Public Health Spotlight S2 Ep8-Christina Gray

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.