Press release

Chair of Public Health England’s Advisory Board announced

Professor David Heymann has today been confirmed as Chair of Public Health England’s Advisory Board.

This was published under the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government

He is currently Chairman of the Health Protection Agency and in his new role will Chair the Advisory Board that supports the Chief Executive of Public Health England in delivering its mission to protect and improve the nation’s health, address inequalities and improve the health of the poorest fastest.

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt said:

“I am delighted to confirm Professor David Heymann as Chair of Public Health England’s Advisory Board. He brings a wealth of experience to the role as a public health scientist and doctor at both national and international level.”

Professor David Heymann said:

“I feel very privileged to be appointed as Chair of Public Health England’s Advisory Board.  Public Health England offers an unrivalled opportunity to make a real difference to the health and wellbeing of the nation.

“I am looking forward to continuing to work with Duncan and his team and am confident that we have the expertise to support local government as they take on their new responsibility for improving and protecting the public’s health, as well as working in partnership with the NHS and other stakeholders locally and nationally.”

Chief Executive of Public Health England Duncan Selbie said:

“I am greatly looking forward to working with David in pursuit of our mission and ambition.”

Professor Heymann will take up post formally as Chair of Public Health England’s Advisory Board on 1 April 2013, when Public Health England becomes fully operational.

Notes to editors

For media enquiries please ring the Department of Health press office on 0207 210 5281.

Public Health England (PHE) is a new executive agency of the Department of Health and will become fully operational on 1 April 2013. PHE will be the authoritative national voice and expert service provider for the nation’s health.

It will provide a new integrated public health service that will provide expert and scientific advice and support to government, local authorities and the NHS.

Professor Heymann biography

Professor Heymann is currently Chairman of the Health Protection Agency, a Non Executive Director of the Department of Health Board, Head of the Centre on Global Health Security at Chatham House, London and Professor of Infectious Disease Epidemiology at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.  Professor Heymann was appointed as Acting Chair of PHE’s Advisory Board on 26 July 2012.

Aside from those outlined above, Professor Heymann holds no other ministerial appointments.

Prior to his appointment at the HPA, Professor Heymann held a number of posts at the World Health Organization most recently as its Assistant Director-General for Health Security and Environment. Prior to this he worked as a medical epidemiologist in Sub-Saharan Africa for 13 years and in India for two years. Professor Heymann is a  member of the Institute of Medicine of the United States National Academies and the Academy of Medical Sciences (United Kingdom). In 2009 he was appointed an honorary Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (CBE) for services to global public health.

For further information on Public Health England, including the organisations coming together to form PHE, please visit the Department of Health’s website.

Published 29 November 2012