Chloé Lortal is a young woman of 28 years old, a Biotechnologist and Pharmaceutical Scientist who’s a board director of the Square Foundation, a UK and Canadian registered charity that supports healthcare in Sub-Saharan Africa by improving pharmacy education.
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In a nutshell, what does your day-to-day role look like?

As a small team of two - including Philip Harrison, founder of the Square Foundation and
myself, one of the board directors, we often have to balance multiple responsibilities.

My main role at the Square Foundation involves presenting our work, attending
conferences, and meeting with key stakeholders, such as pharmaceutical societies and
councils, to understand their needs.

I also engage with CPD (Continuing Professional Development) policy makers and seek
potential collaborators, such as universities and other organisations, to explore
opportunities for partnerships.

Additionally, I look for potential funding sources to support our initiatives. Besides these
responsibilities, I am involved in writing funding applications, updating our other board
members on our progress, and managing the hiring process to bring in staff who can help
us achieve our mission.

What are the biggest challenges your organisation currently faces?

Our biggest challenge at the moment is that we're a small team in need of more support,
particularly in finding someone to replace Philip as the CEO within the next five years.
This individual will need to report to the board, making it crucial to find the right fit for the
role. However, this process is both time-consuming and complicated. Identifying the right
person seems to be particularly challenging for us, as well as for other small charities with limited networks and resources. Ensuring a smooth transition is essential, but our current
constraints make it a daunting task.

Our second biggest challenge is increasing recognition and awareness of what we do.
Establishing and maintaining a website that effectively communicates our mission,
engages donors, and provides resources to those in need demands significant time,
expertise, and financial resources. Additionally, building and nurturing a meaningful social
media presence requires continuous effort to create compelling content and interact with
our audience.

On top of that, securing adequate funding to support our work remains a constant
struggle, as resources are often limited and competition for grants and donations is fierce.
Success in these areas often relies on having strong connections and a robust network
within the industry, which can be difficult for a small organization like ours.

And, in your opinion, what are the biggest challenges the sector faces?

Charities operating in the healthcare sector face a range of significant challenges.
I’d say that some of the biggest challenges are funding and financial sustainability -
especially for long-term projects such as our e-learning programme that should be able to
continue to run indefinitely.

Another challenge that I mentioned earlier is access to resources and expertise as well as
technology and data management - for example, implementation of digital
communications and technology solutions.

Other big challenges are public awareness and perception, and finally, cultural issues -
implementing healthcare programs in diverse communities requires cultural sensitivity and
an understanding of local needs and practices.

What do you love most about your job?

What I love about being part of the Square Foundation is the tangible impact we make,
even if it's a small one, in improving healthcare in Sub-Saharan Africa. Knowing that our
efforts contribute to better health outcomes, however modest, fills me with a sense of
purpose and fulfillment. I also have the incredible opportunity to meet healthcare
professionals from around the world who are eager to help and collaborate. Engaging
with such a diverse group of individuals, each bringing different perspectives and
priorities, is truly inspiring and enriches our collective mission to make a difference.

Finally what advice do you have for other charity leaders?

I would say keeping your motivation high is probably the biggest piece of advice I would
give. We have good days and bad days, and sometimes our hopes get crushed, but it’s
important to stay motivated and continue seeing progress. I think it’s important to
celebrate the wins, which is why I’m very proud to talk about all the things that the
Foundation has achieved, however small they may be.

About the Square Foundation

The Square Foundation is a UK and Canadian registered charity that supports pharmacy
education in Sub-Saharan Africa.

The way we do this is by having an online continuing professional development (CPD)
programme, called the Square Academy, in clinical pharmacy that is free to access for
pharmacists in Botswana, Malawi, Ethiopia, and Zimbabwe and a couple of other
countries in the region.

Maintaining professional competence of pharmacists is an essential component of
optimal health care delivery and CPD is one method to help achieve this.

The lectures we have on our platform are contributed by lecturers from around the world
and include many essential topics amongst Polypharmacy, Pharmacovigilance,
Pharmacoepidemiology and Medicine Use Review.

Modules are submitted to the Academy of Pharmaceutical Sciences (UK) for
endorsement and pharmacists who complete the course in the designated time receive a
certificate.

We also support financially students in pharmacy. The Foundation has already helped
students in Namibia, Ethiopia, Malawi and Botswana, some of whom have graduated. By
participating in the Foundation’s work, students will benefit and contributors can be part
of the pharmacy community.

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