1 Min In Member News
The Association of Pharmacy Technicians UK Directors and Executive Committee are pleased to announce the appointment of Claire Steele as the new President and Director. The appointment process has followed the Articles of Association and has been approved by the Board of Directors.
Claire Steele, Head of Pharmacy Medicines Supply & Quality, NHS Fife has been a Pharmacy Technician for 24 years. Claire brings a wealth of senior leadership experience both within her employed role and as APTUK National Professional Lead for Scotland. Claire is the Professional Secretary for the National Pharmacy Technician Group Scotland and has been instrumental in strengthening the link with APTUK and NPTGS and the subsequent creation of a Joint National Branch for Scotland. Claire has been an integral member of the Executive Committee since July 2021 and has a drive and passion for ensuring pharmacy technicians are valued and recognised.
Claire will take up the President post from 1st March 2022 and the Board and Executive Committee look forward to working with Claire to deliver the APTUK five-year strategy which was published in January 2022. Claire has made a statement about her new position which can be found here: https://www.aptuk.org/member-news/aptuk-new-president-statement.
The appointment comes following Liz Fidler’s announcement in December 2021 of her decision not to stand for another term of office. The Directors, on behalf of APTUK and our members, would like to thank Liz for her unswerving dedication to APTUK and the Pharmacy Technician profession. Liz has transformed the way APTUK works and embedded inclusivity into the heart of what we do. Not only did Liz continue to keep APTUK running during a global pandemic, but she also found time and energy to drive forward our new strategy and continue to lobby for legislative change to enable pharmacy technicians to operate under a Patient Group Direction. Liz is truly an inspiration to us all and we will miss her guidance and support greatly. We wish Liz all the very best for the future and look forward to working with her closely in her new role as Senior Professional Advisor for Pharmacy Technician Practice with NHS England and NHS Improvement
The post of Vice President of the Association of Pharmacy Technicians UK will become vacant on the 1st of March 2022, as the current post holder Ellen Williams will not be standing for another term of office.
Following discussions within the Directors and Executive Committee this post will now move to open recruitment led by the incoming President, Claire Steele when she commences in post on the 1st of March 2022. Details on the recruitment process will be made available shortly.
The Directors and Executive Committee would like to thank Ellen for her stellar commitment to APTUK during one of the most challenging times in history. Ellen has been an excellent leader for the profession not only whilst in post as Vice President but during her everyday practice. Ellen has the ability to manage multiple roles and projects with a can-do attitude. Ellen always makes time for everyone regardless of the situation and alongside Liz has successfully driven the professional leadership through the pandemic, not only making necessary changes but recognising that the pandemic is when the professional leadership body was needed the most. Ellen has supported the professional leads for Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland to be able to make a positive impact for the professional all over the UK. Ellen will be incredibly missed, she is patient, calm and a true role model for the pharmacy technician workforce. We wish Ellen the best for the future and are looking forward to being able to work together within her working role.
Vicky Hope
Operations Lead | Association of Pharmacy Technicians
enquiries@aptuk.org
