New Year's Honours for Public Health experts Sian Griffiths and Fliss Bennee

Professor Sian Griffiths OBE, Non-Executive Director of Public Health Wales, has been made a CBE and Fliss Bennee, Head of Data at Public Health Wales has been made an OBE in the New Year’s Honours list. 

Sian’s honour (Commander of the Order of the British Empire - CBE) was awarded for voluntary and charitable services, particularly during Covid-19.
Sian is a former President of the UK Faculty of Public Health and an expert on global public health. During Covid she was active on local and national media as well as volunteering in her local practice and community.

Alongside being non- executive director at Public Health Wales, she is deputy chair of GambleAware, past chair of the Global Health Committee of Public Health England and visiting Professor at Imperial College London.

She co-chaired the 2003 SARS Inquiry for the Hong Kong Government and remains Emeritus Professor at the Chinese University of Hong Kong.

Congratulating Sian on being made a CBE, Jan Williams, Chair of Public Health Wales said:

“I am delighted that Sian’s amazing work and commitment has been recognised in this way.  She has been a key member of our Public Health Wales board and brings such a wealth of global experience to our work in Wales. Sian is an exceptionally dedicated professional and respected colleague who is a vital part of the Public Health Wales family.

“Together with all the staff at Public Health Wales, we send our heartfelt congratulations on this very well-deserved award for her contribution to public health across the UK and internationally. Her professionalism and commitment are exemplary, and we are delighted that this selfless dedication has been recognised in this special way.”

Fliss Bennee’s honour (Officer of the Order of the British Empire - OBE) has been awarded for her role from March 2020 to July 2022 - when she was Co-Chair of the Technical Advisory Group, providing science advice to the Welsh Government during the coronavirus pandemic, and a member of SAGE, the UK Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies, while working for Welsh Government.

The award comes exactly 100 years after Fliss' great grandfather was given the same honour by King George V.

Congratulating Fliss on her honour, Public Health Wales Chief Executive Tracey Cooper said:

“I am delighted that Fliss’ amazing work and commitment has been recognised in this way.  She has been a key member of our Public Health Wales team, since joining us last year, and has continued to be at the forefront of the public health response as she was during the Coronavirus pandemic. Fliss is an exceptionally dedicated professional and a fantastic colleague who has become a well-known face and voice in the Public Health Wales family across the past year.

“Together with all the staff at Public Health Wales, we send our warmest congratulations on this very well-deserved award. We are incredibly proud of this award for Fliss and the recognition it brings to public health work in Wales.”

Fliss joined Public Health Wales as Head of Data in June 2022, after having previously worked for Welsh Government as co-chair of the Technical Advisory Group.

Following a move from the financial sector, Fliss has been in public service for more than 15 years, focussing on the third sector, digital data and technology, science and engineering. Previous to working for Welsh Government, Fliss had held roles at the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, Cabinet Office, Government Digital Service, Home Office and the Charity Commission. 

She lives in Wales with her husband, Alexis James, and two children. Fliss is also a school governor and an active trustee with Scouts.