CIEH Public Health Protection Conference

Hazel Cheeseman, Chief Executive, Action on Smoking and Health. In October 2024, Hazel Cheeseman was appointed Chief Executive of Action on Smoking and Health (ASH). Hazel has worked in senior roles at ASH for over 10 years before becoming deputy chief executive in 2021 and has played a key role in the development of the organisation. Prior to joining ASH, Hazel worked in the palliative care, homelessness, and housing sectors. As Chief Executive, she will build on the charity’s many achievements to date while steering ASH through an evolving political landscape.

Dr. Klara Saville - Veterinary Head of Exotic Diseases, Animal and Plant Health Agency, Defra. Klara is a veterinarian with 20 years experience working in international animal health, animal disease management and One Health. In her role as Veterinary Head of Exotic Diseases at APHA Klara co-ordinates the teams of veterinary experts managing outbreaks of notifiable animal disease. This includes zoonotic diseases such as Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza as well as diseases such as Bluetongue virus that can have a significant impact on animal health and welfare.

In previous roles Klara has led UK government international engagement on AMR, implemented large scale animal health system strengthening projects in Low-and-Middle-Income-Countries and founded an international coalition, Action for Animal Health, advocating for global recognition and investment in animal health.

Safia Khokhar, Public Health Practitioner, Westminster City Council. Safia Khokhar is an experienced Public Health Practitioner with over 25 years of experience in Environmental Health, Public Health, Mental Health, and Diversity and Inclusion. Currently, she leads Diversity and Inclusion initiatives in Public Health at Westminster City Council, focusing on creating inclusive environments and supporting hard-to-reach communities. Safia received highly commendable recognition for the Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion Champion at the LGC Workforce Awards 2024. Safia has a proven track record in implementing successful public health strategies and campaigns. She has held key roles such as Senior Public Health Strategist for Mental Health and Heald of Public Health Culture and Development. An active member of the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health, Safia serves as a Board Trustee and Public Health Advisory Panel member. Her extensive expertise in leadership, stakeholder engagement, and collaborative problem-solving makes her an asset to the public health field.

William Roberts is the Chief Executive of the Royal Society for Public Health. Previously William has been a senior leader in the NHS across roles in public health, commissioning, strategy, transformation and planning. He is a registered nurse who has worked in both hospital and community services, and as a nurse specialist in tuberculosis and HIV. William is a Non-Executive Director of Housing 21 and was previously Deputy Chair at Terrence Higgins Trust and a Non- Executive Director of POBL a Welsh housing and care provider. He is the Chair of the Swimming and Health Commission and is a member of Movember’s Global Men's Health Advisory Committee. He brings a wealth of experience across public health and inequalities from the healthcare, charity sector, social care, housing, local government and further education.

Dr William Welfare, Interim Director of Health Protection, UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA). Dr William Welfare, is a Consultant in Public Health and currently interim Director of Health Protection in Regions within the Chief Medical Advisor’s Group of the UK Health Security AgencyHealth Protection in Regions Directorate is made up of 9 regional teams across England, Field Services, Border Health and the Programmed Delivery Unit. Will has a particular interest in public health incident response. He has been one of the UKHSA/PHE Incident Directors for a range of incidents including COVID-19, mpox and avian influenza..

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