Posted on: 26 October 2026
The Royal College of Pharmacy (RCPharm) has named Consultant Pharmacist Heather Smith as this year’s winner of the Barnett Award, in recognition of her outstanding commitment to mentoring pharmacy professionals and supporting their professional development.
Heather Smith, Consultant Pharmacist for Older People at NHS West Yorkshire Integrated Care Board, has helped pharmacists throughout her career build their clinical expertise, confidence, research and leadership skills, while advancing medicines optimisation for older people.
The Barnett Award was established in memory of esteemed Fellow Professor Nina Barnett, who died in 2023. It is awarded to Royal College of Pharmacy members who have made outstanding contributions to the development of the profession and have dedicated their careers to supporting, mentoring and advancing others.
Heather Smith said: “It is an absolute honour to receive this award. Nina was so inspiring and I learnt so much from her, as did so many colleagues. Amongst other things, Nina inspired me to complete a formal coaching qualification. Coaching, mentoring and educating others, and then seeing them grow and prosper has brought me so much joy in my career."
“It’s bittersweet to receive this reward as Nina is still very much missed, but we are determined to keep her legacy of developing others and person-centred medicines optimisation for older people alive.”
One of Heather’s most significant achievements has been establishing a peer support group for pharmacists and pharmacy technicians working across primary care, community services and care homes in Leeds. The group has been running for more than ten years, providing a forum for pharmacists to discuss complex cases, reflect on clinical decisions and learn from one another. She also helped develop a practical toolkit to enable other regions to establish similar groups.
Louise Goldring, RCPharm’s Director of Education, said: “We’re delighted to present this award to Heather. She has made a real difference to pharmacists through the support and guidance she gives to others. From setting up peer support groups to mentoring pharmacists working towards consultant roles, she has helped colleagues build their confidence, develop their skills and progress in their careers.”
Heather will be amongst fellow RCPharm awards and medal recipients invited to the RCPharm Annual Conference on 6 November to receive her award in person.
Read more about RCPharm awards and medals.