APTUK
Tess Fenn, who announced her decision to step down as president of the Association of Pharmacy Technicians UK (APTUK) at its annual conference on 17 June 2018, has said she hopes the next president will work to ensure pharmacy technicians are equally valued and utilised as pharmacy professionals.
“I hope to see APTUK continue to grow and evolve into the professional leadership body it aspires to be … I would like to see support from the whole pharmacy profession and policymakers in helping APTUK to achieve this and to ensure it remains a viable and sustainable organisation,” she said.
APTUK governance sets the president’s term of office at two years, with a maximum of three terms. As Fenn enters the final year of her second term, she said she felt unable to commit to another two years.
“I have not made this very difficult decision lightly; however, it is based on a number of considerations,” she said.
“Some are for personal reasons — as life moves on and I need to spend more time with my family.
“Also, as I am retired from the NHS and am no longer working in pharmacy practice, I feel now is the right time to hand over the leadership and presidency.
“This will give the space for a new president who can bring renewed vision and energy to the Association; one who is closer to the evolving pharmacy technician role and who is still part-way along their career path and the profession’s future.”
Fenn took over as president of the APTUK in 2014, when she faced several challenges to raise the organisation’s profile, increase membership numbers and support the evolution of pharmacy technicians from “an occupation status to that of a profession”.
“All of these challenges were, and still are to a certain extent, ongoing; however, APTUK has grown its professional leadership status and is on an upward journey steadily attracting and increasing membership of pharmacy technicians from all sectors,” she said.
