About Us
Operations
Role:
Stephen manages all Chief Officer functions and procedures, and is responsible for communicating to pharmacy contractors and staff through newsletters, WhatsApp and the CPBC website. He represents CPBC at Local Authority, ICB, NHSE and CPE levels across the Dudley, Sandwell, Walsall and Wolverhampton footprint of the Black Country, engaging with those bodies to champion community pharmacy.
His interests include the use of information technology and its’ benefits to pharmacy, the management of change and innovation and helping people through those issues and the continuous improvement and efficiency within the pharmacy setting. He enjoys developing innovative services that he hopes will benefit all of pharmacy, by utilising his Master of Business Administration degree.
Background:
Stephen is a pharmacist with over forty years experience. He has worked in community pharmacy for all that time, in roles such as Pharmacy Manager, Manager, and External Relationships Pharmacist, developing links with local communities, local authorities and professional networks.
He was a member of Dudley LPC since 2005, and Chief Officer from January 2019 to March 2025. He has been responsible for setting up sexual health advanced services with the former Dudley PCT, as well as the ‘Think Pharmacy’ campaign, which he represented at the Health Services Journal Innovation Awards in 2012. He was an interim deputy chairman of the Birmingham, Solihull and Black Country Local Professional Network (LPN) on its initial setup, and was the LPC’s member on the Scrutiny and Oversight Committee of Central Health Solutions Ltd. and administrator.
Stephen Noble: Fit & Proper Person
Stephen Noble: Confidentiality Agreement
Stephen Noble: Declaration of InterestsRole:
Nick has extensive experience, both as a member of an LPC, and working in the role as Treasurer for Community Pharmacy Dudley since 2021, and now as external Finance Officer at Community Pharmacy Black Country.
Nick Holden: Fit & Proper Person
Background:
Nick is a registered Pharmacy Technician with the GPhC and has previously worked in community pharmacy for over 10 years across multiple CCA companies and an Independent Pharmacy. Most of his tenure in community pharmacy was in management roles where he has previously worked as Area Manager for Shropshire, Wolverhampton, Staffordshire and Derby. He is passionate and focused about leadership and development.
Nick joined the education sector, supporting with training and enhancing the next generation of dispensers and pharmacy technicians in their careers within it. In his role at Halesowen College, he networks across multiple employers within the health and science industry, to try to act as an advocate for community pharmacy with extending partners into the wider primary and secondary care provider sector.
Nick Holden: Declaration of InterestsCCA Committee Members
Role:
Finance Sub-Group
Background:
Scot has been a member of an LPC since 2011, starting off with Dudley as a member until 2024 where he was elected as Chair. He then led the merger of the four Black Country LPCs to form the new entity of the Black Country LPC (Community Pharmacy Black Country) in March 2025.
Scot has also held numerous positions on contract applications, service delivery and finance sub committees throughout his years on LPCs.
For his day-to-day job, he is employed by Boots, and is a Pharmacy Operations Manager for West Birmingham and Shropshire and Worcestershire covering approximately 40 branches.
In his spare time, Scot cherishes his holidays, time with family friends, walking the dog and enjoying watching sports.
Scot Taylor: Fit & Proper Person
Scot Taylor: Confidentiality Agreement
Scot Taylor: Declaration of InterestsIPA/AIMp Committee Members
Role:
Governance Sub-Group
Background:
Alison has been working in community pharmacy for over 30 years. Although no longer often working at themcoal face these days, she is passionate about ensuring the teams she works with have the tools and training they need to give the best experience to patients and customers accessing the services they offer.
She began her career with a small independent multiple and has stayed through acquisitions and mergers.
Alison feels this gives her a good understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing small and larger businesses alike. She is passionate about patient safety and has been a member of the Community Pharmacy Patient Safety group since its inception over ten years ago.
Alison is pleased to have been appointed as an IPA representative on CP Black Country. She acknowledges there is a great range of experience around the committee, with diverse interests and knowledge, all working together for the benefit of the contractors they represent.
Alison Crompton: Fit & Proper Person
Alison Crompton: Confidentiality Agreement
Alison Crompton: Declaration of InterestsRole:
Chair, Community Pharmacy Black Country
Background:
Harpal is an IPA independent member with contracts across the Black Country. He has worked in the area for over 20 years.
Harpal Bhandal- Fit & Proper Person
Harpal Bhandal- Confidentiality Agreement
Harpal Bhandal- Declaration of InterestsIndependent Committee Members
Role:
Governance Sub-Group
Background:
Ali was Chief Officer of Community Pharmacy Sandwell from 2004 to 2023, and has a special interest in contracts and finance. He owns two pharmacies in Stourbridge and West Bromwich, and has been an independent contractor since the mid -eighties. Ali has insight into the contractual, financial and regulatory affairs related to pharmacy, and has been involved with LPC work since 2004 working collaboratively with other colleagues, LPCs and the NHS.
Ali Din: Confidentiality Agreement
Ai Din: Declaration of InterestsRole:
Governance Sub-Group
Background:
Bhupinder Malhi (Mal) brings over 25 years of extensive experience in community pharmacy to the Community Pharmacy Black Country Board.
A pharmacist since 2003, Mal began his career at a major national pharmacy chain, where he progressed from community pharmacist to District and Area Manager, assuming full responsibility for the operations and profitability of 30 pharmacies. He later became a Business Development Manager, working directly with Directors of Public Health and senior NHS England leaders to negotiate and secure vital healthcare contracts.
In 2013, Mal embarked on a new chapter, purchasing his own independent pharmacy and successfully growing the business. Through deep engagement with local GPs, businesses, and authorities, he has implemented a wide range of innovative services including weight management, needle exchange, sexual health provision, ear wax removal, flu and COVID vaccinations, travel clinics, and blood pressure monitoring. His approach has always been to listen to community needs and respond with practical, accessible solutions.
Beyond his professional work, Mal is deeply embedded in his local community. He serves as a Trustee at his local Sikh Temple, volunteers regularly, and supports local schools with careers advice and application mentoring. He is also active in politics for over 20 years, having chaired his local branch and campaigned extensively.
Mal is passionate about championing the vital role of community pharmacy in public health and ensuring contractors across the Black Country have a strong, effective voice at every decision- making table.
Bhupinder Malhi: Fit & Proper Person
Bhupinder Malhi: Confidentiality Agreement
Bhupinder Malhi: Declaration of InterestRole:
Vice-Chair, Community Pharmacy Black Country
Background:
Navinder is the Managing Director of a multisite pharmacy group, leading with a strong commitment
to governance, operational excellence, and patient-centred care. With extensive experience overseeing
complex pharmacy operations, he ensures that every branch delivers safe, reliable, and accessible
services to the communities it serves.
His leadership combines strategic oversight with handson involvement, supporting teams to maintain high clinical standards, robust compliance, and transparent financial processes. Navinder is particularly passionate about strengthening local healthcare partnerships and improving continuity of care for patients across the Black Country.
He continues to champion innovation, quality, and ethical stewardship within community pharmacy,
helping shape services that meet the evolving needs of patients and the wider NHS.
Navinder Matharu: Fit & Proper Person
Navinder Matharu: Confidentiality Agreement
Navinder Matharu: Declaration of InterestsRole:
Finance Sub-Group
Background:
Rifat has owned her own pharmacy in Halesowen since April 2013. Previously, she has owned two pharmacies in Birmingham but sold them to concentrate on her business in Halesowen.
She has previously served on Dudley LPC for two years before moving on to the combined LPC.
She works in her pharmacy and therefore understands the pressures contractors face. Always available to speak to contractors, she takes concerns seriously.
Rifat Asghar-Hussain: Fit & Proper Person
Rifat Asghar-Hussain: Confidentiality Agreement
Rifat Asghar-Hussain: Declaration of InterestsRole:
Governance Sub-Group
Background:
Rimi is proud to serve on the Local Pharmaceutical Committee, bringing a balanced perspective shaped by extensive experience across both large-scale and independent pharmacy settings. She has worked within a major pharmaceutical company, and understands the strategic, regulatory, and commercial frameworks that influence the pharmacy sector at scale.
Rimi also runs a small, family-run pharmacy business, which has given her first-hand insight into the operational, financial, and community-facing realities of frontline pharmacy. This dual experience enables her to contribute strategic thinking, practical problem-solving, and a strong understanding of contractor challenges, while always keeping patient care and sustainable community pharmacy services at the heart of her work.
Rimi Baden: Fit & Proper Person
Rimi Baden: Confidentiality Agreement
Rimi Baden: Declaration of InterestsRole:
Finance Sub-Group
Background:
For the past six years, Indy has represented independent contractors. He began his pharmacy career with Boots, completed his pre-registration, managed a pharmacy for three years, then started his own community pharmacy business in 2011.
Community pharmacy is his passion—providing quality services to improve public health, from dispensing to NHS offerings and beyond.
Despite funding challenges, Indy is optimistic that community pharmacy will remain vital to the NHS. He believes we must unite to advocate for better funding, deliver comprehensive services, and share successes to maximise contract efficiency.
Indy Grewal: Fit & Proper Person
Indy Grewal: Confidentiality Agreement
Indy Grewal: Declaration of InterestsThe LPC accepted in 2025 the following guiding principles for members of the Committee:
Accountability – Members of the LPC are accountable for their decisions and actions to contractors and the public and therefore submit to scrutiny.
Openness – Members should be as open as possible about all the decisions and actions they take. They should give reasons for their decisions, and restrict information only for short term tactical reasons, or when the wider public interest clearly demands.
Honesty – Members have a clear duty to declare any private interest relating to their LPC duties and take steps to resolve any conflicts arising.
Leadership – Members should promote and support the above principles by leadership and by example.
Representativeness (Selflessness) – members must reflect the interests of the contractors who elected or appointed them to the LPC and must make decisions in the interests of the general body of contractors; they must not make decisions to gain financial or other material benefits for themselves, family or friends.
Integrity – members must not put themselves under any obligation that might influence their performance on the LPC or their ability to reflect the interests of the contractors who elected or appointed them or to make decisions in the interests of the general body of contractors.
Objectivity – in making decisions and in carrying out the business of the LPC members should act within the constitution and make decisions only on merit.
Note
The effect of the principles of Representativeness and Integrity is that the nominating bodies can mandate the member to express a view but cannot bind him/her in how he/she votes or decides on a particular issue. This means the member can hear and participate in debate and is free to amend his/her view in the light of the debate. He/she will no doubt then reflect to the relevant body on why he/she made the decision he/she did, recognising his/her accountability.
