Our Judges, 2024

Passionate about technology, Bernadette Brown is always eager to harness its potential. She has introduced some brilliant innovations at her pharmacy in Fife, including the installation of five robots. This advancement has saved time for her staff, allowing them to concentrate more on clinical activities and service delivery, which in turn has helped shift the pharmacy’s focus from merely supplying medicines to supporting patients’ wellbeing. Bernadette is also a member of the Primary Care Respiratory Society, a professional organisation for healthcare professionals working in respiratory care. Additionally, she has won the Pharmacy Business of the Year Award.

A distinguished leader in pharmacy, Michael actively advocates for expanding pharmacy roles in health and wellbeing. In addition to his extensive expertise, he possesses a significant understanding of pharmacy and healthcare policy. He founded his community pharmacy group in 1988 and became chief officer of the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Local Pharmaceutical Committee in 2005. He was appointed chief executive of the UK’s National Pharmacy Association in 2011. In 2016, he co-founded Pharmacy Complete, a consultancy for community pharmacy, the pharmaceutical industry, and health organisations. During the pandemic, he led two COVID-19 vaccination centers. Michael is a Fellow of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society and the Royal Society for Public Health. 

An innovative leader in pharmacy operations, Patrick runs a third-generation family business comprising two community and two warehouse pharmacies. With a degree in IT and Technical Solutions, he oversees daily operations and leads an in-house software team dedicated to developing innovative solutions to enhance pharmacy operations and patient services. Under his leadership, Gompels Limited was honoured with the Pharmacy Business of the Year award in 2023. In his leisure time, Patrick enjoys engaging in various sports, including hockey and surfing, as well as indulging in his love for reading.

A passionate and committed advocate of Community Pharmacy, Reena Barai has been managing the operations of her family’s S G Barai Pharmacy in Sutton, Surrey, for the past two decades. She is also currently the co-chair of her local NHS Integrated Neighbourhood Team, a trustee of a charity that supports older people, and the co-founder of the Female Pharmacy Leaders Network. She is a former member of the NPA’s board and the CPE committee. Reena lives by the motto ‘work hard and play harder.’ Her favourite pastimes include singing, reading, and swimming. She is also learning to speak Italian and has set herself the challenge of visiting 40 cities in Italy before she turns 50.

Shailesh R Solanki is the Executive Editor of Asian Media Group, (AMG), Britain’s biggest Asian publishing house. Established in 1968, AMG publishes a stable of consumer and business titles in the UK and USA aimed at the Asian community. Shailesh graduated with a BSc (Hons) in Economics from University College, London and has over 25 years’ experience in consumer and business journalism. He has chronicled the progress of the Asian community in the group’s various publications which include Eastern Eye newspaper, Garavi Gujarat newsweekly, Asian Trader, Pharmacy Business, The Asian Rich List and GG2 Power List. Shailesh is responsible for the editorial direction of the group’s titles, the group’s events division and its US business which is based in Atlanta, Georgia.

An experienced and award-winning leader in the community pharmacy sector, Shilpa has nearly 25 years of industry experience. As CEO of CP NEL, she oversees 375 pharmacies in Northeast London. Apart from being a pharmacist and RPS fellow, Shilpa is a member of the Inclusive Pharmacy Practice Advisory Board chaired by David Webb, CPhO of NHS England, and serves as the Community Pharmacy Expert on the Professional Leadership Advisory Board. Additionally, she holds several voluntary positions at charities, including Samaritans, where she serves as Director of Branch Operations and a listening volunteer. Shilpa also volunteers at Pharmacist Support and serves as Healthcare Deputy Manager at Crisis at Christmas.