Published: Wednesday, 10th Aug 2022

Dr Helen Lowey, Director of Public Health at Bolton Council, has today (10 August) announced she will leave her role in October 2022, stepping down from the post she has held since January 2019.

Helen has over twenty years’ experience as a Chief Officer / Senior Manager in NHS and local government, focusing predominately on Public Health and inequalities.

She has taken secondments to extend her knowledge and competence including a national role as a Civil Servant leading on preventing Childhood Aversity and Trauma, and for a local integration organisation as Deputy Professional Care Lead.

Helen led Bolton through the emergency response work during the COVID-19 pandemic whilst continuing to drive her ambition to modernise public health in Bolton.

Helen received the Faculty of Public Health’s President Gold Medal for her Inspirational Leadership during 2021.

She said: “From the day I was appointed almost four years ago in 2019 it has been an absolute honour and privilege to undertake this fantastic and rewarding role.

“It has clearly been unprecedented times for the past two years for anyone in public health but even in our greatest of public health challenges, everyone around me has shown immense leadership and strong teamwork at a time when we have all needed it.

“I am amazingly proud of Team Bolton and the community ethos that has guided our response to Covid-19.”

Helen will continue as Director of Public Health until October before taking up a new role with the Greater Manchester Violence Reduction Unit.

She will provide senior expertise to influence across a range of organisations and settings and represent the GM-wide public health agenda in relation to police, fire and crime to support integration.

Helen will also be leading on Domestic Abuse, Adverse Childhood Experiences and Trauma across other parts of the country.

Tony Oakman, Chief Executive of Bolton Council said: "Helen is highly respected across Greater Manchester and the wider public health community.

“We are all grateful for the two decades of public service Helen has dedicated to the community and for her leadership in public health during that time.

“We wish her well in her new role and future endeavours.”

Bolton Council will now begin the process to recruit a new Director of Public Health.