An expert in health and wellbeing, Alan has extensive experience working as a Director of Public Health in both the NHS and local government. He was Director of Public Health in Oldham from 2002 to 2018, leading the transition of public health from the NHS into local government and in the development of the Greater Manchester devolved public health programme. He is now working part-time as an independent expert on public health with a focus on working across whole systems, applying understanding of complexity and systems leadership and strategic analysis and planning. Alan has also worked as a programme director for Public Health England and continues to have input to the PHE Covid response.

A population’s health profile is determined by policy choices that impact on the public realm, on economies and services and are, therefore, open to change. Alan is driven by an understanding of population health and wellbeing as the product of a whole system of interacting factors set in a political context and committed to action necessary to reduce inequalities in health.  

Alan is skilled at working in complex systems and in providing leadership that inspires sustainable programmes of activity. He is known for work across the broad spectrum of public health and a longstanding commitment to community engagement as one of the keys to better health. He has a keen interest in further developing whole systems working and has pioneered programmes that link arts and health.

He is a confident speaker and writer with extensive knowledge of the UK health and social care system and executive management experience.