Social Justice as the Heart of Bristol’s Health Initiatives

Driving Equity and Innovation in Bristol: Christina Gray on Inclusive, Place-Based Public Health Leadership
In this episode of Public Health Spotlight, Christina Gray, Director of Communities and Public Health for Bristol Council, joins Callum Gardiner to reflect on her journey from grassroots activism in Scotland and Northern Ireland to leading public health in one of the UK’s most diverse and dynamic cities. With characteristic humility and a strong values-led approach, Christina explores the experiences, programmes and partnerships that have shaped her lifelong commitment to social justice and improving population health.

Early Influences: Social Justice and Community Roots
Raised in Scotland with a deep sense of public service and fairness, Christina explains how her early career in homelessness services and youth justice shaped her public health perspective. First-hand exposure to inequality particularly during her work in Northern Ireland at the height of the Troubles strengthened her determination to address the structural causes of poor health.

From Grassroots to Systems Leadership
Christina traces her career path from social work into epidemiology, highlighting the opportunities created when public health training opened beyond medicine. She reflects on pivotal roles spanning homelessness, race and mental health equity, and neighbourhood health pilots, underscoring her belief that meaningful change comes through partnership, co-creation and long-term commitment not job titles or individual leadership alone.

Innovation in Action: Bristol’s Health at Night Programme
Turning to Bristol’s vibrant yet unequal night-time economy, Christina discusses a practical example of innovation in action. By shining a light on the health challenges faced by night-time workers, from hospitality and delivery staff to healthcare teams her work sparked new partnerships, data-led interventions and initiatives such as the Bristol Rules, promoting safety, wellbeing and inclusivity for everyone navigating the city after dark.

Building a One City Approach
At the heart of Christina’s impact is her leadership within Bristol’s One City Partnership, bringing together councils, health leaders, businesses, universities, community groups and cultural organisations to tackle shared priorities. From addressing violence against women and girls to improving access to arts and employment, she champions collaboration and creative use of city assets to reduce inequality and strengthen inclusion.

International Influence and Local Accountability
As a core city, Bristol holds national and international influence, and Christina outlines how the city’s work in harm reduction and the creative industries is shaping global conversations. At the same time, she remains firmly focused on closing entrenched inequalities between neighbourhoods through prevention, regeneration and empowering local leadership.

Leadership Reflections and Advice for the Next Generation
Christina speaks honestly about the colleagues and community leaders who inspire her through their integrity, resilience and commitment to service. She describes her leadership style as pragmatic, values-driven and collaborative, emphasising the importance of humility, listening and wearing authority lightly. Her advice to emerging public health leaders is simple but powerful: embrace imperfection, step into leadership opportunities, and remember that progress is collective and rarely linear.

Listen now to discover how Christina Gray’s journey from activism and adversity to city-wide innovation offers a compelling vision for the present and future of place-based public health in Bristol.

We’re excited to announce that PRG Consulting, the consultancy arm of Panoramic Associates, is now officially listed on the AWS Marketplace.

This presence provides a streamlined way for our clients to access consultancy services while benefiting from the security, flexibility, and reliability of the AWS platform.

Being registered on AWS Marketplace makes it easier for our clients to engage with our expertise, but it’s important to clarify how the process works. Unlike some products that can be selected directly from the marketplace, consultancy services require a tailored approach. For clients interested in using AWS to work with PRG Consulting, the process begins with a conversation to understand their specific requirements. Once we confirm the services needed, we create a bespoke offering on AWS that aligns with the agreed scope of work. This ensures every engagement is fully customised, transparent, and designed to deliver maximum impact.

Once the client’s AWS account is set up for the engagement, they’ll receive ongoing support from our team, including dedicated points of contact for guidance, updates, and recommendations throughout the process. In some cases, clients may also have access to an AWS account manager directly through their AWS agreement. This collaborative approach ensures that each client receives tailored support and a seamless experience from start to finish.

Listing PRG Consulting on AWS Marketplace also reinforces our commitment to making consultancy services accessible and straightforward for our clients. Through this platform, clients can explore how we can support them in optimising operations, scaling teams, implementing strategic initiatives, and accessing specialist insight across multiple areas of their organisation. The marketplace makes it clear what we offer, saving time and providing confidence that they are working with a trusted, experienced partner.

By leveraging AWS Marketplace, PRG Consulting combines the best of digital convenience with personalised, high-quality consultancy. For organisations looking to improve operational efficiency, adopt best practices, or navigate complex challenges, our presence on AWS ensures expert support is always within reach.

Explore our public profile and learn more about how PRG Consulting can help your organisation succeed: AWS Marketplace: PRG Consulting

Unpacking Public Health: Equity, Community, and Lasting Change

In this episode of the Public Health Spotlight, Jason Strelitz, Corporate Director of Adults, Health and Communities for the London Borough of Newham, joins Callum to explore a career defined by purpose, evidence, and a relentless drive to create healthier environments for all. Spanning more than two decades, Jason’s journey reflects an unwavering commitment to tackling inequality, from frontline policy and landmark research to leading Newham’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

From Social Policy Roots to a Public Health Vision

Jason’s public health story began with a deep focus on child poverty and social inequality, shaped by his years at Save the Children and in various government advisory roles. His passion was ignited during a pivotal period as a social policy adviser to Sir Michael Marmot on the landmark Marmot Review. It was here that Jason realised meaningful change depends on the union of strategic evidence, community-led action, and powerful, accessible communication that compels decision-makers to listen.

Leading in the Eye of the COVID Storm

As Director of Public Health during one of the UK’s hardest-hit periods, **Jason Strelitz** reflects on the devastation, resilience, and community spirit that defined Newham’s experience. Under his leadership, public health moved from the margins to the very heart of local government. Defining moments included the shock of Newham recording the highest national COVID mortality rates, the emotional conversations with multigenerational families navigating risk, and the remarkable community efforts that broke down barriers to vaccination.

These experiences captured in his forthcoming book *Same Storm, Different Boats: Covid, Community, and How We’ve Come Together* highlight how communities weather crisis in diverse ways and underscore the essential role of local trust and partnership in achieving public health success.

Championing Trauma-Informed Practice and Upstream Solutions

Beyond the pandemic, Jason is known for championing innovative, evidence-led solutions such as trauma-informed practice in schools an approach designed to address adverse childhood experiences and keep vulnerable young people engaged in education. He emphasises that lasting change stems from collaboration and continuous learning, whether addressing knife crime, supporting mental health, or helping adults lead healthier, more independent lives.

Blending Public Health and Social Care for Greater Impact

In his unique dual role overseeing both public health and adult social care, Jason applies a lens of prevention, partnership, and adaptability, empowering teams, promoting independence, and driving integrated approaches to complex local challenges. His leadership has fostered multidisciplinary collaboration across initiatives such as Newham’s holistic response to street homelessness and the borough-wide vitamin D campaign, delivered in partnership with over forty community organisations.

Current Priorities and Future Ambitions

Newham continues to face significant inequality, deprivation, and financial pressures. Jason’s team is addressing these challenges head-on from improving youth mental health to tackling cardiovascular disease — by embedding prevention, data-led insight, and cross-sector collaboration into every initiative. The borough’s population is dynamic and diverse, but the mission remains clear: deliver community-centred solutions, foster shared purpose, and close the gap between ambition and action in prevention.

Words for Aspiring Leaders

For future public health professionals, Jason Strelitz offers a powerful message: see yourself as a leader, whatever your title. Aspire to create change, champion values, and ground your work in evidence, collaboration, and integrity. Public health, he reminds us, is about envisioning and realising a better world and every role, no matter how small, holds the potential to drive meaningful transformation.

🎧 Listen now to hear how Jason Strelitz’s reflections — on navigating crisis, fostering collaboration, and empowering new leaders — embody the enduring spirit of public health: equity-driven, community-rooted, and ever-adaptive.

Charlotte Pavitt on Growth, Courage, and Leadership in Public Health

In this Public Health Spotlight snippet, Charlotte Pavit reflects on what it really means to step up not just in title, but in mindset. Drawing on her journey through public health, Charlotte offers a grounded and inspiring message for professionals considering their next move: leadership isn’t about having all the answers, but about having the courage to keep learning, collaborating, and leading with authenticity.

🎧 Listen to Charlotte’s Top Tip

Embracing Growth Through Opportunity

For Charlotte, career progression in public health comes from embracing opportunity even when it feels daunting. She encourages professionals to recognise the value of stepping forward before they feel completely ready:

“You’re never going to feel 100% ready, and that’s okay. Every stretch role, every new challenge, is a chance to grow your confidence and skills.”

Her advice is simple but powerful: take the opportunities that come your way, trust in the experience you already have, and allow learning to happen through action.

Confidence Comes from Connection Embracing Growth Through Opportunity 

One of Charlotte’s strongest messages is the importance of connection both personal and professional. Having a supportive network of peers and mentors helps leaders navigate uncertainty, find reassurance, and maintain perspective:

“Surround yourself with people who challenge and support you in equal measure. Confidence grows when you realise you’re not doing this alone.”

This focus on collaboration reflects the wider ethos of public health: that progress happens when individuals bring their collective expertise to shared challenges.

Communication as a Leadership Superpower

Charlotte highlights communication as a defining skill for aspiring leaders not just presenting ideas clearly, but listening, influencing, and adapting messages to different audiences.

“Being able to translate complex issues into something that resonates is essential. It’s how you build trust, inspire action, and make a real difference.”

In her view, effective communication bridges the gap between public health strategy and real-world impact turning technical insight into meaningful change.

Overcoming Imposter Syndrome

Candidly, Charlotte addresses the challenge of imposter syndrome, something almost every professional encounters when stepping into leadership. She stresses that acknowledging those feelings is the first step in managing them:

“Everyone feels it at some point even the people you look up to. The key is not to let it stop you from saying yes to new challenges.”

Through self-awareness and peer support, Charlotte encourages leaders to build confidence from within and focus on the value they bring to their teams and communities.

Key Takeaways for Aspiring Public Health Leaders

●  Say yes before you feel ready. Growth happens in the stretch.
●  Build strong peer networks. Confidence thrives in connection.
●  Develop your communication skills. Influence is built on clarity and trust.
● Acknowledge imposter feelings. They’re normal, don’t let them define you.
● Keep learning. Leadership is an ongoing journey, not a destination.

 Looking Ahead: Courage, Community, and Continuous Growth

Charlotte Pavitt’s reflections remind us that public health leadership is as much about personal growth as professional development. Stepping up requires courage, curiosity, and compassion qualities that shape the next generation of leaders driving health improvement across systems and communities.

For more leadership journeys, inspiration, and practical advice from public health professionals across the UK, explore the full Public Health Spotlight podcast series.

Building a Better Future: Katrina’s Vision for Westmorland and Furness

In this episode of the Public Health Spotlight, Katrina Stephens, Director of Public Health at Westmorland and Furness Council, joins us to share the story behind her rapid and inspiring ascent to public health leadership. From her beginnings in social policy to shaping the public health strategy of a newly formed unitary authority in one of England’s most unique regions, Katrina reveals what drives her commitment to ensuring vibrant, healthier communities for all.

Learning by Doing: A Career Shaped by Opportunity

Katrina’s journey began with a broad interest in social policy but quickly found focus in hands-on community roles, tackling issues from drugs and alcohol to teenage pregnancy. Early jobs straddling local authority and the NHS provided vital experience in partnership working, the cornerstone of effective public health. A pivotal chapter came when Katrina joined the Department of Health’s Alcohol Harm Reduction national support team, learning the power of peer review, evidence-based recommendations, and immediate action to support communities. “I absolutely loved that job… it was a great team to work in,” Katrina recalls, emphasising the value of both structure and adaptability in public health work.

Rapid Rise to Leadership

Following her public health training in Greater Manchester, Katrina moved into consultancy and unexpectedly soon found herself stepping up as acting Director of Public Health, an experience that fast-tracked her skills and confidence. Supported by strong coaching, colleagues, and leadership development programmes, Katrina embraced the challenge, eventually taking on the substantive DPH role first in Oldham and then, two years ago, in newly created Westmorland and Furness.

Facing Unique Challenges with Optimism

The region faces significant challenges: an aging and rural population, stark inequalities between deprived coastal communities like Barrow and more affluent areas, and public health outcomes that underline the urgency of action on suicide and drug-related deaths. The council’s limited funding, among the lowest per capita in the country, demands creativity, relentless partnership-building, and a commitment to innovation. “We have to be very careful about everything we spend… but we have to be quite innovative,” Katrina notes, highlighting how rural geography and limited provider markets add complexity to commissioning and service delivery.

Barrow: From Challenge to Opportunity

Barrow stands out as a town with both profound needs and unique assets, not least its pivotal role in the UK’s nuclear defence industry. Katrina speaks passionately about turning investment into regeneration, championing healthier workplaces, accessible employment, and support for children and young people. With £200 million of government investment catalysing transformation, Katrina’s team is keen to ensure that growth benefits existing residents and attracts new families for a thriving future.

Investing in People: Recruitment and Talent

Despite recruitment challenges typical of rural authorities, Katrina’s commitment to flexibility, remote working, and “growing our own” talent through support roles has resulted in a fully staffed team ready to meet Westmorland and Furness’s evolving needs. By providing space for career development, especially roles aiding portfolio route registration, Katrina ensures her team’s resilience, vital for service stability in the face of national consultant shortages.

Advice for Aspiring Leaders

Katrina’s message for future DPHs and public health leaders is clear: seize every opportunity, seek out diverse experiences, and don’t wait for the perfect plan, go for it. Public health leadership, she insists, is all about breadth, adaptability, and a passion for making a difference: “Being a DPH is a fantastic job.”

Looking Forward: Strength in Community

Katrina’s optimism is unwavering: from leveraging the strengths of spirited local communities and voluntary sectors to championing innovation in challenging times, her approach is always one of engagement, collaboration, and belief in positive change.

🎧 Listen now via the link below or find us on your preferred podcast platform. Stay tuned for more inspiring stories from Public Health Spotlights, where we continue to showcase leaders building brighter, healthier communities across the UK.

Navigating Change in Local Government: Marc Shares Insights on Interim Leadership and Regeneration

In this episode of Built Environment Briefing, host Alex from Panoramic Associates speaks with Marc, an experienced leader in regeneration and economic development, about a career spanning more than 35 years in planning, consultancy, and interim local government roles. Drawing on his work across the UK from Manchester to Herefordshire, Marc reflects on the challenges, opportunities, and realities of interim leadership in the built environment.

From Planning Beginnings to Regeneration Leadership

Marc’s journey began with a traditional entry into planning, inspired by his father, a local council chair. After formative years with Cheshire County Council and Manchester City Council, where he saw the early days of competitive regeneration funding, he moved into the private sector, then the third sector with the Coalfields Regeneration Trust. Returning to local government, Marc rose to executive roles before embracing the pace and variety of interim leadership. His career demonstrates adaptability, continual growth, and a strong commitment to community impact.

Interim versus Permanent: What Sets Them Apart?

Marc reflects candidly on the differences between interim and permanent leadership. Successful interims, he explains, must “hit the ground running,” deliver swift solutions, and create stable foundations for their successors — all while leaving ego aside. Interims are valued for their neutrality and practical focus but must also be comfortable stepping back from long-term outcomes and internal politics.

Tackling Challenges in Lean Times

From his experience across the country, Marc highlights the recurring challenge of doing “more for less” in an era of austerity. He stresses the need for pragmatic, back-to-basics approaches to regeneration, warning against over-complication and short-lived trends. For him, effective leadership means prioritising sustainable, realistic goals and learning from both success and failure.

Advice for Aspiring Interims

For those considering interim work, Marc advises clarity of purpose and a full understanding of its unique demands. Interim roles, he notes, bring freedom and the opportunity to make a tangible impact, but require humility, adaptability, and a willingness to share knowledge without attachment to outcomes.

Looking Ahead in the Built Environment

As local government faces further change through devolution and restructuring, Marc calls for continued debate that elevates the voices of experienced practitioners. He urges future discussions to focus on practical, real-world solutions to complex challenges — valuing those who “know what they’re talking about” rather than quick-fix answers.

Key Takeaways

• Interim leadership is high impact, requiring rapid delivery and a focus on legacy over ego.
• The most successful regeneration projects often come from getting the basics right, not chasing complexity.
• Financial pressures demand that leaders prioritise sustainable, achievable projects over grand long-term visions.
• Experience and humility are essential to driving sector success and inspiring the next generation.

🎧 Click below to listen or find Built Environment Briefing on your preferred podcast platform. Stay tuned for more conversations with leaders shaping the future of our towns and cities.

Shaping Public Health Across Borders: Peter Bradley’s Journey from GP to Jersey’s Medical Officer

In this episode of the Public Health Spotlight, Peter Bradley, Director of Public Health and Medical Officer of Health for the Government of Jersey joins Callum to reflect on his remarkable, international career. He takes listeners from general practice in Yorkshire and community child health, through senior public health leadership roles in Norway, Wales, and England, to his current position shaping Jersey’s evolving public health system.

Prevention, Insight, and Early Influences

Peter’s passion for public health was sparked by witnessing the social determinants of ill health in underserved communities, alongside a growing curiosity about health policy during his master’s in healthcare ethics. First-hand experience of recurring community health issues cemented his lifelong commitment to prevention a theme that has consistently guided his work.

Adapting to New Systems and Cultures

Adaptability has been a defining feature of Peter’s career. From embracing Norway’s distinctive child-focused public health culture, to addressing inequalities in Wales and managing complex decision-making in England, his reflections highlight the importance of listening and responding to local priorities. As Peter observes, while the goals of public health remain constant, “the pitch changes” success lies in understanding and meeting each community’s unique needs.

Leading Innovation and Intelligence

Peter recounts his time as Director of Health Intelligence for Public Health England, where he oversaw national collaboration in data science and analytics, including the rapid development of the COVID-19 dashboard used by millions. He reflects on the essential role of data, teamwork, and humility in modern public health leadership and on the exciting, if challenging, opportunities presented by artificial intelligence.

Confronting Pandemic Challenges and Building Jersey’s Foundations

From leading cross-sector pandemic responses to establishing Jersey’s first comprehensive public health function, Peter shares the pressures, freedoms, and lessons of crisis leadership. His current dual role combining Director of Public Health and Medical Officer demands both strategic vision and clinical expertise, with decision-making tailored to Jersey’s resources and agile governance.

Public Health in Jersey: Opportunities and Challenges

Although Jersey’s island setting is unique, its health challenges mirror those of Europe: an ageing population, chronic disease, health inequalities, and logistical hurdles. Peter emphasises the importance of collaboration within the Channel Islands and with UK partners to deliver best practice and design initiatives that meet Jersey’s specific needs.

Advice for Future Leaders

With over two decades’ experience as a Director of Public Health, Peter offers valuable advice: the profession requires courageous, adaptable leaders who care for their own wellbeing, learn from setbacks, and see their careers as marathons rather than sprints. His guiding principle remains clear success is rooted in humility, continual learning, and ensuring the voices of communities are heard.

🎧 Listen now to explore how Peter Bradley’s journey from city surgeries to national pandemic response and island innovation captures the evolving and adventurous spirit at the heart of public health.

Executive Interim leadership in Local Government brings unique opportunities and challenges, from stepping into high-pressure roles at pace to delivering impact within fixed timeframes. For those moving from a long-term permanent career into the interim world, the transition can be as daunting as it is rewarding.

At this Panoramic Associates Briefing, we explore that transition, and the skills and mindset needed to succeed, with Andy Vaughan and Glynn Humphries as they share their journeys from decades in permanent Chief Officer roles to working as Executive Interims.

Drawing on over 75 years of combined experience, they offer candid reflections on the realities of interim leadership, explore the skills and mindset needed to succeed, and discuss the personal and professional lessons they’ve learned along the way.

Watch Now

Speakers

Andy Vaughan is a Local Government lifer having started his career in Local Government at 16. The subsequent 35+ years in Local Government have seen Andy work as a Chief Officer in a number of Local Authorities, predominantly in city and urban Local Authorities, leading Place-based services. The first 30 years were in permanent roles and the last 5 in Executive Interim positions.

Glynn Humphries worked in local government for 43 years. Initially employed as a general labourer, he progressed through all layers of the organisation to his final position of Corporate Director of Environment, Property and Climate change. Glynn has a wealth of experience of managing at all levels of local government and was also a National Council representative of the Association of Public Service Excellence (APSE).

Building Healthier Communities: Stephen’s Vision for Stoke-on-Trent

In this episode of Public Health Spotlights, Stephen, Director of Public Health at Stoke-on-Trent City Council, sits down to share his unique journey from nutrition student to city leader, revealing what drives his commitment to community wellbeing. Stephen’s path takes us from early influences in personal loss, through hands-on public health practice and policy work across Europe, to leading multi-faceted services in one of the UK’s most dynamic and challenged cities.

Personal Experience, Professional Purpose

From a formative experience of family bereavement and the tragic loss of friends, Stephen describes how these events shaped a lifelong dedication to creating supportive environments for others. Witnessing first-hand the impact of social and mental health challenges, he found himself compelled to act, seeking ways to make a difference through public health.

A Career Without Borders

Stephen’s early career saw him increase physical activity in primary care, work at national and European levels, and navigate the transition of public health into local government. Working with 16 EU member states, he learned the value of diplomacy, empathy, and seeking common ground skills now central to his work in Stoke-on-Trent’s diverse communities. He reflects on the importance of listening and building coalition, whether at an international table or on the ground in local neighborhoods.

Innovating for Impact in Stoke-on-Trent

As Director, Stephen holds a broad portfolio: public health, leisure and wellbeing, trading standards, bereavement care, and domestic abuse services. He explains how this integration enables creative solutions investing commercial revenue from leisure services back into social initiatives, and weaving community voices into programmed design. A major focus is on reducing health inequalities: addressing mental ill health, addiction, and delivering the “Family Matters” initiative, which draws on trusted local organization’s to strengthen families and reconnect Stoke’s six towns.

Listening, Learning, and Measuring Success

Stephen is clear: success is measured not just by figures but by the lived experiences of communities. Through continual feedback from families, faith groups, and grassroots partners, his team tailors and evolves support where it’s needed most. One stand-out achievement? Launching a sustainable exercise referral programmed that’s been running for nearly 20 years, and leading an award-nominated campaign to boost MMR vaccination rates through open engagement and flexible delivery proving that trust and adaptation are as important as strategy

Advice for Aspiring Leaders

For those considering a career in public health leadership, Stephen advises casting your net wide to gain diverse experience, know your community, and always seek to understand both the “big P” and “little p” politics. His leadership ethos: support and enable others, deliver on promises, and keep community needs at the heart of decision-making.

Looking Ahead: United Strength

As Stoke-on-Trent celebrates its centenary, Stephen shares his vision for the future: united action across sectors, more joined-up work with business and investors, and a relentless focus on homes, jobs, and connected communities. The city’s motto United Strength is Stronger rings true in his drive to harness collective power for lasting change.

Listen now via the link below or find us on your preferred podcast platform. Stay tuned for more conversations spotlighting those building healthier communities across the UK.

This October, Panoramic Associates are joining special schools from across the country for the annual NASS Conference.

The two-day conference brings together school leaders, SEND professionals, and sector experts from across the NASS community for collaborative learning, industry updates, and valuable networking.

As a trusted partner to Special Schools nationwide, we are proud to be recognised as leading experts in providing interim Education and SEND professionals. Since 2015, we have supported Education Services across the UK, developing a deep understanding of the unique challenges this sector faces.

At Panoramic Associates, we recognise that the voices and aspirations of children and young people must remain at the heart of all decision-making. That’s why we focus on connecting Schools with professionals who share this commitment and who bring the experience, insight, and dedication required to make a positive impact.

We are looking forward to joining education leaders at the NASS Conference in October, to share our expertise and connect with colleagues who are passionate about shaping better outcomes for children and young people.

Date: Thursday 2^nd & Friday 3^rd October
Time: 09:00 – 17:00
Location: Bristol Grand Hotel, Broad Street, BS1 2EL

Come and meet the Panoramic Associates team at the NASS Conference 2025 – we’d love to discuss how we can support your organisation.

Get in touch if you are attending.