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In this episode of Public Health Spotlight, Callum sits down with Colin Cox, Director of Public Health (DPH) for Cumberland Council, to trace Colin’s journey through three decades of public health leadership in northern England. Colin shares how his unconventional career began with a psychology degree and early work on addiction and substance misuse in Stockport, before moving into broader public health roles and eventually leadership positions in Manchester and Cumbria.

Colin discusses the impact of integrated partnership working, particularly through Manchester’s trailblazing Joint Health Unit, where the NHS and local authority joined forces well ahead of national reforms. He highlights the importance of culture, leadership, and collaboration crediting inspiring figures like David Regan for creating the conditions for success and reflects on landmark initiatives like the Food Futures Program and Valuing Older People, which took holistic approaches to community health.

The conversation explores unique challenges faced by Cumberland, such as hidden rural deprivation, super-aged populations, and difficulties with data-driven decision making in sparsely populated areas. Colin describes how lessons from urban Manchester informed public health strategies in rural Cumbria, emphasising the need to adapt services to local realities from improving transport access for older adults to identifying underserved communities.

Colin also sheds light on the impact of local government reorganisation, sharing the practical and emotional challenges of splitting a successful team, and the opportunities it brought like a broader leadership portfolio that now covers environmental health, trading standards, customer services and community engagement. He reveals how bringing diverse teams under one directorate has fostered stronger collaboration, making it easier to put prevention and wellbeing at the heart of council services.

Reflecting on leadership, Colin offers advice to aspiring DPHs: embrace the breadth and ambiguity of public health, shape organisational culture, and don’t underestimate the value of a good team. He closes with a personal lesson don’t take yourself too seriously, and remember to find time for relaxation alongside professional ambition.

Tune in for a thoughtful exploration of public health leadership, rural and urban challenges, and how resilience and adaptability shape healthier communities in Cumberland.

Thank you for tuning in to Public Health Spotlight: A Panoramic Associates Podcast. For more expert discussions on public health, be sure to subscribe. Visit our website at panoramicassociates.co.uk to learn more about our work in the public health sector. This podcast is produced in collaboration with the Association of Directors of Public Health.