Geraldine McCaffrey appointed as RPS director for Wales

This news story was published when the organisation was the Royal Pharmaceutical Society.  Following a rigorous and structured appointment process, RPS is pleased to announce the appointment of Geraldine McCaffrey, MRPharmS as its new Director for Wales. Geraldine, who is currently principal pharmacist, Research and Development at Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, and is at present on secondment to Digital Health Care Wales as senior clinical informatics lead, is also the current chair of the RPS National Pharmacy Board for Wales and member of the RPS Assembly. She succeeds Elen Jones who has recently been appointed as the new pharmacy dean at HEIW. Geraldine will be stepping down from her position as chair of the Wales National Board and member of Assembly before commencing her new role and will initially report to Paul Bennett, chief executive of the RPS, until the new director of pharmacy for the future Royal College of Pharmacy has been appointed. She will take up her new responsibilities from 1 December 2025. Paul Bennett, chief executive of the RPS, said:  “I would like to thank all those who applied for this important role. The high calibre of candidates and significant interest in this role reflects the professionalism and talent across pharmacy in Wales. “Geraldine brings a wealth of experience, from a distinguished career so far which includes her recent work on the establishment of the Shared Medicines Record for Wales. She has a proven track record of working with a wide variety of stakeholders and her ability to build strong relationships and drive positive change are exactly the attributes we were looking for as we transition towards becoming the Royal College of Pharmacy and advancing pharmacy across Wales and beyond. I look forward to working with Geraldine as we embark on this exciting new chapter.” McCaffrey said: "I’m delighted to be appointed director for Wales at the RPS and excited to further develop my advocacy for the profession in Wales. It’s been a privilege to serve as chair of the Welsh Pharmacy Board, and I look forward to working with members, board colleagues and the RPS team to shape our future strategy and realise our commitments. Within Wales we’ll soon launch our next interim goals towards the 2030 vision, ‘Pharmacy: Delivering a Healthier Wales’. Having been part of the Delivery Board since its inception, I’m eager to collaborate with pharmacy teams and stakeholders to help realise that ambition." Cath O’Brien, chief pharmacy information officer for Digital Health and Care Wales, said: “Geraldine has played a key leadership role in realising the concept and vision of the Shared Medicines Record, considering the ways it will be used by, and benefit, clinicians and patients and we look forward to working with her in her new role to support the digital medicines ambition for NHS Wales.” Penodi Geraldine McCaffrey fel Cyfarwyddwr RPS dros Gymru Yn dilyn proses drylwyr a strwythedig, mae RPS yn falch o gyhoeddi penodiad Geraldine McCaffrey, MRPharmS fel ei Chyfarwyddwr newydd dros Gymru. Mae Geraldine, sydd ar hyn o bryd yn Brif Fferyllydd Ymchwil a Datblygu gyda Bwrdd Iechyd Prifysgol Betsi Cadwaladr, ac ar secondiad ar hyn o bryd i Iechyd a Gofal Digidol Cymru fel Arweinydd Gwybodaeth Glinigol Uwch, hefyd yn Gadeirydd presennol Bwrdd Cenedlaethol Fferylliaeth RPS Cymru ac yn aelod o Gynulliad RPS. Mae’n olynu Elen Jones sydd newydd gael ei phenodi’n Deon Fferylliaeth newydd yn AaGIC. Bydd Geraldine yn camu i lawr o’i rôl fel Cadeirydd Bwrdd Cenedlaethol Cymru ac aelod o’r Cynulliad cyn dechrau yn ei rôl newydd, a bydd yn adrodd yn uniongyrchol i Paul Bennett, Prif Weithredwr RPS, tan y bydd Cyfarwyddwr Fferylliaeth newydd ar gyfer Y Coleg Brenhinol Fferylliaeth yn y dyfodol wedi’i benodi. Bydd hi’n dechrau ar ei chyfrifoldebau newydd o 01 Rhagfyr 2025. Dywedodd Paul Bennett, Prif Weithredwr RPS: “Hoffwn ddiolch i bawb a wnaeth gais am y rôl bwysig hon. Mae safon uchel yr ymgeiswyr a’r diddordeb sylweddol yn y rôl hon yn adlewyrchu’r proffesiynoldeb a’r dalent ar draws fferylliaeth yng Nghymru. “Mae Geraldine yn dod â chyfoeth o brofiad, o yrfa nodedig hyd yma sy’n cynnwys ei gwaith diweddar ar sefydlu’r Cofnod Meddyginiaethau ar gyfer Cymru. Mae ganddi hanes profedig o weithio gyda amrywiaeth eang o randdeiliaid ac mae ei gallu i adeiladu perthnasoedd cryf a gyrru newid cadarnhaol yn union yr hyn yr oeddem yn chwilio amdano wrth i ni bontio tuag at ddod yn Goleg Brenhinol Fferylliaeth ac i hyrwyddo fferylliaeth ar draws Cymru a thu hwnt. Edrychaf ymlaen at weithio gyda Geraldine wrth i ni gychwyn ar y bennod gyffrous hon.” Dywedodd Geraldine McCaffrey: “Rwy’n falch iawn o gael fy mhenodi’n Gyfarwyddwr dros Gymru yn RPS ac yn gyffrous i ddatblygu ymhellach fy eiriolaeth dros y proffesiwn yng Nghymru. Mae wedi bod yn fraint gwasanaethu fel Cadeirydd Bwrdd Fferylliaeth Cymru, ac edrychaf ymlaen at weithio gyda’r aelodau, cyd-aelodau’r bwrdd a thîm RPS i lunio ein strategaeth ar gyfer y dyfodol ac i wireddu ein hymrwymiadau. Yng Nghymru, byddwn yn lansio’n fuan ein nodau nesaf tuag at y weledigaeth 2030, ‘Fferylliaeth: Darparu Cymru Iachach’. Wedi bod yn rhan o’r Bwrdd Cyflawni ers ei sefydlu, rwy’n awyddus i gydweithio gyda thimau fferylliaeth i helpu i wireddu’r uchelgais honno.” Dywedodd Cath O’Brien, Prif Swyddog Gwybodaeth Fferylliaeth ar gyfer Iechyd a Gofal Digidol Cymru: “Mae Geraldine wedi chwarae rôl arweiniol allweddol wrth wireddu’r cysyniad a’r weledigaeth ar gyfer y Cofnod Meddyginiaethau a Rennir, gan ystyried y ffyrdd y bydd yn cael ei ddefnyddio gan glinigwyr a’r buddion i gleifion. Edrychwn ymlaen at weithio gyda hi yn ei rôl newydd i gefnogi uchelgais meddyginiaethau digidol GIG Cymru.” Find out more about RPS Wales. Read more RCPharm news stories.