Rachel Lambert-Forsyth CBiol FRSB, RSB director of membership and professional affairs, has been appointed as the new chief executive officer at the British Pharmacological Society.

Rachel, who is also company secretary for Charles Darwin House Ltd, was previously director of education and training. In 2017, Rachel was also appointed to the Department of Education to advise on the content, skills and knowledge required for the healthcare science pathway in its new technical study programmes.

Rachel Lambert-Forsyth CBiol FRSB, one of the directors of the RSB, will be greatly missed by the RSB (photo: RSB)

Rachel, said: “I’m delighted to be joining the British Pharmacological Society as chief executive and to have the opportunity to work with the staff team, Trustees, committees and wider membership to take forward the excellent work led by Jono.

“It is a privilege to be joining such a dynamic and well-respected organisation, and I look forward to building on the current strategic plan, exploring new opportunities which will build a world in which pharmacology and therapeutics drive and support progress in science, medicine and healthcare.

“Having built my career at the Royal Society of Biology, I am pleased that I will remain within the biological sciences family and look forward to working across the bioscience disciplines, for the benefit of BPS members.”

Dr Mark Downs CBiol FRSB, chief executive of the Royal Society of Biology said, “Rachel will be missed greatly.

"I am certain she will bring the same enthusiasm to her new role that she has always exhibited at RSB and we are delighted that she will continue be actively engaged in promoting  bioscience through the lens of pharmacology."

Professor Steve Hill, president of the British Pharmacological Society, said: “I am delighted to be welcoming Rachel to the Society.

“I think she will be a superb ambassador for our members and for pharmacology, and an open and supportive leader of our staff team.

“Throughout the extensive appointment process, her commitment to our major strategic objective of embedding equality, diversity and inclusion into all that we do was very clear. She is also firmly signed up to deliver another key aim of our five-year strategy - having fun!”

Rachel takes the place of current CEO Jonathan Brüün, who leaves the Society on 1st January 2020 to become chief executive of the Royal College of Anaesthetists.

Mike Poole, who is finance and commercial director at the British Pharmacological Society, has been appointed as interim chief executive until Rachel joins on 16th March 2020.