Ciara Hallows brings over 18 years of specialist mental health experience, predominantly within Secure Care services. A compassionate leader, she led the Pharmacy Technician Team and Dispensary Service, managing a highly specialised workforce in a complex clinical environment. Driven by a passion for education and professional development, Ciara joined Aston University in 2024 as a Teaching Associate, where she coordinates a diverse portfolio of professional experiences and placement opportunities for pharmacy students. A leading advocate for the pharmacy technician profession, particularly in mental health, Ciara founded Psych Pharmacy Technicians in 2017 with CMHP—creating a national platform that connects pharmacy technicians, promotes best practice, and inspires
innovation. She also serves the wider profession as a Committee Member of the APTUK/CMHP Mental Health Branch and as a Fitness to Practise Statutory Committee Member for the GPhC. In 2024, Ciara became the first pharmacy technician to be awarded Fellowship of the College of Mental Health Pharmacy.