Kate Kensington
PDA Head of Education
With over 20 years’ experience working within membership organisations, Kate is a strategic education leader dedicated to professional development and workforce excellence. As Head of Education at the PDA, Kate leads the design, development and delivery of high-impact training programmes that support professionals at every stage of their careers and develops trade union reps to support members in their workplaces.
Throughout her career, Kate has built and implemented comprehensive education strategies tailored to diverse professional audiences. From early-career development to advanced practice training, she has successfully created programmes that respond to evolving professional responsibilities, regulatory requirements, and member needs. Kate is an experienced workshop facilitator and enjoys delivering programmes to members.
Known for a collaborative leadership style and a strong understanding of professional education frameworks, Kate combines strategic oversight with hands-on programme development. Kate wants to ensure that PDA Education enhances professional capability, supports members in their everyday work and enables them to progress and develop.
Caroline Holmes
PDA Lead Content Developer and Tutor
Caroline has been working in Adult and Community Education for more than 30 years and has managed and delivered courses in both further and higher education. Caroline was the Programme Coordinator for the BA in International Labour and Trade Union Studies (ILTUS) at Ruskin College, Oxford, and also worked on the ILTUS MA.
Caroline has worked as a trainer for the TUC Organising Academy and the General Federation of Trade Unions. This included working on the core GFTU programme, developing and delivering leadership programmes, and working on customised projects for international organisations such as the ILO, WFP and trade unions in Finland, Turkey and Ireland. This also involved working as an online tutor with international students in places such as South Africa, France and the US.
As well as working part-time for the PDA, Caroline is the Programme Coordinator and Tutor for the NUJ’s national trade union reps programme. She works with a variety of other unions, such as the NEU and UCU, on their professional development programmes. A member of the RED Learning Cooperative, Caroline also undertakes research and training in the COOP, NGO and third sectors.
Since becoming involved with the PDA in May, 2020, Caroline has worked in the Education Team to create a suite of reps’ and professional development training. She is passionate about being part of a team that delivers excellent education and learning to PDA members and reps.
Michelle Yeomans
PDA Pharmacist Teacher Practitioner Coordinator
Michelle is a pharmacist, trainer, facilitator and coach with over 20 years of experience across primary, secondary and community care. Much of her career has been shaped within the NHS, where she worked collaboratively within multidisciplinary teams to advance medicines optimisation and improve patient outcomes.
Michelle brings extensive senior leadership experience and is a strong advocate for values-based, compassionate leadership. She is passionate about developing inclusive, forward-thinking leaders who can thrive in evolving healthcare environments. Her work is grounded in coaching, mentorship and organisational development, supporting individuals and teams to grow, adapt and deliver safe, person-centred care. Through this approach, she champions teamwork, collaboration and continuous improvement, helping to build resilient, high-performing teams equipped to meet the changing needs of patients and healthcare services.
At the heart of Michelle’s work is the education and development of pharmacists. She designs and delivers high-impact learning experiences that challenge conventional thinking, encourage innovation and support professionals to think beyond traditional boundaries. Her sessions are engaging, practical and reflective, enhancing professional capability, confidence and adaptability. She is committed to fostering inclusive practice and empowering a diverse workforce, ensuring individuals feel valued, supported and able to reach their full potential.
At the PDA, Michelle collaborates with universities, colleges and schools to support learners and promote pharmacy careers. She joined the PDA to contribute to a values-driven organisation that advocates for pharmacists and prioritises wellbeing, development and representation. Michelle is committed to empowering members to feel confident, supported and equipped to navigate their careers, and aims to make a lasting impact by helping to build a resilient, inclusive and future-ready pharmacist workforce.
Helen Lewis
PDA Education Officer
Helen is a highly experienced community pharmacist with over 30 years in practice. She began her career at Boots as a student, progressing through pre-registration training to become a Pharmacist Store Manager. Alongside her frontline role, she gained valuable experience in personnel management, workforce deployment, and the coordination of relief pharmacists, giving her a broad understanding of the operational and professional challenges within community pharmacy. She now practises as a locum pharmacist.
As Regional Official for Wales and West, Helen played a key role in securing PDA Union recognition at Boots and helped to establish and lead a network of union representatives. In this capacity, she supported pharmacists in the workplace, advocated for professional standards, and championed patient safety. As a PDA trade union representative, she continues to represent and support pharmacists, drawing on her extensive experience to influence policy, promote good practice, and address emerging workforce challenges.
Helen is deeply committed to preparing students for the realities of professional practice, with a particular emphasis on safety, risk management, and resilience. In her role as PDA Education Officer, she works closely with universities to design and deliver high-quality learning experiences that bridge the gap between theory and practice. Her teaching focuses on equipping future pharmacists with the confidence, clinical judgement, and professional resilience needed to practise safely and sustainably in increasingly complex healthcare environments.
Helen has also completed an Independent Prescribing qualification, further enhancing her clinical expertise and strengthening her insight into evolving pharmacy roles. This additional qualification informs her educational approach, ensuring that students are not only prepared for current practice but are also adaptable and ready to meet the future demands of the profession.
Get involved
Getting in touch
To get in touch with the PDA Education team, email [email protected].
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Membership is FREE to pharmacy students, trainee pharmacists and for the first three months of being newly qualified.
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