reviews, shared care protocols, and quality improvement initiatives. Steph is passionate about education, training, organisational development and mentoring, supporting the development of pharmacy professionals and promoting best practice across systems.

As Regional Ambassador, Steph aims to champion collaboration, innovation, and professional engagement to strengthen the RPS pharmacy professionals’ network in the North West and support the transition to the Royal College of Pharmacy.

England – South West

Joanne Clarke

Jo is currently Deputy Chief Pharmacist for HCRG Care Group providing medicines-related support and assurance across adult and children community healthcare, prison healthcare and sexual health services across the country.  She is also Chair of the UKCPA Community Health Services Committee.

She has a diverse background covering most sectors of pharmacy, with a passion for education and development of the profession, medicines safety and palliative care.  She aims to use her role as Ambassador to promote the profession and support pharmacy professionals within the South West of England.

Scotland – East

Giovanna DiTano

An active RPS member for many years, Giovanna is passionate about supporting the wellbeing of pharmacists and promoting mentoring within the profession.

She wishes to create events that showcase the different sectors of pharmacy and create strong cross sector networks within her Region.

Wales – East

Anya Bowen

Anya is currently working as a cluster pharmacist within Cwm Taf Morgannwg.

As Ambassador, she will encourage discussions and local networking in order to strengthen relationships within the area, enhance individual growth and understand common concerns to become the bridge between the RPS and its members.

London

Bhavna Halai

Bhavna is a clinical pharmacist and independent prescriber with specialist expertise in HIV and sexual health, medicines safety, and regulation. She works as a Specialist Pharmacist at the Care Quality Commission, supporting safe medicines practice and regulatory standards across health and care services.

With experience spanning leadership, medicines safety, and national policy development, Bhavna is excited to champion diversity and inclusion as an RPS Ambassador. She is passionate about bringing pharmacists together and sparking conversations that inspire leadership, innovation, and positive change for patients and the profession.

England – West Midlands

Coming soon

England – North East & Yorkshire

Amna Khan-Patel

Amna is currently one of the Chief Pharmaceutical Officer’s Clinical Fellows working at NHS England.

Having worked in secondary care for over 10 years, Amna is passionate about the pharmacy profession and the need for inclusivity.

Prior to her current role, she was the Education and Training Lead and has attained her independent prescribing qualification in renal medicine.

She is looking forward to connecting with pharmacy professionals across all sectors of practice to cultivate a network for peers to share learning, and ideas.

Helena Young

Helena is a Senior Learning and Development Pharmacist with the Centre for Pharmacy Postgraduate Education (CPPE) with a diverse “squiggly” career spanning community pharmacy, education, primary care and governance.

She previously worked as an Education Supervisor on the Primary Care Pharmacy Education Pathway, supporting pharmacy professionals to grow their skills and confidence in patient facing roles.

As an RPS Regional Ambassador, Helena is excited to connect with pharmacy colleagues across the region, especially at this pivotal moment for the profession with the formation of the Royal College of Pharmacy.

England – South East

Nipa Patel

Nipa Patel is a Lead PCN pharmacist in Surrey. She is an advanced clinical pharmacist with experience in PCT, CCG, general practice and secondary care.

Her special interests are Respiratory and CVD.

She is an experienced trainer delivering education for postgraduate and foundation pharmacists.

As an Ambassador, she wants to foster local networking to promote joint working across sectors and support development of roles.

Jersey

Simon Wall

Simon has been a community pharmacist in Jersey for the last 16 years.

Already a prominent figure within the pharmacy profession in Jersey, he brings a wealth of knowledge, experience, and enthusiasm to the role.

Simon attends monthly meetings with fellow pharmacy representatives and these well-established relationships will be invaluable in his role as Ambassador.

Scotland – North

Vacancy

Wales – North

Anna Croston

Anna is currently a Community Pharmacist based in North Wales. Anna is qualified as an Independent Prescriber.

Anna is passionate about lifestyle medicine and empowering patients to take control of their health and well-being. 

As an Ambassador, she wants to raise awareness of the benefits of being an RPS member and build a support network for all pharmacy professionals within the locality.

Wales – South West

Nerys Forster

Nerys has a diverse background, covering most sectors of pharmacy. Currently working for Health Education and Improvements Wales leading the development of the clinical undergraduate placements.

She is an Independent Prescriber and aims to utilise her practice and clinical experience to bring members of the community together, to network and form relationships across sectors to enrich and influence each other, and to share ideas and to promote learning opportunities to help deliver a healthier Wales.

Scotland – West

Mariam Al-Hajaj

Mariam is an Independent Prescribing pharmacist currently working across both NHS and private healthcare settings within the West of Scotland.

She has previously held roles in digital pharmacy, giving her valuable insight into technology dependent care pharmaceutical practice.

As Regional Ambassador, she is keen to promote diverse learning opportunities and improve pharmacy education by encouraging mentorship at early stages of student pharmacist journeys. She aims to use her ambassador role to collaborate with other ambassadors to share ideas to better strengthen relationships between various professionals in her area.