Simon Gillespie joined the British Heart Foundation in March 2013 and took over as Chief Executive in April. Before joining the British Heart Foundation, Simon was Chief Executive of the Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Society since 2006. At the MS Society, he oversaw the introduction of the society's new strategy based on an extensive consultation with people affected by MS, new approaches to research and support for people with MS, and new governance arrangements.

He previously worked as Head of Operations at the Healthcare Commission, where he was responsible for the inspection of NHS and independent healthcare facilities in England. From 2000 to 2004, he was Director of Operations at the Charity Commission, modernising the regulation and support of the 180,000 registered charities across England and Wales. His earlier career was with the Royal Navy, including command of HMS Sheffield and advising government ministers.

Simon has extensive experience of charity and non-profit governance, and as a non-executive director/trustee. He is currently a trustee of the Institute for Security and Resilience Studies at University College London, and a member of the General Medical Council's Fitness to Practice panels. Simon holds Master's degrees in: Philosophy and Political Science (MA), Business Administration (MBA), and International Relations (MPhil).


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Tim Baxter studied classics at university before joining the Department of Health in 1991. Since then, he has worked in posts spanning much of the department's business. He ran a judicial inquiry into a high secure hospital, was in charge of implementing the white paper Smoking Kills, led the pilot project to refer NHS patients to mainland Europe, and has also worked in different corporate roles.

Recently, Tim was Acting Director of Strategy at University Hospital Lewisham and then acted as Secretary to the Review of the 2009 Pandemic Influenza Outbreak, based at the Cabinet Office. Since July 2010, he has worked on the design of the new public health system, and is currently Head of the Public Health Policy and Strategy Unit in the department.

Presentation: Improving public health outcomes: developing integrated and locally tailored solutions

The new health and wellbeing boards will be able to bring together the very best of public health partners, from the NHS and third sector to local government and businesses. The boards have the opportunity to coordinate local strategies that improve people's health and wellbeing and lead to more positive outcomes.

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Dr Janet Atherton was elected as President of the Association of Directors of Public Health (ADPH) from May 2012 for a term of three years. She has been actively involved in the work of the ADPH since 2006, and was Treasurer from 2007 to 2010.

Janet has been a local Director of Public Health since 1998, first in Wirral and then in Sefton, Merseyside. She has also been Acting Chief Executive for NHS Sefton for nine months, prior to the establishment of the NHS Merseyside Cluster when she returned to her public health role. Janet trained in medicine and public health in the North East before making the move to the North West in 1994.

Janet's commitment to tackling health inequalities was recognised in a NHS North West Leadership Academy Award in 2008. She has a long-standing special interest in tobacco control and was responsible for setting up the successful Smokefree North West programme (now Tobacco Free Futures).

Presentation: Meeting complex needs, tackling local problems

The NHS is facing increasing demographic pressures; people are living longer and their needs are often complex and costly. For our health system to remain sustainable, a new approach is needed and local authorities will have a crucial role in making a difference. In order to meet these challenges, encouraging people to make healthier lifestyle choices and preventing ill health at an earlier stage will be absolutely key.

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David Herne has worked in the public health arena for over 20 years. After leaving the teaching profession in the early 80s, he worked in environmental health and the Strategic Policy Unit of a metropolitan authority before joining the NHS to lead a local Health Promotion Unit. David trained to become a public health consultant and spent many years working in Lancashire before moving to Salford and his current role as Deputy Director of Public Health. His team has been based in the local authority for over a year now and has successfully integrated its work into city council structures.

When he can focus on the day job and not the transition of public health into the local authority, David leads on a number of areas of health inequalities. He has been responsible for many investment programmes in recent years, resulting in improvements in alcohol, weight management and tobacco services, and a recently commissioned £1m investment in a new Level 2 Wellbeing Service.

Presentation: Local action: tackling obesity and related conditions

The prevention of obesity is a major public health challenge. One-quarter of women (24%) and just over one-fifth of men (22%) in the UK are now classed as obese, meaning Britain now has the highest rate of obesity in Europe. Obesity is associated with health problems that include Type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and cancer. A new approach is needed to help to tackle the causes and consequences of excess weight and help support individuals to make healthier lifestyle choices.

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Eric Appleby is the Chief Executive of Alcohol Concern, returning after previously holding the post between 1990 and 2004. In the intervening period he worked as a freelance consultant with a wide range of voluntary and statutory organisations. His early career was as a ministerial aide and then in supporting the development of adult literacy schemes around the country.

Eric has held senior positions in key voluntary sector bodies, including serving three terms as Chair of the Association of Chief Executives of Voluntary Organisations (ACEVO) and in 2000 was the first to win the Charity Awards overall award for Excellence in Charity Management. He currently chairs the Haringey Advisory Group on Alcohol and is a trustee of the UK Drug Policy Commission. He is also Chair of the judges for the annual Mental Health Media Awards.

Presentation: Rethinking Alcohol

Alcohol is the second biggest risk factor for cancer after smoking and remains a huge problem with over 10 million adults drinking more than recommended guidelines. Alcohol related harms cost the NHS £3.5bn and alcohol related crime is estimated to cost £11bn a year. The Alcohol Strategy published in March last year recommended a number of measures, including minimum unit price, but what else can be done to tackle alcohol related harm?

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Parul Desai is Director of Population Health at the Health and Social Care Information Centre, advising on the data requirements for population health information and intelligence and leading on engagement with Public Health England and local public health practice. She has trained in epidemiology, public health and ophthalmology, and is on secondment from Moorfields Eye Hospital, London, where she is a consultant in Ophthalmology and Public Health.


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