“I didn’t even know what public health was and it was a steep learning curve for me!” she says. Nearly nine years later, she feels completely at home within the public health workforce community.

Like many people working in public health, Lara’s journey demonstrates that there is no single route into the profession. Early in her career, she sometimes felt out of her depth alongside colleagues with public health degrees and specialist training. Determined to better understand the workforce she was supporting, she explored the public health specialty training pathway herself, undertaking courses and preparing for recruitment before realising that becoming a consultant was not the right path for her.

Instead, these experiences deepened her understanding of public health and reinforced where she could make the greatest contribution.

Today, Lara is passionate about developing and supporting the workforce that sits at the heart of public health practice. She particularly values opportunities to bring people together.

“I love being in a room with people. Whether it’s running a workshop, facilitating a session, leading an action learning set or coaching someone, that’s when I feel most fulfilled.”

One achievement she is especially proud of is her role as lead for the Dual Public Health and GP CCT Programme, helping to design and develop the London programme, create new policies and support trainees through their professional journeys. She is also proud of developing opportunities through the specialist portfolio support programme project exchange, enabling colleagues across London to learn from one another and access valuable development experiences.

Looking ahead, Lara is passionate about strengthening support for workforce development across London. She believes mentors, assessors and other public health professionals make an enormous contribution by volunteering their time and expertise, and is keen to explore how these opportunities can be made more accessible and sustainable.

One piece of advice has guided her own career and is the advice she now offers to others:

“Say yes. Getting stuck in, volunteering and joining that task and finish group can open doors you never expected.”

For anyone considering a career in public health, Lara also recommends finding a mentor and building connections across the profession.

Outside work, flexible working helps Lara balance her responsibilities as both a parent and a carer. Having supportive colleagues and a working environment that understands the importance of flexibility enables her to manage her commitments while maintaining a healthy balance between work and home life.

Her story is a reminder that public health needs a wide range of talents and experiences. You don’t have to come from a traditional public health background to make a meaningful contribution. Sometimes, the most valuable thing you can do is bring people together and help others thrive.