GPhC appoints Gisela Abbam as its new chair

General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) has appointed Gisela Abbam as its new chair.

Appointment of Abbam, who will assume office on March 14, 2022, was made by the Privy Council after a robust selection process which was scrutinised by the Professional Standards Authority.

She will take over from the current chair, Nigel Clarke, who has been in position since 2014 and has completed the statutory maximum eight years in office.

Commenting on her appointment, Abbam said: "I am delighted and honoured to be appointed as the new chair of the General Pharmaceutical Council and I look forward to leading the Council to achieve its vision of safe and effective pharmacy care at the heart of healthier communities.

“Covid-19 highlighted the increased role of pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and pharmacies in providing clinical services. Effective standards and regulation can help pharmacy to provide more support to patients and the public at large. I look forward to working with Council, the Executive team and staff and collaborating with other organisations to improve the health of people using pharmacy services."

Welcoming Abbam to the Council, Clarke, said: “Gisela is joining the GPhC at an exciting time of major changes in both pharmacy and health regulation. I am sure her vast experience in healthcare will help the GPhC drive forward the aims set out in our Vision 2030, and bring a real focus on the difference we want to make for patients and the public.”

Previously, Abbam was chair of the British Science Association (BSA). During her tenure, she led the BSA’s Council and championed the BSA mission and vision, driving forward an agenda on equality, diversity, and inclusion in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths).

She has worked in collaboration with governments, the World Health Organisation, the United Nations, and other multilateral organisations to improve health outcomes for people across the world.

She is also the senior director government affairs for EMEAI at PerkinElmer, a global provider of end-to-end solutions that help scientists, researchers and clinicians better diagnose disease, discover new and more personalised drugs, monitor the safety and quality of food.

Besides, she serves on a number of advisory committees and sits on the Board of Everywoman Ltd., an organisation dedicated to advancing women in business.

Many in the industry congratulated the Council on the new appointment.

Welcoming the new GPhC chair, Mark Lyonette, chief executive of National Pharmacy Association wrote on twitter, “looking forward to meeting @gmabbam once she starts.