Professor Kevin Fenton, London’s Director of Public Health and Sadiq Khan’s health adviser, will be giving a London Society lecture on creating a healthier and fairer London.

At the London Centre on Tuesday, 13 June 2023, Professor Fenton will tackle the capital’s public health challenges. He will focus on health inequalities and how poorer Londoners are susceptible to chronic conditions such as heart disease, diabetes and cancer.

He will explore the social, economic and environmental factors that help shape the health of Londoners and argue that major improvements are possible and necessary.

Professor Fenton will set out how healthcare professionals, academics, policymakers and community organisations can work together to create change and improve the wellbeing and economic productivity of Londoners.

The health of all Londoners is important, says Professor Fenton, not just those in need of healthcare. “Health inequalities matter. They matter for you and they matter for me. And here is the reason why. We know from emerging from the Covid-19 pandemic we are seeing widening inequalities. They affect Londoners of different ages, socio-economic backgrounds as well as racial and ethnic groups.

“This matters to all of us because where we have widening inequalities there will be more pressure on our health services. It has a greater impact on London’s social and economic productivity. Where we have widening social inequalities it often pinpoints wider social injustices which have an impact on the security and resilience of our communities.”

The event will be chaired by Clare Delmar, London Society trustee and healthcare entrepreneur, urban health and planning advocate.

About Professor Kevin Fenton

Professor Fenton is a senior public health expert and infectious disease epidemiologist, who has worked in a variety of public health executive leadership roles across government and academia in the UK and internationally, including taking a leading role in London’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. He was awarded a CBE in the 2022 New Year honours list for services to public health.

Professor Fenton became the Regional Director for London in the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID) within the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) in October 2021, having previously held the same position within Public Health England from April 2020 until its functions transferred to OHID. Within this role, he is also the statutory public health advisor to the Mayor of London and the Greater London Authority and the Regional Director of Public Health for NHS London. He provides leadership across London for health and wellbeing, prevention of ill health, health protection and reduction of health inequalities.

Professor Fenton has recently been elected to be the next President of the UK Faculty of Public Health and is due to take up the position in June 2022. In December 2021, Professor Fenton was appointed Chief Advisor on HIV to Government and Chair of the HIV Action Plan Implementation Steering Group to oversee the delivery of the new HIV strategy for England.

In November 2020, Professor Fenton was named by Powerlist as the second most influential black person in Britain for his work leading the fight against coronavirus and his public health leadership on tackling inequalities. In Spring 2020, he oversaw the national PHE review of disparities in risks and outcomes of COVID-19, published as the ground-breaking ‘Beyond the Data’ report. The review led to recommendations which have shaped a more equitable COVID-19 pandemic response, both nationally and locally.

IN PERSON | Creating a healthier and fairer London: Professor Kevin Fenton

Tuesday, 13 June 2023

6:30 pm - 8:30 pm

£5-£15

The London Centre, 3 Aldermanbury, EC2V 7HH