Community Pharmacy and General Practice Conference

Henry became Chief Executive of the NPA in May 2025. He was previously Director of External Affairs at Asthma + Lung UK - the lung health charity fighting for everyone’s right to breathe and the Chair of the Taskforce Lung Health.

He has previously worked at the Health Foundation, lobbying government to invest in the NHS, and the National Housing Federation, campaigning for affordable housing, as well as senior roles at London Boroughs of Newham and Barking and Dagenham.

Ben has experience in journalism, politics, the non-profit sector and local government. Prior to the NPA, he was a Political Correspondent for the Independent, led press relations for the Local Government Association and was Director of Communications at the Charities Aid Foundation, one of the largest charitable foundations in Europe and at the Rhodes Trust, home of the Rhodes Scholarship. 

Gareth Jones is the NPA’s Director of External and Corporate Affairs. He is a pharmacist and leads the NPA’s work on policy and external engagement with the NHS, politicians, civil servants and other key stakeholders. He works with other pharmacy associations across Europe and globally via the World Pharmacy Council. He also leads the NPA’s corporate affairs function, supporting the NPA Board, made up entirely of frontline members, in setting the organisation’s direction. 

Clinical Negligence and pharmacy lawyer with over 25 years’ experience. Worked in Regional and City of London private practices specialising in complex medical negligence and personal injury claims. In 2004 joined NPA Insurance as a Legal Advisor and providing specialist legal advice and claims handling in areas including dispensing errors, Coroner’s inquiries, criminal prosecutions and Fitness to Practice Investigations.

In 2018 I was promoted to Chief Operating Officer of NPA Insurance Ltd and more recently became Managing Director of Pharmacy Insurance. I am a member of the Insurance Company Board and am responsible for oversight of the claim’s teams, distribution of pharmacy insurance and pharmacy indemnity operations.

Alison joined the NPA in 2014, bringing with her a wealth of experience in business development, marketing, account management, and strategic partnerships. As a former owner and Director of an SME, she has a first-hand understanding of the real-world pressures, rewards, and complexities of running a business. Alison supports independent pharmacies by helping them navigate both challenges and opportunities, with the goal of enabling success. She is passionate about delivering an exceptional member experience and is known for identifying strategic opportunities, offering valuable insight, and building meaningful relationships across the sector.

With over 20 years of experience in the general insurance industry, Julie has developed deep expertise in a range of sectors including corporate business insurance and healthcare. Her insurance career began in logistics, providing risk management and insurance advice across UK warehouse operations, before spending several years at QBE Insurance in Manchester where she broadened her knowledge of commercial risk.

Julie then transitioned into the healthcare space, taking on the role of Insurance Manager for a large pharmacy group. This role gave her invaluable insight into the unique insurance needs of the pharmacy industry. In 2019 she was delighted to join NPA Insurance as Business Development Manager where she continues to combine her insurance knowledge with a customer-first approach. Julie’s focus is on delivering a seamless customer journey whilst ensuring our customers receive tailored insurance solutions that meet their ever-evolving needs.

Ashley has pharmacies in Leeds and York, and has significant commercial experience of private external contracts managed through his pharmacy teams.

Ashley manages a team of pharmacy professionals that work and support seven hospices across the Yorkshire region. Alongside the hospice work, Ashley also has secured contracts with local Hospital units, Community Intermediate Care Units (CICU), prison departments plus over 50 care homes across Yorkshire to supply pharmacy professional staff and pharmaceutical supply. Ashley team have been recognised locally and nationally at providing innovative services supporting local healthcare services.

Ashley is a committee member for Community Pharmacy North Yorkshire and Chair of Community Pharmacy West Yorkshire which supports 500 local contractors, and sits on the Community Pharmacy England sub-committee on People and Governance.

Ashley works with his wife (who is not a pharmacist) in the business, and has three children aged 18, 16, & 10 who keep him extremely busy when not working.

Sana is the Advice and Support Services Manager at the NPA. She is a qualified pharmacist with nearly ten years in community pharmacy, plus another ten years at the NPA. Her knowledge and expertise in all pharmacy related matters has supported colleagues and members in empowering them to provide the best in their roles and encouraging self-development.

Craig joined the NPA in 2017 and now as Interim Head of Membership at the National Pharmacy Association (NPA), Craig leads national engagement and retention strategies, aligning them with the organisation’s strategic goals. He manages a large team across member services and relationship management, driving operational excellence and high-quality service delivery.

With over 30 years’ experience in business development, account management, sales and customer service across B2B, retail, and membership sectors, Craig is recognised for identifying growth opportunities, leading change, and building strong relationships

The NPA Scotland Representation Manager engages with NPA members and Community Pharmacy stakeholders to provide member feedback and to drive member NPA support and business opportunities for Scottish members.

The NPA Representation Manager in Northern Ireland engages with NPA members and Community Pharmacy stakeholders to provide member feedback and to drive member NPA support and business opportunities for members in Northern Ireland.

Rhodri is the NPA Representation Manager for Wales. He engages with NPA members as well as various stakeholders to champion the cause of Community Pharmacy across Wales. A practicing community pharmacist for over 20 years, he has worked across the spectrum of Community Pharmacy, from large multiples to small independents, He qualified as an Independent Prescriber last year. Rhodri is also Director of Contractor Engagement at Community Pharmacy Wales.

Stephen Fishwick is Head of Communications at the NPA.

He has been prominent in NPA campaigns for fair funding, helping to collect record-breaking public petitions in the process.

Previously, Stephen worked as a PR consultant and in campaigning roles at a large healthcare charity, and also headed public engagement for an NHS trust.

Fun fact: Stephen once appeared on the professional stage, in a production of Olivier Twist.

Nick is a Commercial Manager at the National Pharmacy Association, supporting UK community pharmacies through strategic partnerships, commercial negotiations, and sector-strengthening initiatives. Helping members stay competitive and resilient in a changing healthcare landscape.

Rikta is a Partnership Manager at the National Pharmacy Association, driving business development and partner growth. Focused on enhancing independent pharmacies through tailored solutions, new revenue streams, increase footfall, and build strategic market opportunities.

Olivier has been a community pharmacist for almost 20 years. He trained as a pharmacist in France, but has spent most of his working life in the UK.

He was an area manager in Moss Pharmacy and established his own pharmacy business in 2006, now running four pharmacies in Berkshire and Buckinghamshire.

He has been a member of the CPE committee and worked with PSNC on rural pharmacy matters. He has been active promoting pharmacy on national and local media.

Sukhi qualified in 1996 from De Montford University and has been an independent pharmacy contractor for over 15 years and served her community in Victoria in central London for 25 years.

Following a journey through the NHS Mary Seacole Leadership programme, she continued to develop herself with a Clinical Diploma in Pharmacy Practice and Independent Prescribing resulting in a role as respiratory lead in a GP practice and a role as lead pharmacist of a newly formed PCN.

She describes herself as a keen advocate for championing the community pharmacy sector, especially the small independent voices – looking to raise awareness of the untapped resource of the NHS’s “quietest and humblest profession” and highlight the clinical expertise available to communities at their doorstep. Sukhi wants to share ideas, diversity of thought and experience through female representation.

Sanjeev qualified in 2009 and has worked in both independent and multiple community pharmacies, becoming a superintendent for a chain of six pharmacies in 2011. He has modernised and future-proofed the pharmacies to provide a greater range of clinical services and a high standard of care to patients in his communities.

In 2014 he was elected to sit on Community Pharmacy Birmingham and Solihull, a position he still holds today, to represent the views of independent pharmacies across the area and works alongside other committee members to help develop services and relationships with key stakeholders.

In 2020 he joined the NPA board to help fight the cause for the independent sector and affect positive change for the profession by demonstrating the value and skills that community pharmacies can offer in the wider NHS landscape.

Sehar is based in Glasgow and has a passion for multi-disciplinary, holistic health care and has a mission to raise the standards of online pharmacy provision in the UK.

Baldev started his career with a multiple, working in pharmacies and then senior roles at head office leading transformational agendas.

These roles subsequently led him to a director position at a pharma organisation, driving healthcare tech and then supporting a start-up online doctor organisation creating innovation by connecting private entities to the NHS spine.

He is a business leader with a strong track record of revitalising businesses in the pharmacy and healthcare sector and is owner and superintendent pharmacist of a pharmacy group. Baldev joined the board of the NPA in November 2023.

Nick is the immediate past Chair of the NPA He is a third generation community pharmacist; he graduated from Bradford University in 1998, and trained as a pre-registration student in a family run community pharmacy and at St James University Hospital Leeds.

Since qualifying, he has worked for an independent pharmacy, as a locum and prescribing advisory for the Newquay doctors group.

Nick was the Superintendent Pharmacist in Newquay, Cornwall, a role he took on in 2011 and finished in 2017. Whilst in that role the pharmacy has won several awards including, C&D finalist 2013, Pharmacy Business award winner Entrepreneur 2012 and Alphega pharmacy of the year 2013.

Nick is a shareholder in Hendra’s Pharmacy in Penryn and a Partner at the Veor Group of general practices.

He was elected to the NPA Board in 2014 to represent the South West; he is a member of Cornwall and Isle of Scilly LPC and the Chair of the Peninsula LPF.

Salim is proprietor of an independent community pharmacy and still works there offering a range of services such as Covid vaccination, travel and private PGDs .

He is one of the founder members of Avicenna and was its CEO until it was sold off in 2019. He still works part time for the new owners. Salim’s accolades include Pharmacy Business Editor Award, Fellow of RPS and Fellow of RPS Faculty.

He is an active LPC member.