Delivery Board

Dr Chris Martin OBE MStJ DL FRPharmS DLitt (Chair)

Chris is Chairman of Pharmacy: Delivering a Healthier Wales Delivery Group and brings extensive experience supporting transformational change and innovation adoption through his senior leadership roles across private, public, charitable and voluntary sectors.

As a qualified Pharmacist, Chris's journey started with an honours degree in Pharmacy from Cardiff University. He then went on to establish two independent community pharmacy chains in the West Country and Pembrokeshire.

He has a deep understanding of healthcare in Wales, having chaired four separate health organisations over two decades. These included Hywel Dda University Health Board alongside the Welsh NHS Confederation and coordinating Chair of all health organisations in Wales.

Chris currently chairs the Life Science Hub Wales and is a Non-Exec advisor with Alliance Healthcare along with being a corresponding Bevan Commissioner. He also serves as a member of the Health and Care Research Wales Advisory Board, Chair of the Haverfordwest Swimming Pool Trustee Board and Vice President of the Dyfed St John Council.

His drive to improve services and in particular end of life and palliative care shines through as he served for over 7 years as a trustee of Marie Curie UK and Chair of the Wales Advisory Board for Marie Curie Cymru.

Recognitions include a fellowship from the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain and an Honorary Doctorate from Swansea University for his vital contributions to community pharmacy and public life in Wales. 

He is a Deputy Lieutenant of Dyfed and a member of the King’s Award for Enterprise (Sustainable Development) Judging Panel. 

In the King’s New Year’s Honours list 2025 he was awarded the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE) for distinguished service to the Maritime and Port sector having been the Chair of the Port of Milford Haven for 12 years. He was also admitted as a member of the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem, priory for Wales in February 2025. Later this year he is being made a Burgess of the Gild of Freeman of Haverfordwest for being a ‘person of repute who has rendered outstanding service to the Town’.

Stephanie Hough

I am a Senior Pharmacy Technician at Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board. During my career over the last 20 years I have worked in various different roles within primary care, secondary care and community pharmacy. Currently, I'm responsible for the pharmacy service in the community hospitals in the Central area of BCUHB, I work within a team whose vision is to improve the standard of care delivered to patients by creating and recognising efficiencies.

I'm passionate about exploring and implementing innovative ways of working, which aligns with staff and service development, hence why I sit on the "Developing the Workforce" subgroup for P:DaHW. I strongly believe that developing Pharmacy Technicians and Pharmacy Assistants by securing them access to appropriate education and training is integral to delivering on the wider pharmacy goals.

Brian Moon

After my retirement from the Welsh Assembly where I advised on ICT, which included Health Informatics, I have been a Board member of Community Health Councils Wales (CHC) which was patients' advocate in the local delivery of Health services. Currently, I am a team inspector with responsibility for patient perspective with Health Inspection Wales (HIW). I am also work with Health Education in Wales (HEIW) as a lay representative involved with competency reviews and service recruitment of health professionals.

I am passionate about the delivery of Health services in Wales and the engagement of the public in their delivery, with a particular interest in care of the elderly, and I am looking forward to being part of the team delivering better Pharmacy services. I retired from the Welsh Assembly Government, where I had responsibility for ICT advice in Public Service Organisations across Wales. Subsequently, I was Chair of the Community Health Council (CHC) for Bridgend, Neath and Swansea and as such I served on the National CHC Board for Wales where supersede CHC's by covering both Health and Social Care. I am currently a Lay Member of Health Education in Wales (HEW) — my tenure ends April 2022 - and on the Board of the Welsh Assemblies Pharmacy Delivery Board, currently developing strategy for the role of Community Pharmacies in Wales.

I am applying for the role of a Non-Executive Board Member on either a two-, three- or four-year term.

Gareth Tyrrell

I am currently the Head of Pharmacy Technical Services for NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership & National Clinical Lead for Transforming Access to Medicines, whilst also a non-executive board member for Pharmacy Delivering a Healthier Wales in the Innovation and Technology subgroup.

My career has included various clinical lead roles in critical care, surgery and pain management, as well as extensive experience in Pharmacy Technical Services. During this time, I have also completed post-graduate qualifications in Clinical Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Technology & Quality Assurance and NHS Leadership & Management.

I have a passion for innovation, research and development across interfaces of care that result in improved service delivery and the patient experience.

Natalie Proctor

I trained in Secondary Care and completed my IP qualification whilst working in unscheduled care NHS England. I became one of the first pharmacists recruited to the Welsh Clinical Leadership Fellow programme in 2019-20 and am now on secondment to the Welsh Government as Head of Pharmacy & Prescribing, leading on P:DaHW.

I want as many people as possible in the pharmacy profession to know about P:DaHW and help them understand why we want to deliver the Vision. I want P:DaHW to inspire people to be good at what they do and encourage them to lead the way for the new generation of pharmacists and technicians across Wales.

Ellen Lanham

I am the Medicines Optimisation Lead for Community Pharmacy for Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board. Prior to this role, I have over 20 years of experience of community pharmacy, which included patient facing and leadership roles. In my current role, I work collaboratively with stakeholders both within the health board and externally including GP surgeries, community pharmacies, care homes and clusters to improve medicines management. I am an advocate for all sectors of pharmacy and passionate about facilitating the integration of community pharmacy into the wider health system.

Facilitating access to quality health care closer to home for all the people who live in Wales is only possible if we have an aligned vision and all work towards shared goals. I believe that I can contribute to PDaHW as I have a good working knowledge of community pharmacy as well as an understanding of the wider NHS landscape.  I understand the processes, and I am continually looking for ways in which we can optimise the delivery and quality of service provision through sharing good practice.

Elen Jones

Director for Wales at the Royal Pharmaceutical Society

Elen was promoted to the Director for Wales role in 2019, after joining the Royal Pharmaceutical Society in 2014.

Prior to this, she was the RPS Policy and Practice Lead in Wales for five years, leading on various Great Britain and Wales-specific policies, including pharmacy’s role in supporting care home resident and palliative care residents.

In 2019 she was the project manager and lead author of the ten-year plan for pharmacy in Wales, Pharmacy: Delivering a Healthier Wales.

Elen has worked at Well Pharmacy as a pharmacy branch manager, teacher practitioner and in a UK clinical governance role. She has also lectured at Cardiff University on a part-time basis since 2010, where she attained a fellowship of the Higher Education Academy.

She led the development of Welsh language opportunities for Welsh-speaking pharmacy students at the university, to ensure they are confident and competent to consult with patients bi-lingually.

Lia Popa

After graduating from the University of Manchester and completing my pre-registration training in industry and hospital pharmacy in London, I returned to beautiful North Wales.

Over the past years I worked in hospital, community pharmacy, and primary care and I have acquired a good working knowledge of the current opportunities and challenges facing pharmacy teams. I have mentored and trained pharmacists and pharmacy technicians across these sectors and I have been an active member of numerous multidisciplinary teams.

Currently, I work in primary care and community pharmacy in two separate roles that I am equally passionate about.  I am particularly interested in chronic disease management and cardiorenal health where lifestyle interventions can complement pharmaceutical treatments. I believe that early interventions, educating and empowering patients to make informed choices is key to managing and preventing many chronic conditions, leading to healthier individuals, communities, and a healthier Wales.

Pharmacy: Delivering a Healthier Wales provides a fantastic opportunity to help shape the future of pharmacy in Wales and contribute to advancing pharmacists and pharmacy technicians roles that will deliver the high-quality, patient-centred care that we need to meet the current healthcare demands and future challenges.

Cath O'Brien

Cath was appointed as Chief Pharmacy Information Officer for DHCW in 2024 where she is engaged with the delivery of the current digital medicines initiatives as well as helping shape the next steps in achieving the digital medicines roadmap for NHS Wales.

Historically, Cath has held a number of senior pharmacy roles at WCPPE and RPSGB; taking a leadership role in establishing RPS. She has now returned to a pharmacy role following a decade as Director of the Welsh Blood Service and Chief Operating Officer at Velindre NHS University Trust. Her digital experience ranges from e-learning platforms to major system implementations in Blood, LIMS, Cancer Informatics and Radiotherapy. 

She was made Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for services to the Welsh Blood Service and the adoption of Cell and Gene Therapy in Wales for leading the development of the Advanced Therapies Statement of Intent on behalf of Welsh Government.

She has extensive experience in service transformation and a particular interest in innovation in the life science sector; having been a Board member of the Life Science Hub Wales.

Kate Gardiner

I have worked in pharmacy for 19 years, am a deputy regional manager at present, and have been registered as a Pharmacy Technician since 2010.

Over the years, I have worked in various different roles, some being in community pharmacy and others in Prison undertaking medicines management.

One of my job roles as a deputy regional manager is undertaking and supporting service delivery, I absolutely love face to face consultations with patients and delivering professional and quality services to my patients as well as coaching and mentoring, this was one of the reasons I jumped at the chance to sit on the board for “Seamless Pharmaceutical Care”

I was recognised for her work last year by APTUK and won the Community pharmacy technician of the year award.

My extensive knowledge of leading and managing teams and projects has helped me to achieve great results for our patients.

I am very driven in supporting PDAHW to achieve the goals for the 2030 vision for pharmacy in Wales.

Geraldine McCaffrey

I am Research and Development Lead Pharmacist at Betsi Cadwaldr University Health Board. I have worked in various roles as a hospital clinical pharmacist throughout my career, most recently as Divisional Lead Pharmacist in Medical and Acute Specialties. I have undertaken research focussing on pharmacy user perspectives of digitalisation in secondary care, and have experience of using improvement methodology within a national patient safety programme. I enjoy working collaboratively to develop pharmacy teams and improve services.

Pharmacy: Delivering a Healthier Wales is our shared vision of how pharmacy in Wales is innovating and transforming. These changes will benefit the health and wellbeing of our communities, and I want to ensure we make use of this great opportunity to build the evidence base for what pharmacy can uniquely contribute. I’m actively working within my Health Board develop our local plans and encourage colleagues to get involved.

Sudhir Sehrawat

I have been registered as a pharmacist for over 20 years. My experience includes community pharmacist (independent and multiple), working for a primary care trust, GP practice pharmacist and in the last 5 years as a pharmacy contractor based in Cardiff. I am also a RPS Board member and have a role within CPW.

P:DaHW sets out clear aims and goals that are owned by the pharmacy profession and we all have a part to play to ensure success. Working and learning from pharmacists and pharmacy technicians as well as collaboratively working with stakeholders is key. Understanding processes, looking for improvements, creating efficiencies, releasing capacity and sharing good practice is how I can contribute to delivering the goals of PDaHW.

Margaret Allan

Margaret's varied career started with her degree from Cardiff University, returning in 2013 as Director of the Wales Centre for Pharmacy Professional Education. Her career includes patient facing primary and community care positions to middle management through to strategic and political leadership.

Margaret was recognised for her work with a fellowship from the RPS in 2015. In 2018, she was awarded an honorary professorship at Cardiff University School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences.

Margaret was appointed as HEIW Pharmacy Dean in 2018, when Health Education and Improvement Wales (HEIW) was established as a special health authority within NHS Wales.

Marc Donovan

Healthcare Development and Public Affairs Director, Boots UK

Marc has a career in healthcare spanning 20 years. Originally training as a pharmacist at Cardiff University, he has worked within the NHS and progressed through a number of senior clinical, HR and managerial positions within Boots I-JK. Marc currently oversees the strategy for Healthcare and external relationships.

Marc presently holds fellowships at the Royal Pharmaceutical Society and the Chartered Institute of Professional Development. He is a member of the People Advisory Board of NHS England, Chair of the Community Pharmacy Workforce Development Group and Member of both Community Pharmacy England and Wales as well as the Company Chemists' Association. He is a past Chairman of the Welsh Board of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society.

Marc was awarded an OBE for his services to pharmacy as part of the 2022 Queen's Jubilee Birthday Honours.

Jonathan Simms

I am Clinical Director of Pharmacy at Aneurin Bevan University Health Board and represent Chief Pharmacists on the Delivery Board. My career has included various roles in hospital pharmacy including time as a teacher practitioner and then Primary Care prescribing advisor roles within Gwent. I have a strong interest in clinical effectiveness and have been a member of AWMSG and AWPAG. I am currently one of the NICE Medicines and Prescribing Associates in Wales.

As a member and now Chair of the Welsh Pharmaceutical Committee, I have seen the journey of P:DaHW from a request from the then Health Minister to the Vision we have today. I’m proud to be able to champion this Vision within my Health Board and help to deliver better services and outcomes for the patients  we serve, whilst driving forward the pharmacy profession within all sectors.

Eryl Smeethe

Eryl is the Lead Prescribing Advisor at Aneurin Bevan UHB. Eryl has worked in a variety of pharmacy roles throughout her career; including hospital and community pharmacy before moving into the Medicines Management in primary care.

Eryl is also the North Torfaen Cluster Lead, a post she has held for the last five years that allows her to work with multidisciplinary teams across health and social care. Eryl has recently joined the All Wales Prescribing Advisory Group and is part of the SPIRA Steering Group. She has a strong interest in collaborative working and enjoys being a member of the P:DaHW Seamless Pharmaceutical care subgroup to help to deliver our theme goals.

Adam Turner

Adam is a senior lecturer at Swansea University, and teaches in the areas of pharmacy practice and clinical pharmacy. He registered as a pharmacist in 2008 and began his career working in various roles in community pharmacy, including both multiple and independent pharmacies, and spent time working as a hospital outpatients pharmacist.

As an academic pharmacist Adam has taught pharmacists in the UK and in Malaysia. His area of expertise primarily focusses on pharmacy practice, and he has experience teaching at undergraduate and postgraduate level, as well as teaching to students registered for the overseas pharmacists' assessment programme (OSPAP).

He attends international conferences with his research within the field of pharmacy practice and pharmacy education.

Rhian Carta

Rhian qualified from Bath University and completed her pre-registration training in London. Rhian has extensive experience across primary and secondary care in the NHS in England and Wales, she has worked in specialist mental health services at the Maudsley Hospital, formulary positions at University College London Hospitals, and clinical services lead for Queens Hospital, and the Homerton Hospital.

She was project manager for outcomes on the “Now or Never: Shaping Pharmacy for the Future” report for the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, which looked at ensuring the pharmacy workforce was ready and enabled for the future NHS.

In her most recent position as a regional manager for CPPE, Rhian supported the education provision for pharmacy professionals to enable them to carry out extended roles, as well as delivering leadership training.

Rhian is now working at Cwm Taf Morgannwg as Head of Pharmacy for Prince Charles and community hospitals, and as workforce development lead.

Sam Fisher

Sam Fisher studied at the Welsh School of Pharmacy in Cardiff and registered as a pharmacist in 1997 before attaining her MSc in Clinical Community Pharmacy. Sam held various pharmacy-field-based operational roles including Regional Director for Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, and leading key business transformation programmes such as automation and centralisation of dispensing at Lloyds Pharmacy, before becoming Head of Pharmacy Affairs for McKesson UK.

Passionate about the evolution of pharmacy and its future role within the wider healthcare agenda, Sam has over 10 years’ experience as a Board director of the Company Chemists Association, board member of the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee (PSNC) and Vice Chair of Community Pharmacy Wales (CPW).

Sam is currently Vice Chair of the Welsh Pharmaceutical Committee and Chief Pharmacist for Primary Care and Medicines Optimisation at Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board.

Emyr Jones

Consultant Pharmacist, National lead for Wales: Community Healthcare.

I am a non-executive member of the Board and also a sub-group member for the Seamless Pharmaceutical Care theme. My main objective is to represent Pharmacy's role in enhancing health in care homes and focus on pharmacy's role in supporting the social care sector.

As a consultant pharmacist and national lead for community health care, I work across health and social care services to improve coordination and continuity of care for patients across organisational boundaries.

Throughout my career, I have held various roles across all sectors of pharmacy, including primary care, secondary care, academia, and the third sector. I have a special interest in palliative care and prescribing for the frail population. In addition, I have previously served as a NICE fellow, contributing to developing evidence-based guidelines and recommendations.

Dr Sarah Hiom, BPharm, MRPharmS, PhD.

Sarah is the National Specialist Pharmacist - Research & Development, based at St Mary’s Pharmaceutical Unit - C&VUHB. She chairs Pharmacy Research Wales, is a board member for Pharmacy Delivering a Healthier Wales and sits on the Enhancing Patient Experience subgroup. Sarah is passionate about research and helping professionals to embrace research as part of their day-to-day practice.

Sarah is a registered pharmacist with over 35 years experience of working in hospital, community, and academia. After studying at the Welsh School of Pharmacy, Sarah completed her hospital pre-registration training in Oxford before returning to Cardiff for a PhD in Pharmaceutical microbiology. 

She worked in Technical Services before being appointed to the Welsh National Specialist role for Research and Development. Sarah has subsequently led on the development of a Pharmacy Research Strategy for Wales [2015-2020] and established research networks such as Pharmacy Research Wales and a National Technical Services Research Collaboration between NHS and academia. 

Sarah established a personal research portfolio in Technical Services exploring formulation and clinical efficacy of topical gabapentin for neuropathic pain and the use of rapid microbiological methods to improve the microbial quality assurance of bespoke parenteral nutrition.

Sarah is looking forward to developing and supporting the research agenda for Pharmacy Delivering a Healthier wales.