Tase Oputu has been elected as the first president of the future Royal College of Pharmacy.
Her appointment is another key milestone in the Royal Pharmaceutical Society’s (RPS) transition into becoming a Royal College on 15 April 2026, after King Charles III approved changes to the organisation’s Royal Charter earlier this week.
The appointment was made by the newly established advisory councils for England, Scotland and Wales, which will develop pharmacy policy and practice in their nations as part of the new college.
Ms Oputu was elected as a member of the RPS English pharmacy board in June 2021 and has served as chair of the board since June 2023. She is also a member of the RPS Assembly.
She is currently associate director for medicines optimisation, medicines value and performance at Kent and Medway NHS Integrated Care Board.
‘A unique chance to shape the future of pharmacy’
Ms Oputu said she was ‘delighted’ to have been elected, adding: ‘The creation of the College presents a unique chance to shape the future of pharmacy.
‘As president, I will focus on establishing the College as a confident voice, developing our five-year strategy, rebuilding engagement and championing inclusion.’
RPS president Professor Claire Anderson welcomed Ms Oputu to the role and said her election ‘marks a key stage in the formation of the College’s governance and leadership structure’.
Council chairs and senate
The advisory councils also internally elected their respective vice presidents who will serve as chairs, as well as vice chairs and additional members who will sit on the College’s senate.
England
- Vice president/chair – Mahendra Patel
- Vice chair – Mildred Johnson
- Senate – Claire Anderson
Wales
- Vice president/chair: Liz Hallett
- Vice chair: Aled Roberts
- Senate:Eleri Schiavone
Scotland
- Vice president/chair – Catriona Sinclair
- Vice chair – Josh Miller
- Senate – Laura Fulton
As president, Ms Oputu will lead the senate, which will help to determine the strategic direction of pharmacy professional leadership and advise the Board of Trustees on professional matters.
The president and vice presidents will also be full voting members of the Board of Trustees.
A version of this article was originally published by our sister publication The Pharmacist.
