
WELCOME TO
THE RECOGNITION OF EXCELLENCE AWARDS 2025
The Recognition of Excellence (RoE) Awards Judges
The RoE Awards judging panel is comprised of industry experts, former RoE Spotlight Award winners, community pharmacists and pharmacy technicians.
Thanks to this panel, we are able to share the very best stories of community pharmacy team members from across the UK.
Featured Judges

Ade Williams MBE
Lead pharmacist, Bedminster Pharmacy, Bristol
Ade Williams MBE is the lead pharmacist at the multi-award winning pharmacy Bedminster Pharmacy in Bristol. He oversees a team who have seen great success at the Recognition of Excellence Awards in previous years, and is a true advocate of pharmacy support staff. He is also the pharmacy ambassador for the charity Pancreatic Cancer Action. In 2022, Ade was awarded an MBE in the New Year’s Honours List, cited “for services to the NHS and to the community in South Bristol, particularly during Covid-19”.

Arunoday Lekkala
RoE23 Spotlight Award Winner
Arunoday Lekkala is a accuracy checking technician and independent level-3 assessor, working in the pharmacy sector for over 16 years. He has worked in various pharmacy environments such as hospital, community and prison. Arunoday was the winner of the Recognition of Excellence Outstanding Contribution Award and the overall Spotlight Award winner for 2023. He has also won the best community pharmacy technician award from APTUK in 2023 and was the best pharmacy technician winner at the Independent Pharmacy Awards 2023.

Elen Jones
Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) director for Wales
Elen Jones is the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) director for Wales. She has led on numerous policies and campaigns for the RPS in Wales and across Great Britain and continues to lead a vibrant plan for advancing pharmacy across all sectors. Elen was the project manager and lead author of the current ten-year vision for pharmacy in Wales, Pharmacy: Delivering a Healthier Wales.

Emma Charlesworth
Head of Marketing Operations, Numark
Emma Charlesworth has worked for Numark for 24 years, holding positions such as head of marketing and communications manager, where she developed expertise in pharmacy trade press communications and developing marketing strategies. She was appointed head of marketing operations at Numark’s wholesale partner Phoenix Medical Supplies in May 2019 and has been involved in the RoE Awards for many years as a sponsor on behalf of Numark.

Ifti Khan
Pharmacy Superintendent, Well
Ifti Khan is the Pharmacy Superintendent at Well and has worked in community pharmacy for nearly 30 years, starting his career as a pharmacist. Over the last two years, Ifti has played a leading role in Well’s response to the Covid pandemic, creating policies to help protect colleagues, patients and communities. Ifti is also a board member of the Company Chemist Association (CCA), a CCA appointed representative on the PSNC committee and Vice-Chair and Governance lead for Greater Manchester LPC.

Janice Perkins
Chair of the RPS Community Pharmacy Expert Advisory Group
Janice Perkins is the Chair of the RPS Community Pharmacy Expert Advisory Group. Formerly the Pharmacy Superintendent at Well, Janice now has her own business, Pennine ACT, focusing on providing advice on pharmacy practice and standards alongside coaching and mentoring services. Her goal is to help healthcare professionals and organisations be the best they can be. Her contribution to the profession has been recognised by her being made a Fellow of the RPS and appointed as Visiting Professor at Keele University.

Mike Holden
Associate Director, Pharmacy Complete
Associate Director at Pharmacy Complete, Mike Holden has a passion and extensive track record for innovation in pharmacy and was one of the primary drivers behind the healthy living pharmacy model. Having practiced for over 40 years, he has established and run his own independent community pharmacy group, led various pharmacy organisations including the National Pharmacy Association, and now operates as a consultant.

Mimi Lau
CEO, Pickfords Pharmacy
Mimi Lau is CEO of Pickfords Pharmacy, a group of 20 pharmacies located across Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and South Yorkshire. Mimi has previously held senior positions within procurement, commercial operations, service development and training and quality and regulatory, with organisations including Lloyds, Rowlands, Numark and Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust. She is passionate about building high performing teams and leading people through transformational change.

Nicola Stockmann
Vice-President and President Elect, APTUK
Nicola Stockmann is the President of the Association of Pharmacy Technicians UK. She has previously held roles as Vice President of APTUK and the APTUK Hampshire branch chair person. Her APTUK voluntary role is in addition to her role at Hampshire Hospitals Foundation Trust as the Pharmacy Operations Manager & Dispensaries manager, service lead. She has been a qualified Pharmacy Technician for 11 years and has previously worked in community pharmacy, clinical trials, medicines optimisation and as a Medicines Safety Officer.

Nicole Tolkin
RoE22 Spotlight Award Winner
Nicole Tolkin is an accuracy checking technician and pharmacy manager who has worked in the industry for over 33 years. The dedication she has displayed over this time saw her pick up two awards at the Recognition of Excellence Awards 2022, Outstanding Contribution and our overall Spotlight award. A complete asset to the pharmacy profession, Nicole goes out of her way to help her colleagues and community in whatever way she can.

Raj Nutan
Healthcare Strategy & Services Director, Alliance Healthcare & Alphega Pharmacy UK
Raj Nutan is currently the healthcare strategy & services director at Alliance Healthcare & Alphega Pharmacy UK. He is a practising pharmacist with over 28 years’ experience in both the community pharmacy and pharmaceutical wholesale sector. He regularly visits community pharmacies to speak and support pharmacists and their pharmacy teams across the UK.

Richard Dunne
Head of Healthcare Capability, Boots UK
Richard Dunne is the Head of Healthcare Capability a Boots UK. This involves leading the Healthcare Learning and Development team within Boots UK to develop, support and deliver the capability intervention for all Healthcare colleagues within the business. Prior to this he was senior professional standards manager, supporting the company’s clinical and professional standards.

Richard Stephenson
Operations Director, Right Medicine Pharmacy Ltd
Operations Director at Right Medicine Pharmacy Ltd, Richard Stephenson leads 41 pharmacy branches and over 300 employees including the Head Office team and functions across Scotland. Richard is also the managing director at Edinpharm Ltd who have over 220 members currently. He was a Recognition of Excellence Awards finalist at the inaugural awards in 2014, achieving highly commended in the Retail Skills category.

Rupen Sedani
Retail Clinical Superintendent, Avicenna
Rupen Sedani is the Retail Clinical Superintendent for Avicenna. He was previously Superintendent Pharmacist for Sainsbury’s, having worked there in various roles for over 20 years. With 25 years of experience in managing the clinical aspects of both community and hospital pharmacy, he has a vast knowledge of professional, regulatory, and clinical governance for the industry.

Reena Barai
Pharmacy Owner and Co-Founder, Female Pharmacy Leaders Network
Richard Dunne is the Head of Healthcare Capability a Boots UK. This involves leading the Healthcare Learning and Development team within Boots UK to develop, support and deliver the capability intervention for all Healthcare colleagues within the business. Prior to this he was senior professional standards manager, supporting the company’s clinical and professional standards.

Tim Rendell
Head of Pharmacy, Day Lewis
Reena is a community pharmacy owner based in Sutton, Surrey and she runs her family’s Pharmacy that was established in 1979. She is an advocate of community pharmacy and champions the role of pharmacy teams. Reena co-founded the Female Pharmacy Leaders Network, a network set up with the purpose of inspiring women to release their ‘inner’ leader. She is a former NPA board member and CPE committee member.

Victoria Steele
Clinical Director and Chief Pharmacist, LloydsPharmacy Healthcare Services
Victoria Steele was appointed as LloydsPharmacy’s first female superintendent pharmacist in September 2020. She qualified as a pharmacist in 2000 and joined McKesson UK in 2011 as deputy superintendent for LloydsPharmacy. Victoria is now the Clinical Director and Chief Pharmacist for LloydsPharmacy Healthcare Services specialising in outpatient dispensing, mental health trusts and prison services. Victoria until recently also Chaired the Community Pharmacy Patient Safety Group.

Ade Williams MBE
Lead pharmacist, Bedminster Pharmacy, Bristol
Ade Williams MBE is the lead pharmacist at the multi-award winning pharmacy Bedminster Pharmacy in Bristol. He oversees a team who have seen great success at the Recognition of Excellence Awards in previous years, and is a true advocate of pharmacy support staff. He is also the pharmacy ambassador for the charity Pancreatic Cancer Action. In 2022, Ade was awarded an MBE in the New Year’s Honours List, cited “for services to the NHS and to the community in South Bristol, particularly during Covid-19”.

Arunoday Lekkala
RoE23 Spotlight Award Winner
Arunoday Lekkala is a accuracy checking technician and independent level-3 assessor, working in the pharmacy sector for over 16 years. He has worked in various pharmacy environments such as hospital, community and prison. Arunoday was the winner of the Recognition of Excellence Outstanding Contribution Award and the overall Spotlight Award winner for 2023. He has also won the best community pharmacy technician award from APTUK in 2023 and was the best pharmacy technician winner at the Independent Pharmacy Awards 2023.

Elen Jones
Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) director for Wales
Elen Jones is the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) director for Wales. She has led on numerous policies and campaigns for the RPS in Wales and across Great Britain and continues to lead a vibrant plan for advancing pharmacy across all sectors. Elen was the project manager and lead author of the current ten-year vision for pharmacy in Wales, Pharmacy: Delivering a Healthier Wales.

Emma Charlesworth
Head of Marketing Operations, Numark
Emma Charlesworth has worked for Numark for 24 years, holding positions such as head of marketing and communications manager, where she developed expertise in pharmacy trade press communications and developing marketing strategies. She was appointed head of marketing operations at Numark’s wholesale partner Phoenix Medical Supplies in May 2019 and has been involved in the RoE Awards for many years as a sponsor on behalf of Numark.

Ifti Khan
Pharmacy Superintendent, Well
Ifti Khan is the Pharmacy Superintendent at Well and has worked in community pharmacy for nearly 30 years, starting his career as a pharmacist. Over the last two years, Ifti has played a leading role in Well’s response to the Covid pandemic, creating policies to help protect colleagues, patients and communities. Ifti is also a board member of the Company Chemist Association (CCA), a CCA appointed representative on the PSNC committee and Vice-Chair and Governance lead for Greater Manchester LPC.

Janice Perkins
Chair of the RPS Community Pharmacy Expert Advisory Group
Janice Perkins is the Chair of the RPS Community Pharmacy Expert Advisory Group. Formerly the Pharmacy Superintendent at Well, Janice now has her own business, Pennine ACT, focusing on providing advice on pharmacy practice and standards alongside coaching and mentoring services. Her goal is to help healthcare professionals and organisations be the best they can be. Her contribution to the profession has been recognised by her being made a Fellow of the RPS and appointed as Visiting Professor at Keele University.

Mike Holden
Associate Director, Pharmacy Complete
Associate Director at Pharmacy Complete, Mike Holden has a passion and extensive track record for innovation in pharmacy and was one of the primary drivers behind the healthy living pharmacy model. Having practiced for over 40 years, he has established and run his own independent community pharmacy group, led various pharmacy organisations including the National Pharmacy Association, and now operates as a consultant.

Mimi Lau
CEO, Pickfords Pharmacy
Mimi Lau is CEO of Pickfords Pharmacy, a group of 20 pharmacies located across Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and South Yorkshire. Mimi has previously held senior positions within procurement, commercial operations, service development and training and quality and regulatory, with organisations including Lloyds, Rowlands, Numark and Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust. She is passionate about building high performing teams and leading people through transformational change.

Nicola Stockmann
Vice-President and President Elect, APTUK
Nicola Stockmann is the President of the Association of Pharmacy Technicians UK. She has previously held roles as Vice President of APTUK and the APTUK Hampshire branch chair person. Her APTUK voluntary role is in addition to her role at Hampshire Hospitals Foundation Trust as the Pharmacy Operations Manager & Dispensaries manager, service lead. She has been a qualified Pharmacy Technician for 11 years and has previously worked in community pharmacy, clinical trials, medicines optimisation and as a Medicines Safety Officer.

Nicole Tolkin
RoE22 Spotlight Award Winner
Nicole Tolkin is an accuracy checking technician and pharmacy manager who has worked in the industry for over 33 years. The dedication she has displayed over this time saw her pick up two awards at the Recognition of Excellence Awards 2022, Outstanding Contribution and our overall Spotlight award. A complete asset to the pharmacy profession, Nicole goes out of her way to help her colleagues and community in whatever way she can.

Raj Nutan
Healthcare Strategy & Services Director, Alliance Healthcare & Alphega Pharmacy UK
Raj Nutan is currently the healthcare strategy & services director at Alliance Healthcare & Alphega Pharmacy UK. He is a practising pharmacist with over 28 years’ experience in both the community pharmacy and pharmaceutical wholesale sector. He regularly visits community pharmacies to speak and support pharmacists and their pharmacy teams across the UK.

Richard Dunne
Head of Healthcare Capability, Boots UK
Richard Dunne is the Head of Healthcare Capability a Boots UK. This involves leading the Healthcare Learning and Development team within Boots UK to develop, support and deliver the capability intervention for all Healthcare colleagues within the business. Prior to this he was senior professional standards manager, supporting the company’s clinical and professional standards.

Richard Stephenson
Operations Director, Right Medicine Pharmacy Ltd
Operations Director at Right Medicine Pharmacy Ltd, Richard Stephenson leads 41 pharmacy branches and over 300 employees including the Head Office team and functions across Scotland. Richard is also the managing director at Edinpharm Ltd who have over 220 members currently. He was a Recognition of Excellence Awards finalist at the inaugural awards in 2014, achieving highly commended in the Retail Skills category.

Rupen Sedani
Retail Clinical Superintendent, Avicenna
Rupen Sedani is the Retail Clinical Superintendent for Avicenna. He was previously Superintendent Pharmacist for Sainsbury’s, having worked there in various roles for over 20 years. With 25 years of experience in managing the clinical aspects of both community and hospital pharmacy, he has a vast knowledge of professional, regulatory, and clinical governance for the industry.

Reena Barai
Pharmacy Owner and Co-Founder, Female Pharmacy Leaders Network
Richard Dunne is the Head of Healthcare Capability a Boots UK. This involves leading the Healthcare Learning and Development team within Boots UK to develop, support and deliver the capability intervention for all Healthcare colleagues within the business. Prior to this he was senior professional standards manager, supporting the company’s clinical and professional standards.

Tim Rendell
Head of Pharmacy, Day Lewis
Reena is a community pharmacy owner based in Sutton, Surrey and she runs her family’s Pharmacy that was established in 1979. She is an advocate of community pharmacy and champions the role of pharmacy teams. Reena co-founded the Female Pharmacy Leaders Network, a network set up with the purpose of inspiring women to release their ‘inner’ leader. She is a former NPA board member and CPE committee member.

Victoria Steele
Clinical Director and Chief Pharmacist, LloydsPharmacy Healthcare Services
Victoria Steele was appointed as LloydsPharmacy’s first female superintendent pharmacist in September 2020. She qualified as a pharmacist in 2000 and joined McKesson UK in 2011 as deputy superintendent for LloydsPharmacy. Victoria is now the Clinical Director and Chief Pharmacist for LloydsPharmacy Healthcare Services specialising in outpatient dispensing, mental health trusts and prison services. Victoria until recently also Chaired the Community Pharmacy Patient Safety Group.