Pharmacy leaders recognised in the King’s Birthday Honours

Pharmacy leaders have been recognised in the 2026 King’s Birthday Honours for their service to the sector and public health.

Executive director of science and research at the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), Dr Nicola Rose, and chair of the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC), Gisela Abbam, were both awarded OBEs.

Honorary associate professor in the University College London (UCL) Division of Medicine, Dr Mark Campbell Stuart, received the same honour for services to the pharmacy profession in sport and anti-doping.

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And Professor Margaret Allan, former pharmacy dean at Health Education and Improvement Wales, was awarded an MBE for her services to pharmacy.

Ms Abbam, who has been chair of the GPhC since March 2022 and was reappointed to serve a second term in February 2025, was described as an ‘inspirational leader’.

Kathie Cashell, chief executive of the GPhC, congratulated Ms Abbam on receiving an OBE for her services to the pharmacy professions and health.

She said: ‘Gisela is an inspirational leader and advocate for our work to empower pharmacists and pharmacy technicians to deliver trusted, effective and inclusive care and to build a future where pharmacy services continue to inspire confidence, protect the public, and advance healthcare for all.’

Ms Abbam added: ‘It is a great honour to be awarded an OBE from his majesty the King. Throughout my career, my priority has been to help improve people’s health both in Great Britain and across the world, and it is very humbling to have that work recognised.’

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The MHRA said that Dr Rose – who was honoured for services to science and public health – has played a ‘major’ role in the UK’s regulatory science research, and the global response to emerging viral diseases.

She leads a team that assesses the quality and assurance of vaccines used in both routine and emergency public health responses, including the seasonal flu vaccination programme, the agency said.

During the Covid pandemic, she led the MHRA’s independent laboratory testing of novel vaccines that helped to accelerate the UK’s vaccine readiness and the rapid development of biological reference materials – these contributions were critical in the country’s pandemic response, it added.

Dr Rose said: ‘This [award] is in tribute to the dedication and hard work of all my colleagues at the MHRA’s science campus, who work to make sure that biological medicines such as vaccines are safe and effective, and to support the introduction of innovative products to benefit patients and the public across the UK.

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‘Our work is vital to the healthcare system. I hope this recognition inspires more young people to seize the opportunities offered by careers in science, research, regulation and public health.’

MHRA chief executive, Lawrence Tallon, said he was proud of Dr Rose’s achievement, testament to her ‘hard work and dedication’.

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