Antibiotic Research UK announces the appointment of Mr. Simon Dukes as Chair Designate of the Board of Trustees

York, UK, 18th January 2021 / Sciad Newswire / Antibiotic Research UK is delighted to announce the appointment of Mr. Simon Dukes as Chair Designate of its Board of Trustees.

Simon is currently in the news in his role as CEO of the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee (PSNC) where he is in negotiations with Government on the role of community pharmacies in rolling out the COVID-19 vaccination programme. Simon leads the PSNC committee, and is responsible and accountable for all operational dimensions of the organisation. These include the planning and shaping of NHS services provided by the network of over 11,000 community pharmacies in England, as well as negotiating funding from HM Government. Prior to this Simon was Chief Executive of the UK’s Fraud Prevention Service, Cifas. There, he was on the Oversight Board of the Home Secretary’s Joint Fraud Task Force, and the Management Board of the Joint Money Laundering Intelligence Task Force. Up to 2013, Simon spent over two decades working in the UK public sector with senior level experience in defence and security policy, public affairs, media and communications strategy, negotiation and cyber security.

Professor Colin Garner, Antibiotic Research UK’s Chief Executive, said, "We are delighted that Simon Dukes has agreed to become Chair Designate of our charity. At a time when the world is tackling the worst pandemic for a 100 years and infection charities are seeing demand for their services rise while their income falls, it is vital that our charity has a Chair who has a proven track record in change management. We are seeking to move our charity to the next level and Simon’s experience as a senior civil servant interacting with government and as Chief Executive of the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee, talking to Ministers on topics such as how the pharmacy community can assist in rolling out COVID vaccines, will significantly raise our charity’s profile in tackling antimicrobial resistance. Antimicrobial resistance may well play a role in COVID-19 pneumonia and it is vitally important therefore that this link should be researched. This requires funds and I hope that Simon through his networks will help us in raising these."

Simon Dukes added, "I am delighted to be joining Antibiotic Research UK as Chair Designate. The coronavirus pandemic has demonstrated the impact that infectious illnesses can have on our society. The predictions of global deaths from antibiotic resistance in the decades to come put those from COVID-19 in the shade. This is why the work of Antibiotic Research UK, the only charity in the UK dedicated to fighting antimicrobial resistance, is so important. I look forward to working with the Trustee Board and Chief Executive to help ANTRUK realise its ambitious plans to raise funds for antimicrobial research, education and patient support."

ENDS

Notes to Editors

About Antibiotic Research UK (ANTRUK)
The world’s first charity and only charity focussed on tackling bacterial antibiotic resistance. The charity’s mission is to develop new antibiotic treatments, educate the public about resistance and provide patient support. Since its formation in 2014, the charity has funded research, supported academic groups in universities and employed the country’s first Patient Support Officer focussed on supporting patients with an antibiotic resistant infection. The charity relies wholly on public donations and receives no government support.

You can learn more about Antibiotic Research UK at www.antibioticresearch.org.uk

For further information, please contact:

Emma Pickup/Richard Anderson
T: 020 3405 7892
E: media@antibioticresearch.org.uk

Learn more about Antibiotic Research UK (ANTRUK) at
www.antibioticresearch.org.uk
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