ADPH Awards 2025

This award is for a DPH in recognition of the impact they have had since starting the role and is supported by the CMOs of all four nations. The shortlisted nominees are:

• Margaret Jones (DPH Sefton Council)
• Mike Sandys (DPH Leicestershire and Rutland)
• Siobhan Farmer (DPH Gloucestershire County Council

Winner: Margaret Jones

Among Margaret’s many achievements has been her leadership of Sefton’s Child Poverty Strategy, which inspired wider work across Cheshire and Merseyside and drew interest from the Government’s Child Poverty Taskforce. 

Margaret has also co-led the North West’s approach to tackling alcohol harm, and, as an Educational Supervisor, she has made Sefton a sought-after training location. 

Margaret’s deep understanding of the local community has been evident throughout her career and was vital in leading the public health response to the Southport murders in 2024. 

This award recognises a DPH for demonstrating or championing innovative practice within their organisation. The shortlisted nominees are:

• Gerry Taylor (DPH Sunderland City Council)
• Matthew Pearce (DPH West Berkshire and Reading)
• Sakthi Karunanithi (DPH Lancashire County Council)

Winner: Dr Sakthi Karunanithi

Sakthi led an innovative pilot to boost Health Check uptake in areas of greatest deprivation. Working with Redmoor Health and four GP practices, the project team used data-driven patient segmentation, tailored SMS and AI video invites, and local social media campaigns to reach those least likely to attend. 

In just seven weeks, uptake surpassed typical levels and identified more than 70 new health conditions, with projections of around 120 new diagnoses by the end of the pilot, each one an opportunity for early intervention. 

This work shows how public health innovation can reduce inequalities, ease pressure on primary care, and deliver measurable results within weeks.

This award is kindly sponsored by Public Health Jobs.

This award is for an ADPH mentor who has shown dedication and commitment to mentoring as part of the ADPH mentoring scheme. The shortlisted nominees are:

• Mike Sandys (DPH Leicestershire & Rutland Council)
• Sangeeta Leahy (DPH Southwark)
• Tessa Lindfield (DPH Slough)

Winner: Sangeeta Leahy

Sangeeta has been nominated in recognition of the outstanding support, guidance, and encouragement she has given as a mentor. Her mentee describes how Sangeeta’s advice and insight helped them transition from an interim role to a substantive DPH post, creating a safe, inclusive, and non-judgemental space where challenges and aspirations could be shared openly.  

 Sangeeta has shown her mentees remarkable generosity with her time, flexibility in her approach, and deep empathy and her thoughtful questions and personal reflections have been found to be both practical and inspiring. 

What truly stands out is her unwavering commitment to helping others grow. Despite the demands of her own role, Sangeeta always makes time to mentor with integrity, compassion, and authenticity. 

This award is kindly supported by OHID.

This award recognises a DPH for leading a successful partnership with a sector or organisation. The shortlisted nominees are:

• Adam Briggs (Deputy DPH Oxfordshire County Council)
• Helen Bromley (DPH Cheshire West and Chester)
• Victoria Eaton (DPH Leeds City Council)

Winner: Helen Bromley

Under Helen’s leadership, the Public Health Team has taken an evidence-led, people-focused approach to improving health across the area by building strong relationships with the Council, NHS, voluntary sector, including Healthwatch Cheshire West, and the University of Chester. 

Their impact is clear. The Poverty Truth Commission and Community Inspirers initiative has reduced social housing evictions by 75%, collaboration with Healthwatch has addressed vaping, strengthened intelligence sharing, and improved community cohesion, while work with the University has enhanced both teaching and life sciences research. 

Helen and her team demonstrated the strength of these partnerships during a recent OHID North West assurance visit, where partners from across sectors joined to showcase their collective impact. 

This award is kindly supported by the Faculty of Public Health and the Royal Society for Public Health.

This award is for a DPH public health team who have established effective ways to improve practice. The shortlisted nominees are:

• Cardiff and Vale Public Health Team
• Hertfordshire County Council Public Health Team
• East Midlands Health Protection Community of Improvement Team

Winner: Cardiff and Vale Public Health Team

Cardiff and Vale Public Health Team have developed a whole system approach to healthy weight management through the ‘Good Food and Movement’ framework.

In spring 2024, the team organised workshops involving around 160 people from 35 organisations, using causal loop mapping to understand the local system and identify shared priorities. From this, they co-created a two-year Implementation Plan to drive system-level change. 

A major achievement has been influencing both Cardiff and Vale of Glamorgan councils to restrict high fat, sugar, and salt advertising on local authority assets such as highways and bus stops which will help create healthier environments for generations to come. 

This award is kindly sponsored by Intelligent Health.

This award is for a DPH and their team for undertaking public health research, or using research evidence in an innovative way, to inform decision making in their organisation. The shortlisted nominees are:

• Craig Blundred and the Hartlepool Borough Council public health team
• Mike Sandys and the Leicestershire Council public health team
• Stephen Gunther and the Stoke-on-trent City Council public health team

Winner: Mike Sandys and the Leicestershire Council public health team

Working with seven district and borough leisure services and Active Together, the team has transformed proven clinical evidence into a sustainable community programme that has already benefitted around 3,000 older adults through the Falls Management Exercise programme, known locally as Steady Steps. 

Partnering with the University of Nottingham, their research demonstrated significant reductions in falls and improvements in balance and strength, findings that shaped local commissioning and even featured in the WHO Step Safely report. 

Their current FLEXI study focuses on reaching underserved groups, ensuring equitable access for all. 

Through collaboration, innovation, and a strong commitment to evidence-based practice, Mike and his team have improved confidence, independence, and quality of life for older adults. 

This award is kindly sponsored by NIHR.

This award is for a DPH public health team who have worked exceptionally well together to improve public health outcomes in their area. The shortlisted nominees are:

• South Gloucestershire Public Health and Wellbeing Division
• West Sussex County Council Public Health Team

Winner: South Gloucestershire

Over the past four years, they have played a central role in developing and delivering a £2 million Prevention Programme, funded by the Council and ICB. This ambitious initiative involved nearly every team member and exemplified outstanding partnership working with VCSE and NHS partners to deliver sustainable change. 

The programme’s projects have included family link workers supporting school attendance, cost-of-living advice, the creation of five Health and Happiness Hubs, village agents supporting rural residents, and a Creative Solutions Board for people with complex needs. 

The team also partnered with the University of the West of England to evaluate impact and created a prevention toolkit to measure return on investment and social value. 

Through collaboration, innovation, and dedication, the South Gloucestershire Public Health and Wellbeing Division has achieved lasting improvements to public health outcomes. 

This award is kindly sponsored by Penna.

This award is for a DPH who has made a significant contribution to our work.

Winner: Darrell Gale, DPH East Sussex

Darrell co-leads our Healthy Places Policy Advisory Group and serves as Chair of the special Healthy Places Project Group. Despite the demanding nature of these roles, and the many meetings they entail, Darrell consistently gives his time, expertise, and enthusiasm. 

In all the meetings and webinars he chairs, articles and blogs he writes and quotes he gives to the media, he always brings energy, insight, and a deep commitment to sharing practice and advocating for a healthier environment for all. 

His wealth of knowledge and his steady, engaging leadership have been invaluable to our work and to colleagues across the country.

This award is for an Alumni who has made a significant contribution to our work.

Winner: Rachel Flowers

After stepping down as DPH for Croydon in 2024, Rachel has continued to play an active and valued role within ADPH, bringing her extensive experience and unbounded enthusiasm, and sharing thoughtful insights and practical expertise that strengthen our collective work. 

Rachel is also a keen and generous mentor as part of our mentoring scheme and gives her time, wisdom and compassion in support the next generation of DsPH.

This award is for an ADPH member who deserves special recognition.

Winner: Alison Challenger, DPH West Sussex

Alison is a highly active and valued ADPH member, who goes above and beyond to represent our collective voice in all things workforce and addiction – two of the hottest topics around! 

Alison has provided her expertise and insight to a huge number of national meetings, including giving oral evidence to the Tobacco and Vapes Bill Committee in January and providing feedback to the Secretary of State about the public health workforce earlier this month. 

As a dedicated Council member, Alison also takes part in many of our webinars, workshops, and conferences, consistently supporting the development of both the organisation and her peers and bringing her insight, experience, and enthusiasm to every discussion. 

Her commitment, reliability, and collaborative spirit make her an outstanding example of the core ADPH values.