Several leading figures in pharmacy have been recognised in the 2026 King’s birthday honours list, which was published on June 13.
The chair of the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) Gisela Abbam was awarded an OBE for “services to the pharmacy professions and health”.
Abbam began her role as chair in March 2022 and was reappointed in February 2025.
Read more: Gisela Abbam reappointed as GPhC chair until 2029
She was previously the chair of the British Science Association, which she took on in January 2019.
Dr Mark Stuart was also given an OBE for “services to the pharmacy profession in sport and to anti-doping”.
He has acted as a consultant pharmacist for the Olympic Committee’s Health, Medicine & Science Commission’s Medical Expert Group, the World Anti-Doping Agency Prohibited List Expert Group, and is the chair of the European Olympic Committees Medical & Anti-Doping Commission.
Read more: London Olympics put pharmacy on a ‘global stage’
He is also currently an honorary associate Professor in the medicine department at University College London.
And an MBE was awarded to Professor Margaret Allan, who was the former pharmacy dean at Health Education and Improvement Wales (HEIW), for “services to pharmacy”.
She worked at the Wales Centre for Professional Pharmacy Education for 15 years, before starting her role at HEIW.
“Great honour”
Gisela Abbam called the award a “great honour” and said “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”.
“I am proud of the work we have delivered so far during my time as Chair of the GPhC, and excited for the work ahead to help us achieve our vision of safe and effective pharmacy care at the heart of healthier communities,” she added.
GPhC chief executive Kathie Cashell said “on behalf of our Council and staff at the GPhC, I would like to congratulate Gisela on receiving an OBE from the King for her services to the Pharmacy Professions and Health”.
Read more: GPhC appoints new governing council members for 2026/27
She also said the award was “richly deserved” and that it “recognises Gisela’s exceptional contributions to pharmacy and to global health”.
C+D interviewed Dr Mark Stuart in 2012 about the pharmacy volunteering roles at the London Olympics, as he was “overseeing medicine distribution and pharmacy services throughout the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic games”.
