Helen Gordon
Helen joined the Royal Pharmaceutical Society on 1 July 2010 and has developed its role, work and impact as the newly dedicated professional body for pharmacists in Great Britain.
Under Helen’s leadership and direction the Society has created a much stronger patient and member focused organisation which has introduced a professional development and recognition system for pharmacists, published professional standards as well as guidance, and has increased its profile and contribution to the health community in the UK and international pharmacy. The organisation has gained greater recognition for speaking on behalf of the pharmacy profession, a higher level of participation from patient groups, and is actively working in collaboration with other Royal Colleges on initiatives that benefit patients and the public. The Society is also home for the well-known and trusted publisher, Pharmaceutical Press.
Helen has a career in health care spanning 33 years. Originally training as a nurse at St Bartholomew’s Hospital, London, she progressed through a number of senior clinical and managerial positions, including the roles of Executive Director of Operations /Chief Nurse, Chief Executive at Hillingdon Hospital, and then from 2000-2005 she was Chief Executive at Queen Mary’s Sidcup NHS Trust. She then moved to national roles, and held the position of Chief Executive of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists from 2005 to 2010 before moving to the RPS.
Half of the RCOG’s members live and work overseas, and the College examines doctors throughout the world in the field of obstetrics and gynaecology. Whilst Helen was at RCOG, the College set up an international arm focussing on developing practice to tackle maternal mortality and raise standards of care for women and their babies.
For the past 8 years she has contributed to higher education as a Governor for Ravensbourne College and held the position of Chair of the Audit Committee there. Since 2013 Helen has chaired the new Alumni Relationship and Development Advisory Board at Henley Business School/ University of Reading. Helen holds a Masters Degree in Business Administration from Henley Business School. She was awarded an Honorary Fellowship of the Royal College of General Practitioners in November 2013.