The General Pharmaceutical Council’s (GPhC) chair Gisela Abbam has won a Novi award that celebrates “women breaking barriers” in leadership roles.

Abbam was awarded winner of the ‘Women on Boards’ category over the weekend (November 24) and said it’s an “honour to be recognised”.

“I’m delighted to be among this year’s winners who have shown that it is possible for women of all backgrounds to achieve great things across all different sectors.

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“I believe that being a leader is about being an advocate – not only to drive change, but also to support and inspire the people around you,” she said.

Abbam was recognised alongside fifteen other winners across various categories that celebrate “women breaking barriers and shaping a more inclusive future of business”, according to Novi.

The network was founded in 2005 to “elevate women’s voices and amplify their impact”.

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Novi Awards founder Griselda Togobo said that the winners “exemplify the breakthrough leadership and innovation that’s possible when we champion diverse voices and perspectives”.

“Their success stories prove that when we invest in women’s leadership, entire industries transform for the better,” she added.

“A worthy winner”

Alongside Abbam’s role at the GPhC, she serves on the boards of the barristers’ regulator the Bar Standards Board and the US-based Briyah Institute.

She is also senior director for government affairs at life sciences company Revvity, commissioner for the UK’s National Preparedness Commission and founder of OTGA Management Consultancy.

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Previously, Abbam was global executive director for government affairs and policy at General Electric Healthcare and part of the leadership team that set up the Centre for Public Health Excellence at the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).

Her past accolades include being named one of the 100 Women to Watch for FTSE 350 Boards, winning the 2019 Black British Business Person of the Year Award and being awarded ‘Iconic Woman creating a better World for All’ by the Women Economic Forum.

GPhC chief executive Duncan Rudkin said Abbam has a passion for “improving access and equality in health” and is a “fantastic role model and a worthy winner”.

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Earlier this month, the Pharmacists’ Defence Association (PDA) said that the GPhC’s proposed raft of “extra safeguards” for online pharmacies risk “watering down” existing guidance for prescribing high-risk medicines like weight loss drugs.

And in October, GPhC chief pharmacy officer and deputy registrar Roz Gittens revealed plans to review its “three-pronged” pharmacy inspecting approach for the first time since it was introduced in 2019.