The General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) has announced the appointment of five new members to its governing council, including a community pharmacist.

Adeyemi (Ade) Williams, superintendent pharmacist and director of M J Williams Pharmacy, and lead pharmacist at the Bedminster Pharmacy, Bristol, will begin his term on 1 April 2024.

Joining him will be Professor Dianne Ford, pro vice-chancellor of the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences at Northumbria University, and Gareth Powell, a Cardiff-based chartered accountant and former chief operating officer of BBC Wales. They will replace Jo Kember, Mark Hammond, and Dr Arun Midha.

Meanwhile, Tim Jaggard and Dr Raliat Onatade will begin their terms on 1 April 2025.

Mr Jaggard is deputy chief executive and chief financial officer at University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, while Dr Onatade is chief pharmacist and director of medicines and pharmacy for North-East London Integrated Care System.

Dr Onatade is also group chief pharmacist at Barts Health NHS Trust, and chief pharmacist for North Thames Genomic Medicine Service Alliance. They will replace Elizabeth Mailey and Jayne Salt.

Gisela Abbam, chair of the GPhC, said: ‘It’s vital that our council members are drawn from the widest possible talent pools, bringing with them different life experiences, ideas, and perspectives, to inform our discussions and decisions.

‘This year, we had a very large volume of applications from high calibre people applying to serve on our council, and I am delighted that these five new members will be joining us over the next two years.

‘We also recruited one new council member who lives and works in Wales within this cohort, to maintain the important requirements for our council to include members from across the three countries we regulate.’

She added: ‘There are significant developments impacting on pharmacy and pharmacy regulation and we have an ambitious programme of work ahead.

‘I’m sure that our new members will help shape our strategic plans for the future and help patients and wider society to benefit from safe, effective and inclusive pharmacy care.

‘I’d also like to thank our outgoing council members for their hard work and dedication throughout their terms of office, and I wish them all the best for the future.’

The GPhC announced two new executive appointees late last year, shortly before announcing a 7.5% increase in fees.