The General Pharmaceutical Council has appointed Dr Mat Smith as the new Chair of the Board of Assessors.
The role of the Board of Assessors is to assure the registration assessment, through setting and moderating the question papers. All decisions about questions, papers, candidates and pass marks are made by the board.
Dr Smith is a pharmacist and Reader and the Director of Learning and Education at the School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences at Cardiff University. Mat has been a member of the Board of Assessors since 2016 and was appointed as Chair following a competitive application process.
Dr Smith replaces Professor Andrew Husband, who has served as Chair of the Board since 2016, and will take up the role with immediate effect.
Gisela Abbam, Chair of the GPhC, said:
“I would like to congratulate Dr Mat Smith on his appointment. I look forward to working with Mat as he leads the board to deliver the registration assessments in June and November, as well as considering how the assessment develops in future years. I would also like to give my thanks to Professor Andrew Husband for all his work in chairing the Board over the last eight years.”
Mat Smith, Chair of the Board of Assessors, said:
“I’m honoured to Chair the Board of Assessors for the pharmacist registration assessment in this next phase of development to address the 2021 Initial Education and Training of Pharmacist standards. I look forward to working with the Council and Board Member colleagues during this exciting time for pharmacy education and practice.”