Sandra Gidley elected as new president of RPS

Sandra Gidley

Sandra Gidley has been elected as the new president of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) by the RPS Assembly.

Gidley, who stood down as chair of the English Pharmacy Board in June 2019, ran against fellow English Pharmacy Board member Sibby Buckle.

Following a ballot, Paul Bennett, chief executive of the RPS, announced on 16 July 2019 that Gidley had been elected by a “clear majority”.

Inviting Gidley to take up her seat, Bennett noted “how good it is for the Society to have a woman as president for the first time since the RPS as a leadership body was formed”.

Gidley told the Assembly that she hoped her presidency would be characterised by “three C’s”. 

“First, a more collegiate approach: seeking ways for us to interact more frequently than the three times each year that we meet. Second, by challenge: it is our duty to challenge, and I hope we do it politely and constructively. Third, by communication: everybody here today knows how much we do, but somehow our members don’t. I would like that to be a focus,” she said.

She also paid tribute to Ash Soni, immediate past president of the Society, describing his tenure as “excellent” and wishing him the best for the future.

  • This article was amended on 16 July 2019 to clarify that Sandra Gidley is the first female RPS president since it was formed as a leadership body.
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Citation
The Pharmaceutical Journal, Sandra Gidley elected as new president of RPS;Online:DOI:10.1211/PJ.2019.20206819

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