Dame Jenny Harris, chief executive at the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), has announced she will step down in the summer.
She has held the role since April 2021 and during her tenure, 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.
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."
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."
Meanwhile, UKHSA's chief scientific officer, Professor Isabel Oliver, is to move on to take up the role of chief medical officer for Wales.
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."
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.”
The recruitment process is already underway to replace the pair.
