Professor Kevin Fenton CBE MBBS (Hons) MSc PhD FFPH

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 is also the President of the UK Faculty of Public Health and the government’s Chief Advisor on HIV 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.