2026 elections for the future Royal College of Pharmacy

Inaugural elections for the future Royal College of Pharmacy are being held in early 2026.

Elections are for places on the three National Pharmacy Advisory Councils (currently called National Pharmacy Boards) in England, Scotland and Wales, which are a pivotal part of the new governance structure. The elections offer an exciting and unique opportunity to shape the new organisation – particularly pharmacy policy and practice - in each nation and across Great Britain

Nominations for candidates are now open.

To make your nomination, visit www.mi-nomination.com/rpharms

Nominations close at 5pm on Monday, 2 February 2026.

2026 elections for the future royal college - key dates

The three National Pharmacy Advisory Councils for England, Scotland and Wales will contribute to the development of the College’s strategy and aid its implementation within each nation.

Each council, and its elected members, will be responsible for:

  • Developing pharmacy policy and practice in their nation
  • Supporting professional development activity in their nation
  • Engaging with members and representing the College.

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Information for prospective candidates

If you are interested in putting yourself forward as a candidate for a National Pharmacy Advisory Council, please take a look through all the information provided below:

  • Read the Elections Pack, which provides an overview of the elections process, roles and responsibilities of the governance structure, vacancies and criteria
  • If you’d then like further information, have a look at the Information for Candidates document, which gives additional detail on the elections process and criteria, as well as rules and guidance on campaigning
  • Take a look below at our FAQs on nominations.

More about the National Pharmacy Advisory Council elections

In order to be eligible to stand as a candidate, individuals must be a Member (MRPharmS) or Fellow (FRPharmS) of RPS and a current registrant of the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC). Candidates will only be eligible to stand for one National Pharmacy Advisory Council, which is determined by their place of work, and (in a change to past requirements) will need two nominators, a Proposer and a Seconder who must both be RPS members, to be put forward.

We welcome applications from individuals of all protected characteristics and strongly encourages those from underrepresented groups, including members from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic backgrounds, people of all abilities, and individuals from diverse communities to stand for election to the National Pharmacy Advisory Councils. Diverse perspectives and experiences are vital to ensuring that the future royal college’s governance structures reflect the professionals and communities it serves.

Anyone who wishes to stand as a candidate must be a full member at 5pm on Thursday, 29 January 2026.

Once all shortlisted candidates have been announced, all full members (those able to use MRPharmS and FRPharmS post nominals) will be invited to take part in the vote which will open at 9am on Monday, 23 February and will close at 5pm on Wednesday, 11 March 2026. Anyone wishing to vote in these inaugural elections must be a full member on Thursday, 29 January 2026 at 5pm.

Read our news story about the 2026 elections for the future Royal College of Pharmacy.

Election Scheme

Read the full Election Scheme for the 2026 elections.

What’s it like to be an elected member?

Hear from previous elected members about their experiences of sitting on a National Pharmacy Board.

Professor Claire Anderson 2026 election quote Audrey Thompson 2026 election quote card

Tase Oputu 2026 election quote card

Officer roles – President, Vice President and Vice Chair

In a normal year, following these elections and once all elected candidates had been appointed and completed their induction, we would hold Officer elections for the President, Vice President and Vice Chair roles (voted for by fellow Council members). However, in order for us to manage a transition to the Royal College of Pharmacy that culminates in the population of five elected members onto the Board of Trustees, we need to hold Officer elections for these specific roles earlier than usual, immediately after the Council election results on Friday, 13 March 2026.

If you decide to stand for election and would also like to put yourself forward for an Officer role (President, Vice President or Vice Chair), you will therefore need to consider your personal statement which sets out to your fellow Council Members why you are the right person to hold one of these roles by 9am on Tuesday, 17 March 2026 – a few days after the election results are announced.

Find out more about the roles and responsibilities of the President, Vice President and Vice Chair:

Election FAQs

Here are some frequently asked questions about the elections, about both nominating and voting in the elections.

If you have a question which isn’t answered here, please email [email protected], and we will get back to you as soon as possible.

1. Nominations

  • When will nominations open and close?
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    Nominations for candidates to stand in the National Pharmacy Advisory Council elections will open at 11am on Monday 5 January 2026 and close at 5pm on Monday 2 February 2026. 

  • Can non-members nominate themselves for election, as the Roll Closure Date – the date you have to be a member by – isn't until 5pm on Thursday 29 January, which is after nominations open?
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    Yes, individuals are able to submit their nominations form once nominations open on Monday 5 January without being a full member. The deadline for these candidates to become full members of the Society is 5pm on Thursday 29 January, which is a few days ahead of the nominations deadline. Nominations from candidates who aren’t full members (or who don’t fulfil the other eligibility criteria) by 5pm on Thursday 29 January won’t be eligible to stand. 

  • When will the shortlisted candidates be announced?
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    All candidates who have submitted a nominations form will be contacted individually, as soon as possible after nominations close and once all eligibility criteria has been verified. All shortlisted candidates will then be announced publicly on Thursday 5 February 2026.

  • I’ve never put myself forward as a candidate before, but I’m interested to find out more. Where do I start?
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    We want to encourage all eligible Members and Fellows to consider standing for election and particularly want it to be accessible and inclusive to those who have not done so before. We are committed to equity, diversity and inclusion and strongly encourage applications from individuals of all protected characteristics, including those from under-represented groups, such as members from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic backgrounds, people of all abilities, and individuals from diverse communities. If you are considering standing for elections, we suggest you start by reading the Elections Pack. If, after reading that, you’d like further information and to submit a nomination, please also read our Information for Candidates document and nominations form.

  • How many vacancies are currently available on each National Pharmacy Advisory Council?
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    Vacancies on National Pharmacy Advisory Councils.png
  • Have any of the nominations criteria for candidates changes for these elections compared to previous elections?

    Yes, after extensive discussion, Assembly have decided to make some changes to the nominations criteria for these elections compared to previous RPS elections, in order to make the process as accessible and inclusive a process as possible and to ensure that all elected members of the future royal college governance structure have current experience of pharmacy services and are able to meet regulatory standards.

    The main changes to the nominations criteria are:

    • Candidates must be current registrants of the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC)
    • The Council that candidates are eligible to stand for is based on their place of work (not place of residence)
    • Candidates only need to list two RPS members on their nominations form, a Proposer and a Seconder (no longer 10 individuals)
    • There is no longer a requirement for elected roles to be allocated on the basis of sector

  • Does this mean that retired RPS members cannot stand as candidates?
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    Retired RPS members are still eligible to stand as candidates in the elections, but they must be current registrants of the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) and not past registrants. After much discussion and debate, Assembly, the governing body of RPS, decided upon this change to the nominations criteria as they felt it was important that the elected roles within the future governance structure are filled by individuals who have current experience of pharmacy services in their nation and are able to meet regulatory standards. This difficult decision was also made by Assembly in the knowledge that there is the opportunity to ensure that important skills and experiences of those who may no longer be current registrants of the GPhC are still present in the future royal college governance structure through the appointed roles on the Senate. 

  • Does this mean that overseas RPS members cannot stand as candidates, even if they are current registrants of the GPhC?
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    The Council that candidates are eligible to stand for is now based on their place of work, so if an RPS member works overseas (and not in England, Scotland or Wales) then they are not eligible to stand. After much discussion and debate, Assembly, the governing body of RPS, decided upon this change to the nominations criteria as they felt it was important that the elected roles within the future governance structure are filled by individuals who have current experience of pharmacy services in their nation and are able to meet regulatory standards. This difficult decision was also made by Assembly in the knowledge that there is the opportunity to ensure that important skills and experiences of those who may not be eligible to stand as elected members are still present in the future royal college governance structure through the appointed roles on the Senate. 

  • What if I work in one nation but live in a different nation? Which National Pharmacy Advisory Council am I eligible to stand for?
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    The election criteria has changed this year and is now based on where an individual works and not where they live. For example, if you live in Wales but work in England, you’d be eligible to stand for the English Pharmacy Advisory Council. Candidates are asked for this information on their nominations form. Assembly, the governing body of RPS, decided upon this change to the nominations criteria as they felt it was important that the elected roles within the future governance structure are filled by individuals who have current experience of pharmacy services within the nation in which they work. 

  • I don’t have a fixed place of employment. Which Council can I stand for?
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    The election criteria has changed this year and is now based on where an individual works and not where they live. For example, if you live in Wales but work in England, you’d be eligible to stand for the English Pharmacy Advisory Council. However, if your place of employment is not linked to one nation, then this will instead be determined by your place of primary residence (where you live) instead.  

  • What is the criteria to be a Proposer or a Seconder for a candidate? And what’s involved?
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    A Proposer and Seconder must have personal knowledge of the candidate and be satisfied that they are suitable to serve as an elected member.  

    A Proposer and a Seconder must be an RPS member and be able to vote for the candidate which they are putting forward. Therefore, this year this means that their nominated nation must be the same as the nation for which the candidate is standing. For example, if the candidate works in Scotland, they will only be eligible to stand as a candidate in Scotland, and their Proposer and Seconder must have Scotland listed as their nominated nation.  

  • I’m an RPS Member (MRPharmS) or Fellow (FRPharmS) – how can I find out what my nominated nation is?
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    All RPS Members are asked to choose their nominated nation as part of the registration process. You will be able to see this information when you log into your membership dashboard here. All RPS Members are able to change their nominated nation via their membership dashboard, or by contacting the membership team on [email protected] or 0207 572 2737.

  • I’m an RPS Member (MRPharmS) or Fellow (FRPharmS) – I want to update my nominated nation to be a Proposer or Seconder for a candidate. How do I do this?
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    You will be able to see information on your nominated nation when you log into your membership dashboard here. All RPS Members are able to change their nominated nation via their membership dashboard, or by calling the membership team on [email protected] or 0207 572 2737. You should change your nominated nation before agreeing to be a Proposer or Seconder.

  • If I am successful in these elections, I’d also like to put myself forward for an Officer role (President, Chair/Vice President, Vice Chair). Where do I send the submission and what’s the deadline for this?
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    Officer elections for College President, College Vice-Presidents (who act as National Council Chairs) and National Council Vice Chairs will take place very shortly after the election results are announced, so candidates should consider in advance whether they would like to put themselves forward for one of these roles. The election of the President will happen first – so unsuccessful candidates for President have the ability to stand for another Officer role should they wish. Only Council members can vote in these Officer elections, and not the wider RPS membership.

    The deadline for submissions of the (up to) 1,000 word personal statement which sets out to your fellow Council Members why you are the right person to hold one of these roles is 9am on Tuesday 17 March 2026 and should be sent to the correct individual via their email address listed below. Any questions at all about this process or the format of the submission should also be sent to the individuals listed below.

2. Voting

  • Who is eligible to vote in the National Pharmacy Advisory Council elections?
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    Any Members (MRPharmS) and Fellow (FRPharmS) who are members of the Society on the Electoral Roll Closure date, which is 5pm on Thursday, 29 January 2026, are eligible to vote in the election for their nominated nation.

  • When will voting open and close?
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    Voting opens at 9am on Monday 23 February 2026 and closes at 5pm on Wednesday 11 March 2026.

  • I’m an RPS Member (MRPharmS) or Fellow (FRPharmS) – how can I find out what my nominated nation is?
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    All RPS Members are asked to choose their nominated nation as part of the registration process. You will be able to see this information when you log into your membership dashboard here. All RPS Members are able to change their nominated nation via their membership dashboard, or by calling the membership team on [email protected] or 0207 572 2737.

  • I’m an RPS Member (MRPharmS) or Fellow (FRPharmS) – I want to update my nominated nation to vote in a different Council election to the one I’ve currently chosen. How do I do this?
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    Nominated nation data, and all other membership data required for the elections to take place will be sent to MiVoice on the Roll Closure Date, which is 5pm on Thursday, 29 January 2026. Therefore any changes to your nominated nation must be made before this point in time and any changes made after this date will not be included in this election process. All RPS Members are able to change their nominated nation via their membership dashboard here, or by calling the membership team on [email protected] or 0207 572 2737.

  • When will the results be announced?
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    All results of the National Pharmacy Advisory Council elections will be announced on Friday 13 March, or as soon as possible thereafter, with successful candidates receiving the highest number of votes.