Network founded in 2021 to address the leadership gap facing women in pharmacy formalises its structure and mission as a registered CIC, signalling a step-change in ambition and sustainability.

London, Monday 13th April 2026 -  The Female Pharmacy Leaders Network (FPLN), the UK's only organisation dedicated to the leadership development, community support, and advocacy of women across all pharmacy sectors, has today announced its registration as a Community Interest Company (CIC).

The transition formalises a structure that reflects FPLN's mission and long-term ambitions: all income generated by the organisation will be directed exclusively toward its community purpose, with governance and accountability mechanisms now embedded in law.

FPLN was founded in 2021 by three senior pharmacists in response to a well-documented but persistently unaddressed gap in the pharmacy profession. Women represent 62% of the UK pharmacy workforce, a figure that rises to 65% globally, with projections pointing to 69%. Yet hold only 36% of senior leadership positions. The disparity is more acute for women of colour, who are significantly underrepresented at Band 8a and above relative to their overall presence in the profession.

Reena Barai, Co-Founder:  "We started this because we felt the gap ourselves, and we knew we weren't alone. Five years on, we have a community of almost 1,000 women who show up for each other across every sector of pharmacy. Becoming a CIC is how we make sure that community can keep growing and keep mattering for the long term."

 

Since its launch, FPLN has grown to more than 1,000 members spanning the full spectrum of the pharmacy profession from primary care, secondary care, life sciences, academia, digital health and beyond. The network has delivered over 32 events and meetups, sold-out annual retreats, and recently held a hugely successful 5 year anniversary event in London. The network maintains an average email open rate of 54% - reflecting a highly engaged community.

As a CIC, FPLN is subject to the community interest test and the asset lock provisions of the Companies Act 2004. The organisation's Articles of Association set out its commitment to leadership development, professional networking, mentorship, advocacy, and the advancement of diversity and representation across pharmacy leadership.

Komal George, Co-Founder:  "The pharmacy profession is majority female. Its leadership is not. That gap does not close by itself, it closes because organisations like ours exist, and because the women in our community refuse to accept it as inevitable. The CIC structure gives us the foundation to do this work at scale, with the credibility and sustainability the mission deserves."

 

FPLN's programme for 2026–2027 includes a series of in-person and digital events across the UK, with a deliberate focus on expanding reach beyond London to serve women in pharmacy at every stage of their career and in every sector of the profession.

Alongside the CIC registration, FPLN has appointed Anjna Sharma as interim Chief Operating Officer. Anjna brings significant experience in operations, partnerships, and commercial development, and joins the founding team of Reena Barai and Komal George to support the network’s next phase of growth. Her appointment reflects the organisation’s commitment to building the operational capacity needed to scale its impact across the UK pharmacy profession.

Membership of FPLN remains free. The network is actively seeking mission-aligned sponsors and partners to support its programme. Further information is available at  https://subscribepage.io/femalepharmacyleaders https://www.linkedin.com/company/female-pharmacy-leaders-network/ or by contacting femalepharmacyleaders@gmail.com.

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Notes to Editors

• The Female Pharmacy Leaders Network CIC is registered in England and Wales. Registration details available on request.
• Founded: 2021. Registered as CIC: March 2026.
• Directors of the Female Pharmacy Leaders Network CIC: Reena Barai (Independent Community Pharmacy Contractor; former first Asian female NPA Board member; Community Pharmacy England Committee member) and Komal George (former Head of Dispensing & Supply, Community Pharmacy England; Healthcare Business Growth Strategist; Fractional Digital Clinical Safety Officer).
• Membership is open to all women working in or connected to the pharmacy profession. Free to join at https://subscribepage.io/femalepharmacyleaders.
• Statistics: GPhC registrant data; FIP Global Pharmacy Workforce Review 2025 (fip.org); NHS Pharmacy Workforce Research and Evidence Study (PWRES).
• High-resolution images of co-founders and FPLN branding available on request.
• Interviews with co-founders available on request. Contact: femalepharmacyleaders@gmail.com