E35 - UKHSA CEO Prof. Dame Jenny Harries

Episode 3 of our special series in partnership with the Faculty of Public Health where we explore one key question - What is Public Health? It may seem like a simple question, but Public Health is no single thing. The aim of the series is to shine a light on the breadth of Public Health and the challenges ahead by talking to key figures in the field. This episode we sat down with Professor Dame Jenny Harries. Professor Harries is the Chief Executive of the U.K. Health Security Agency. Professor Harries has over 30 years' experience in public health and has played significant roles in the U.K. Government's response to a range of public health crises including the COVID-19 pandemic, H1N1 and Novichock. She has served as the Regional Director of Public Health for the South of England at Public Health England and later became the Deputy Chief Medical Officer for England. In May 2021, she became the first chief executive of the UK Health Security Agency. Professor Harries has been recognized for her services to health, receiving a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) in 2022. CHAPTERS (00:00) Teaser and introduction (01:54) What is Public Health? (03:10) What attracted Jenny to a career in Public Health? (07:30) Public Health challenges we are not talking enough about (10:58) Communication in Public Health (13:37) Being in the public eye (16:34) Novichok and thinking on your feet (21:09) Career tips for those working in Public Health