Existing GPhC Council and Executive members have formed a new working group of “Anti-Racism Champions” to provide visible and vocal leadership, internally and externally.
In July, our Governing Council discussed the next steps on our Racism in Pharmacy work, following on from our earlier equality roundtables and associated reports. This work remains an important part of our EDI strategy and our commitment to being proactive and using all our regulatory levers and influence to help tackle discrimination and reduce health inequalities. The Council will be discussing our wider EDI work in public session in September, with an update on all of the activity completed in 2023/24 (Year 2) of our strategy.
To support our anti-racism agenda, the Council and Executive have formed a new working group of “Anti-Racism Champions”, to support delivery of our commitments in this area and provide visible and vocal leadership on anti-racism. The group includes people with lived experience and allies who will help shape future action. The group members are:
- Gisela Abbam, Chair of Council
- Ade Williams, pharmacist member of Council
- Ann Jacklin, pharmacist member of Council
- Gareth Powell, lay member of Council
- Dionne Spence, Chief Enforcement Officer & Deputy Registrar
- Louise Edwards, Chief Strategy Officer & Deputy Registrar
- Laura McClintock, Chief of Staff
There is a lot of work happening in our organisation and across the sector. Yet, we know from our discussions and engagement work that pharmacy professionals continue to experience discrimination and racism in practice and throughout their careers, even at the most senior levels. We should all be determined to change this.
Building on the work we have already done, we want to promote and foster a workplace environment within the pharmacy profession where every individual feels valued, included, and empowered to contribute meaningfully, at all levels. The new group will help us drive forward our commitments in this area, holding ourselves to the same high standards we expect of others.