Leadership changes at UKHSA
Source: gov.uk (2025-01-23)

Dame Jenny Harries will step down as UK Health Security Agency’s Chief Executive in early summer.

Dame Jenny Harries has today announced she will step down as UK Health Security Agency’s Chief Executive in early summer.

Dame Jenny was appointed as UKHSA’s first Chief Executive in April 2021 and created a new health security organisation during the COVID-19 pandemic with specialist scientific, data and operational expertise to protect the public from infectious diseases and other hazards to health. The Agency has developed to become internationally recognised for its work including in genomics, data modelling, the health impacts of climate change and critical support to the development of new vaccines and testing. It is also widely credited for its rapid response to incidents and outbreaks in the UK and overseas. Dame Jenny said she was immensely proud of UKHSA and its early achievements and looked forward to continuing to improve public health in the next phase of her career.

UKHSA’s Chief Scientific Officer, Professor Isabel Oliver, has also been appointed to the role of Chief Medical Officer for Wales, where she will replace Sir Frank Atherton who recently retired. Professor Oliver has led the development of UKHSA’s science strategy and the delivery of many of our scientific functions and services. Professor Oliver created a new Vaccine Development and Evaluation Centre at UKHSA’s Porton Down campus to strengthen pandemic and epidemic preparedness as well as establishing a new Centre for Health and Climate Change to protect health in the context of our changing climate. Professor Oliver will now be the principal medical adviser and the professional head for the medical profession in NHS Wales and the Welsh Government.

Dame Jenny Harries said:

I am immensely proud of what we have achieved at UKHSA in the last four years. We started building the Agency mid-pandemic and since then we have created a genuinely unique and world leading public health agency with strong partnerships across public, private, domestic and international organisations. I have been privileged to work alongside UKHSA’s highly skilled, multidisciplinary and talented workforce who are dedicated to the Agency’s mission of protecting the public’s health. I would also like to thank all those colleagues in frontline services with whom I’ve worked for many years, especially those in local authorities, the NHS and in social care. It has been a privilege to lead the Agency from day one but I am now excited about doing something new in the next phase of my career and while continuing to champion the Agency’s work.

Professor Isabel Oliver said:

It has been an honour to serve as UKHSA’s first Chief Scientific Officer and lead an excellent team of public health scientists and clinicians who work tirelessly to combat health threats and keep people safe. In an age of unprecedented health security challenges, we have ensured that UKHSA secures health and prosperity working in partnership with industry and academia and strengthening our preparedness. Although I will miss UKHSA hugely, I look forward to continue working with the Agency in my new role as Chief Medical Officer for Wales.

Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting said:

Jenny has played a crucial role protecting the health of the nation. Her dedication has inspired countless people and improved the wellbeing of communities across the country. I am extremely grateful for her advice and support since coming into office and wish her every success in her next chapter. I will be working closely with UKHSA to appoint a successor who will continue to fight potential health threats to keep us safe.

UKHSA Chair, Ian Peters said:

As UKHSA’s first chief executive, Dame Jenny has made a significant and lasting contribution to protecting people’s health across the UK. On behalf of the board and our entire staff, I would like to thank Jenny and pay tribute to the tireless dedication that she has given to the role over the last four years. She has brought decades of expertise to lead UKHSA through its creation during Covid, its subsequent transformation, and to lay the foundations for our future. Work is already under way to appoint a successor to lead UKHSA into its next phase and I look forward to working with DHSC to secure the best candidate for this vital appointment.

Congratulations also to Professor Isabel Oliver on her thoroughly well-deserved appointment as Chief Medical Officer for Wales. Isabel has brought deep experience and vision to UKHSA and we thank her for her leadership of our science strategy and the creation of significant new capabilities which have been built or are in development. We wish her the very best in her new role.”

Professor Chris Whitty, Chief Medical Officer said:

Professor Harries has been an outstanding public servant and colleague.

Jenny’s unrelenting commitment to supporting the public has been extraordinary. I am profoundly thankful for her leadership, advice and proactiveness in tackling the toughest of tasks. Her contribution to public health has been remarkable.

I look forward to continuing to work with Professor Oliver in her new role as Chief Medical Officer for Wales.

The recruitment process is under way to appoint the next UKHSA chief executive and chief scientific officer.