Asif Sadiq
Asif Sadiq MBE will chair the Royal Pharmaceutical Society’s (RPS’s) new ‘Pharmacy inclusion and diversity programme’, the Society has confirmed.
The programme, which launched on 21 August 2019, aims to improve inclusion and diversity across the pharmacy profession. It will include a Women in Leadership event, to be held at the RPS’s London headquarters on 3 October 2019, as well as a celebration of Black History Month, which is held in October 2019.
Sadiq, currently head of diversity, inclusion and belonging at The  Telegraph and former head of the equality, diversity and human rights unit for the City of London Police, will work with members of the RPS and experts as an external chair to shape the programme. As part of this, the RPS will launch a profession-wide survey at the end of August 2019 in which both members and non-members will be able to help inform the programme’s direction.
Robbie Turner, director of pharmacy and member experience at the RPS and executive sponsor of the inclusion and diversity programme, said he would “urge everyone to use this opportunity to contribute and help us to make a real difference in this incredibly important area”.
On 4 November 2019, Sadiq will lead a strategic workshop to consider the programme’s strategy. At the RPS Conference, due to be held in London on 17 November 2019, Sadiq and the RPS team will feed back on findings from the survey and plans to date.
Sandra Gidley, president of the RPS, said that the Society wanted to “recognise, celebrate and encourage a variety of diverse voices and experiences across pharmacy to better represent our membership and pharmacists everywhere”.
“Championing the profession through the lens of inclusion and diversity is central to this ambition,” she said.
“Asif’s appointment is a significant milestone for the programme and I’m delighted to have him leading and informing the development of our inclusion and diversity strategy.”
Sadiq said he was “honoured to be part of this journey that [the RPS is] embarking on” and looks forward to “supporting such an important piece of work that will further embed the great work of the RPS in supporting all its members through creating a sense of belonging for all”.
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