Reimagining Pharmacy Workforce Development: The CPA Academy
A detailed introduction to the CPA Academy from our Strategic Lead
by Beth Ward, Strategic Lead | Workforce Capability Building
In 2019, the Commonwealth Pharmacists Association (CPA) launched the first iteration of its Continuing Professional Development (CPD) platform. It was a bold, but modest, step – funded by a small grant, but driven by a big ambition: to expand equitable access to meaningful, high-quality professional development for pharmacists, particularly in historically under-resourced settings.
Six years later, that early step has grown into something far more impactful. The platform has become the digital backbone of our efforts to build a stronger, more empowered pharmacy workforce across the Commonwealth. So far, it’s supported pharmacists in 29 countries in improving their clinical knowledge and practice, and has helped bolster pharmacy leadership at national levels. But what it’s enabled goes well beyond a set of online courses. This necessitated an evolution in our educational offering.
This month, we are delighted to formally launch the CPA Academy. Going far beyond just online CPD, the CPA Academy is a workforce development ecosystem, shaped by what pharmacists have told us they need, co-created with our national partners, and underpinned by our commitment to positioning pharmacists at the centre of strong health systems. It offers structure, momentum, and community, and recognises pharmacists not only as service providers, but as educators, leaders, and changemakers.
The Academy builds upon our CPD experience and our programme work to bring together technical education, applied leadership development, behaviour change training, data-driven insights, and – soon – a pan-Commonwealth mentoring programme to foster peer support and bidirectional learning across borders. It’s a coherent, credible path for professional growth, structuring CPD via systematic certificate pathways tailored to local contexts, intensive leadership programmes, in-person workshops, and sustained peer learning. Furthermore, it acknowledges the diversity of pharmacists’ lived experiences and helps build capability and resilience in both individuals and health systems at large.
We’ve already seen what this can look like. Fellows from our African Leadership Fellowship in Antimicrobial Stewardship (ALF-A) have directly contributed to national antimicrobial stewardship policies in their countries. 90% of participants in our consultation skills workshops in India earlier this year reported an increase in confidence in effectively engaging with patients. Learners from our behaviour change CPD course are now using their knowledge to improve systems for data collection on medicines use within health facilities.
We believe in investing in pharmacists not just as learners, but as leaders. As we collaborate with national partners to embed workforce development and training into policy and career progression, we commit to doing so in a way that is inclusive, scalable, and responsive to local contexts and global priorities.
Working alongside our valued member organisations, our goal is to reach over 10,000 pharmacists a year by 2028. But our goals for the Academy go beyond numbers; the Academy is about genuine stories of transformation. The early-career practitioner in Ghana, using data and design tools to reshape antimicrobial use in their community. The pharmacist in Malaysia, inspiring global peers with their fresh approach to diabetes care. The National Pharmacy Association leader in Tanzania, growing local membership and influencing policy on a national level. These are the outcomes that matter, and they’re only just beginning.
To everyone who’s been part of the journey so far, we thank you. The CPA Academy exists because of your insight, dedication and leadership. As we look ahead, we’re committed to listening to and learning from pharmacists, mentors, learners, and partners from every corner of the Commonwealth to help us shape its growth.
Your voice will guide us. Your leadership will inspire others. And together, we’ll reimagine what’s possible for pharmacy across the Commonwealth.
The CPA Academy launches in July 2025. Keep up to date with CPA’s social media channels as we reveal more information as we approach the launch date.
Beth Ward
Strategic Lead
Workforce Capability Building
About the author
Beth is the Strategic Lead for Workforce Capability Building at the Commonwealth Pharmacists Association. She is passionate about the safe use of quality medicines and has had an instrumental role in establishing workforce development initiatives for pharmacists in the Commonwealth.
Prior to this role, Beth was the Associate Director of Education at the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS). Here, she led the Education Delivery Strategy, including a partnership with the Royal College of General Practitioners to deliver England’s Community Pharmacist Consultation Service Training programme, the multi-professional Joint Royal College Medication Safety Education Series, and the RPS’ Annual Conference and events programme.