Gavin Flatt is a Public Health Principal at Liverpool City Council. He started his career in Biomedical Sciences, drawn to prevention and research. Early roles at the Cancer Registry and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) helped him develop expertise, but he wanted to see the real-world impact of his work.
Since 2017, Gavin has been part of Liverpool’s public health team, tackling wider determinants of health and collaborating across housing, community groups, and local services. Along the way, the Champs Collaborative’s has provided practical support, through development groups, peer networks, and training opportunities, that has helped him navigate challenges, gain new skills, and contribute effectively to initiatives like Liverpool’s Marmot City work.
Looking ahead, Gavin is pursuing the Public Health Consultant route. With guidance and collaborative learning from Connect Learn, Thrive, he is building the experience, knowledge, and networks to progress his career while continuing to make a tangible difference in the health and wellbeing of his community.
Read more about Gavin’s story below.
What first attracted you to public health and how did you start your career in public health?
I began my undergraduate degree in Biomedical Sciences, focusing on clinical science. As I progressed, I discovered that my true passion was in prevention, working to help people, but primarily from a preventive and research-focused perspective.
How has your journey in public health progressed since then?
I went on to work for the Cancer Registry in a research role, which I really enjoyed. Through that, I had the opportunity to join the National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE), working on clinical guidelines and quality standards. I spent five years there, and while it was fascinating work, it was harder to see the direct impact on communities.
In 2017, I moved to Liverpool into a healthcare and public health role, where I could see the difference my work made. I was working directly with communities, and that was the part I really enjoyed. Since then, I’ve expanded my focus to the wider determinants of health, collaborating across multiple disciplines, from housing to community groups. I find that incredibly interesting, because it allows me to contribute to real system-level change and see the tangible difference it makes.
What support have you had along the way from your employer and others along your journey?
Throughout my career, I have been really well supported. I’ve been lucky to have some amazing line managers and to work with people who are forward-thinking, deeply passionate about what they do, and full of energy – people who are actively exploring innovative ways to support communities.
From my first role at the Cancer Registry, I was really interested in research, and I got the chance to work in Texas as part of the Breast Cancer Symposium. My manager was identifying opportunities and asking me to be part of them, which was a great way to progress.
This progression and opportunity to grow continues in my role today, working with Professor Matt Ashton. He’s always on the go and full of new ideas – innovative, energetic, and encouraging me to go along with him on the journey. It’s really inspirational. It can be a lot of work, and it can be challenging, but it’s rewarding at the same time.
How has the Champs Collaborative helped you to Connect, Learn, Thrive and progress your career?
The Champs Public Health Collaborative is ideal for cross-learning. It provides the opportunity to connect with people facing similar challenges, whether you’re working on tobacco control or on the Marmot initiatives aimed at reducing health inequalities.
This shared learning is incredibly valuable. When we encounter challenges, we can bring them to our All Together Fairer group and work through them with others who have faced similar obstacles. They can share how they overcame these challenges, and we can also gain new ideas and explore how to implement them in Liverpool.
The process is always very supportive, and the people involved are fantastic, there’s never a question you can’t ask. There are many opportunities to get support, such as the recent development group, which focuses on training opportunities that might otherwise be difficult to access on your own.
What is your biggest career achievement to date?
The launch of Liverpool as a Marmot City in April was a fantastic moment – not just for the event itself, which was a great opportunity to showcase people’s work, but for the journey behind it. It represents three or four years of bringing people together and working with the Champs Collaborative, from workshops and reports to building strong partnerships and leading initiatives.
It’s not just a council-led approach, it’s a movement with direction. The launch was just the starting point, with much more work to come, but it was inspiring to see so many people in the room, the variety of work being presented, and the pride that everyone took in their contributions.
What’s next for you… do you have plans to progress your career further?
I’d like to work towards becoming a Public Health Consultant, and the Connect, Learn, Thrive development group has set up is really supporting me in that goal. It’s helping me understand the portfolio route and the process involved. I’m also currently completing an MBA, which I want to finish first, but after that, I plan to follow the consultant route in public health.
The development group has been invaluable in identifying the different routes and opportunities. While the ADPH route exists and is the right approach, pursuing it on your own can be challenging and requires finding opportunities independently. The group provides a supportive environment of like-minded people who are working towards the same goal. They can offer guidance, encouragement, and accountability, helping you take the next steps. It also makes the path clearer, showing both where you can go and what support is available along the way.
What advice would you give to others thinking of starting or progressing their career in Public Health?
Take every opportunity you can and be open to new experiences. Don’t be afraid to take risks or fail, just keep moving forward.
It’s also about listening and engaging with as many people as possible, both within public health and beyond. Communities present the challenges, but they also hold the solutions. Work closely with colleagues, but make sure you listen to communities too, because that’s where the real challenges – and the answers – exist. That’s what our work is all about.
Case study: June 2026
