Office Team

Role:

As chief executive my main role is to ensure that Community Pharmacy Essex carries out all its duties under its constitution, but there is so much more to it than that. We are directed by the committee, made up of elected and nominated members, who agree a strategy for each 4-year term.

I represent Essex community pharmacy contractors’ interests to a number of stakeholders including our ICBs, local authorities, other representative committees such as the Local Medical Committee and Local Optical Committee, patient groups and local press and media.

This includes responding to market entry applications and appeals, sitting on the Pharmaceutical Needs Assessments steering groups, participating in medicines optimisation committees, primary care committees, medicines safety groups and various workstreams relating to the pharmacy workforce.

I also attend, on request, contract monitoring, performance and quality visits undertaken by ICB or NHS regional teams.

Working with a strong team we respond to individual queries, and monitor those that suggest a wider pattern is emerging that necessitates a different approach, either locally or through escalation to Community Pharmacy England: We engage with Community Pharmacy England through our regional representative and the fortnightly Local Operations Team meetings.

Background:

I joined Essex Local Pharmaceutical Committee as a part-time business support officer in 2011, and became full time chief officer in January 2020.

Immediately prior to that since 2003 I had been a community pharmacy services commissioner in two different Primary Care Trusts in East London.

I have also worked in community pharmacy, including two independent contractors and the prestigious John Bell and Croydon in central London, in hospital pharmacy and for a few years in a teaching role managing the Pharmacy Technician training programme at Westminster Kingsway college.

Role:

I handle a wide range of administrative tasks for both Community Pharmacy Essex and Healthy Living Partnership. This includes everything from preparing annual reports and completing Data, Security, and Protection toolkits to organizing various meetings, conferences, and events for pharmacy teams. I’m also the first point of contact for contractors’ daily queries, maintain our chemist database, and ensure the smooth running of the office, covering everything from health and safety to general maintenance. My role also overlaps significantly with Healthy Living Partnership Limited’s locally commissioned services, where I manage pharmacy contracts, record-keeping, service reports, invoicing, and payments. And now that our website is live, I’m focused on keeping it updated.

Background:

Before joining the LPC team in 2009, I was a qualified HR Officer with Essex County Council, specialising in pay and conditions. I started my career at the Council right after leaving school, working in various departments and steadily progressing. After a few years on a career break, I was excited to join the LPC team.

Role:

As the Business Intelligence Lead, my primary focus is to develop a robust reporting solution for CPEsx. I’m responsible for identifying and acquiring machine-processable data, then building the systems to ingest this information. My goal is to transform raw data into actionable intelligence through comprehensive reports, also ensuring it’s readily available for any ad-hoc requests. As this project evolves, I’ll be working to enrich the data, providing even more powerful and insightful analytical options

Background:

My career spans over 28 years in data and information. I spent over a decade in the NHS, specializing in information and data warehousing, and hospital management. Prior to that, I dedicated more than 10 years to the banking sector in programming and analysis roles. My experience also includes six years in Life & Pensions and Shares, where I continued to focus on programming and analysis, and two years in publishing as a Data Analyst.

Role:

As Chair of Community Pharmacy Essex, I bring over 30 years of experience across both community and hospital pharmacy, with a deep commitment to patient-centred care and service excellence.

As Chair, I’m proud to represent and support our contractors across Essex. My goal is to ensure that our sector continues to grow, influence local and national health policy, and deliver high-quality services that meet the needs of our communities.

I hold a First-Class BSc (Hons) in Pharmacy, am a registered pharmacist with the GPhC, and a member of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society. I’m also a Certified Clinical Safety Officer.

It’s a privilege to serve the pharmacy network in Essex, and I look forward to continuing our work to strengthen, support, and champion community pharmacy.

Background:

My career began in community pharmacy, and over the years I’ve held a variety of leadership roles at Boots, including Area Manager for Hospital Pharmacy, Digital Governance & Innovation Manager, and Divisional Business Manager. I’ve had the privilege of leading teams through significant transformation—whether that’s delivering national programmes like the COVID-19 Vaccination Service, integrating digital services, or building strategic partnerships with the NHS.

Throughout my career, I’ve remained focused on clinical governance, innovation, and making a meaningful difference to patients and the teams who care for them. I’m passionate about the role of pharmacy as a front door to the NHS and believe that community pharmacies are essential to a sustainable, integrated [The text cuts off here, likely continuing with “healthcare system” or similar].

Role:

Background:

My professional background spans over a decade as a pharmacist, this expertise as an independent prescriber drives a passion for a more service-orientated future. I have also been involved in piloting the Hypertension Case-Finding Service and playing a key role in developing the national expansion of the New Medicines Service (NMS) to include antidepressants. A key focus remains on empowering more pharmacists to become Independent Prescribers, recognising the need to bridge the gap for colleagues seeking mentorship.

Role:

I am an independent contractor representative for the committee, representing contractors in South Essex. I currently serve as the Superintendent Pharmacist for a group of pharmacies I own in the area, which allows me to maintain a close connection to the day-to-day realities of community pharmacy. In my role on the committee, I work to ensure that the voices of independent contractors are heard and considered in all discussions and decisions. I also chair the GSOC Sub-Committee, where I focus on governance and strategic oversight, supporting the wider goals of the committee and helping to shape its direction.

Background:

I have worked in community pharmacy for around 20 years, gaining extensive experience in managing pharmacy services, supporting teams, and delivering high-quality care at the heart of the community. Throughout my career, I have been a strong advocate for the profession, with a passion for seeing pharmacy grow, evolve, and take on a more integrated role within the wider healthcare system.

Over the years, I have developed strong working relationships with local stakeholders, believing that collaboration is key to driving positive change and improving patient outcomes. My commitment to governance and quality improvement underpins everything I do, both in my own pharmacies and through my committee work. I remain dedicated to ensuring that community pharmacy continues to thrive as an essential part of local healthcare.

I’ve worked in community pharmacy for around 20 years and currently serve as the Superintendent Pharmacist for a group of pharmacies I own in South Essex. Over the years, I’ve gained extensive experience in managing pharmacy services and supporting teams to deliver high-quality care at the heart of the community.

I’m a strong advocate for pharmacy and deeply passionate about the profession. I’m committed to seeing it grow, evolve, and take on a more integrated role within the wider healthcare system. I’ve built strong working relationships with local stakeholders and believe that collaboration is key to driving positive change and improving patient outcomes.

As a member of the committee representing independent contractors, I aim to ensure their voices are heard. I also chair the GSOC Sub-Committee, where I focus on governance and strategic oversight to support the wider goals of the committee.

Role:

As a experienced pharmacist with over 17 years in community pharmacy, I currently manage a bustling pharmacy where I lead a dedicated team. My primary responsibilities include providing expert health advice and facilitating patient access to a wide array of NHS and private healthcare services.

In addition to my management role, I serve as a Company Chemists Association (CCA) Representative on the Essex Local Pharmaceutical Committee (LPC). In this capacity, I actively contribute to shaping the delivery of pharmacy services throughout the region. My work involves collaborating with the LPC to support contractors in expanding and providing essential pharmacy services across Essex.

Background:

I am a proud alumnus of the UCL School of Pharmacy. Since graduating, I have dedicated my career to various community pharmacy roles across Essex. Over the years, I have pursued and obtained certifications in a diverse range of services, including vaccinations, blood pressure checks, contraception, smoking cessation, and substance misuse support. My continuous professional development is driven by a commitment to making healthcare more accessible and personalized for the communities I serve.

My involvement with the LPC has significantly broadened my understanding of health policy, finance, and the critical role of networking in addressing community healthcare needs. My overarching goal is to foster trust, improve public health outcomes, and create a tangible positive impact within the community, whether through direct patient interaction or by contributing to strategic improvements in community pharmacy services

Role:

I am an independent contractor representative for the committee, particularly focusing on the Mid Essex locality. I stay in regular contact with contractors in this area through being available for direct contact, attending forum meetings, partaking in discussions on local issues through social media groups and also conducting visits where possible. I attend regular committee meetings and bring issues for discussion and action where possible and give opinions on agenda items presented. My long term aims on the committee are; upskilling to learn more about market entry to support Karen with her work here and also to represent the committee at more external events and meetings.

Background:

I have been a community pharmacist since qualifying and have worked for large multiple, small chain independents and as a locum, giving me a range of viewpoints about how pharmacies are run and how issues can have differing effects dependent upon the business circumstances. I have always enjoyed the process of Clinical Governance and how pharmacies can run safely and efficiently, I pride myself on these high standards when I work and from feedback I am given. Because of my commitment to making sure Community Pharmacies are sustainable and safe places for patient care, I started my role as an independent Clinical Governance and Quality Improvement Consultant in December 2024 and have been thoroughly enjoying supporting premises across the country with their needs.

I also have a Diploma with Distinction in Travel Health from the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, the only Community Pharmacist in my cohort at the time which gave myself and the other students new and differing perspectives during studying. I was also nominated for Community Pharmacist of the year in 2020 at the C+D awards for my work in the local community; promoting the sexual health services in Essex to secondary school age students and making pharmacies more approachable places of care for a younger generation. I will continue to be an ongoing advocate for Community Pharmacy that contractors can rely on to always promote their best interests and am committed to my role as their representative for CPEsx.

Role:

As an elected independent community pharmacist on the Essex Local Pharmaceutical Council, I represent and support local pharmacy contractors, bringing real-world frontline experience to influence decisions and shape services. I work closely with healthcare colleagues to ensure community pharmacy remains a trusted, accessible, and essential part of supporting the health and wellbeing of people across Essex.

Background:

With over 30 years’ experience across primary care, I have dedicated my career to supporting patients, developing innovative pharmacy services, and strengthening collaboration across the health system. My journey began with 11 years at Lloyds Pharmacy, where I gained leadership experience and worked with GP practices to understand and address the challenges faced by different parts of primary care.

For the past 19 years, I have owned and managed Easter Pharmacy in Buckhurst Hill.

I have been involved in  national pilot projects, including the rollout of 24-hour Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring, and serve as a Pharmacy Integration Lead in West Essex , collaborating across localities to deliver joined-up care. As an Independent Pharmacist Prescriber, I have worked in GP surgeries and A&E at Whipps Cross Hospital, gaining a deeper understanding of patient needs and where pharmacy can make the greatest impact.

Currently taking part in the Community Pharmacy Independent Prescribing Pathfinder Programme an initiative that will change the pharmacy landscape for ever.

At Easter Pharmacy, I lead a diverse and inclusive team where everyone is treated with dignity and respect, and I am passionate about using collaboration, innovation, and inclusion to deliver the best possible care for our community.