Public Health Spotlight S2 Ep9-Siobhan Farmer

Siobhan Farmer on Leadership, Equity and Innovation

Championing community, data and vulnerable voices across Gloucestershire’s health landscape

In this episode of Public Health Spotlight, Siobhan Farmer, Director of Public Health at Gloucestershire County Council, joins Callum Gardiner for an open and reflective conversation about leadership, lived experience and values-driven public health. From early curiosity about health inequalities to navigating the seismic challenges of Covid-19, Siobhan shares a deeply human account of leading public health in one of England’s most diverse rural urban counties.

Early Inspiration: From Research to Real Lives

Siobhan reflects on her early shift from laboratory-based science into public-facing roles, sparked by a desire to understand the real stories behind health data. Motivated by questions around why health outcomes vary so starkly, even in affluent societies, her career has been shaped by frontline work in healthy weight programmes, sexual health and drug services, and tackling the social determinants of health head-on.

Learning Through Crisis: Outbreaks, Uncertainty and Trust 

Recounting formative experiences in the North West, Siobhan describes responding to a major measles outbreak, an experience that sharpened her skills in communication, rapid decision-making and compassion amid fear and stigma. These lessons proved invaluable when she joined Gloucestershire in January 2020, just weeks before the arrival of Covid-19. Reflecting on “18 months of intense work, largely focused on Covid”, she offers rare insight into the resilience and realities of public health teams during unprecedented times.

Leading with Empathy and Evidence

At the heart of Siobhan’s approach is a commitment to equity, supported by thoughtful use of data and deep community engagement. She highlights the Podsmead pharmacy project as a powerful example of co-production in action, where listening to residents challenged assumptions and revealed gaps in how data had been interpreted. The result was improved access for a previously underserved community and a reminder that evidence must always be grounded in lived experience.

Personal Stories, Collective Change

In one of the episode’s most powerful moments, Siobhan speaks candidly about her family’s experience of alcohol misuse and its long-term impact. By sharing her story, she makes a compelling case for compassion, honesty and cultural change, creating space for others to acknowledge harm and begin difficult but necessary conversations.

Advice for Future Leaders

Reflecting on her own journey into senior leadership, Siobhan encourages emerging leaders to find roles that align with their values and strengths. She emphasises the importance of support networks, mentorship and authenticity, reminding listeners that leadership is not about fitting a mould, but about showing up as yourself and backing others to do the same.

Listen now to explore how Siobhan Farmer’s journey, marked by humility, adaptability and moral purpose, challenges us to think more boldly about what public health can, and should, be for Gloucestershire and beyond.

Discover the stories behind the statistics and see how collaboration, lived experience and evidence-led innovation are shaping the future of public health, one community at a time.