2026-10-21: South West Public Health Development School 2026
Category: Regional Public Health Events – Other
Date: October 21st 2026
Location: Exeter Racecourse and Conference Centre, Kennford, Exeter, Devon, EX6 7XS
South West Public Health Development School
Theme: “Population and Public Health for the Future: Inclusion, Innovation and Impact”
Wednesday 21st October 2026 – face to face only event
The Event
The South West Public Health Development School provides a unique opportunity for people working in a variety of fields within public health to expand their public health horizons at this event. The Development School will be a one day free event boasting a vibrant mix of workshops and learning activities. These sessions will provide an excellent opportunity to consider how to maximise public health opportunities and truly make a difference.
Who Should Attend?
The Development School is open to anyone working in a public health related field from across the South West. We welcome professionals from a variety of organisations and settings, from local authorities, ICB’s, NHSE, Academia, UKHSA, OHID, voluntary and community settings.
Conference overview
The draft programme is available below.
There will be a wealth of opportunities for new learning and the discussion of new ideas. As always, the school will help to develop both individual practice and strengthen us as a public health community.
Registration
Registration is now OPEN for this event. To register please click here
Once you have registered online, you will receive email confirmation of attendance within 5 working days.
Please note that your attendance is not confirmed until a confirmation email has been received.
If you have any questions regarding this event, please email the Programme Team
Draft Programme (subject to change)
| 10.00 | Registration/Tea and Coffee on arrival |
| 10:30 | Welcome and Introductions Professor Maggie Rae, Regional Lead/Head of School for Population and Public Health |
| 10:40 | Plenary Speaker Mark Cooke, Managing Director, NHS England South West Title TBC |
| 11.10 | Tea/Coffee Break served in workshop rooms |
| 11.15 | Workshops A (1-4) Please see more details below |
| 12:15 | Panel/Question and Answer session “What is the single greatest opportunity for public health over the next decade, and what must we do now to seize it?” Beth Smout, Regional Deputy Director of Health Protection, South West TBC, Director of Public Health Dave Perry, Chief Executive, South Gloucestershire Council Ulrike Harrower, Interim Deputy Director – Regional Public Health, NHS England South West TBC, Public Health Specialty Registrar |
| 13:15 | Lunch Break |
| 14.15 | Celebrating Success Professor Maggie Rae, Regional Lead/Head of School for Population and Public Health |
| 14:25 | Plenary Speaker TBC |
| 14:55 | Tea and Coffee served in workshop rooms |
| 15:00 | Workshops B (1-4) Please see more details below |
| 16:00 | Conference close |
Workshops
There are 4 workshops (1-4). Each workshop will last 1 hour including Q&A. Workshops are repeated with delegates able to attend two throughout the day.
| Title | |
| 1 | Inclusion Health/Health Protection Serena Luchenski, Clinical Associate Professor/Honorary Consultant Public Health, UCL Kate Yorke, Consultant in Public Health, UKHSA Inclusion Health team |
| 2 | Children and Young People Smoking/Vaping Claire Tatton, Torbay Council Nigel Grimshire, Devon County Council Russ Moody, DHSC Regional Lead |
| 3 | Healthy Relationships (Healthy Masculinity and VAWG) Presenters TBC |
| 4 | Neighbourhood Health Chris Reid, Chief Place and Transformation / Chief Medical Officer NHS Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Integrated Care Board / NHS Devon Integrated Care Board Juliet Ferris, Place Director, Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust |