Claire Beynon appointed Executive Director of Public Health
The Board is delighted to announce that Claire Beynon has been appointed as Executive Director of Public Health following a robust recruitment process. Claire will take up the reins from Fiona Kinghorn following her retirement, on 29th December 2023.
Claire is a well-established and credible public health specialist and leader and is currently the Deputy Director of Public Health here at Cardiff and Vale University Health Board. Claire’s motivation aligns well with the Health Board’s strategy as she has a keen interest in childhood obesity and reducing health inequalities. She has a broad range of relevant experience having worked in both the NHS and local government and will now have the opportunity to expand and develop her influence and relationships across Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan, and beyond as she assumes leadership of the public health and preventative agenda and activities as we work collaboratively to achieve our vision.
Suzanne Rankin, CEO said: "I am thrilled to see one of our own be successful at interview following a rigorous and competitive process, well done and congratulations to Claire. I’m excited to see how Claire will lead our approach to population and public health which is at the heart of the strategy; "Shaping Our Future Wellbeing". Claire joins us at the perfect time as we take the opportunity to shift organisational focus towards preventative and value-based approaches that will improve health outcomes, reduce inequalities and support a sustainable future. I’m very much looking forward to Claire joining the Executive Team and working alongside her as we move into next year. Huge congratulations to Claire, a very well-deserved appointment.”
Charles Janczewski, Chair said: "I am delighted to welcome Claire to the Board and to offer her my congratulations on her well-deserved appointment as Executive Director for Public Health. Claire’s experience and ability will add significant strength to the Board as we work towards resolving the many challenges that lie ahead. Claire joins the Board at a time when public health requirements are of paramount importance to the people we serve and to our strategic intent. Never before have the key determinants of health, working with communities, promoting intervention and prevention, and working with our partners and key stakeholders been so important. We are privileged to be able to provide health care services throughout Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan. We will engage widely with our communities with their welcome and rich diversity, in order to reduce health inequities as far as possible. I am looking forward to working with Claire and I am excited by her ambitions for the role.”
The Board would also like to take the opportunity to formally thank Fiona Kinghorn for her fantastic contribution in leading the public health agenda for Cardiff and Vale, particularly for her work in the promotion of physical activity, bio-diversity and the importance of the physical environment on population health. Her leadership throughout the pandemic was exemplary including the extraordinary scale of the vaccination programmes throughout the Covid-19 pandemic. We would like to thank her for her service to public health, the NHS and also the population of Cardiff and Vale and wish her well in her retirement.