Welcome to Champs Public Health Collaborative’s annual learning event of 2024 for the health protection community in Cheshire and Merseyside (C&M).
The event brings health professionals from across the region together to discuss work currently taking place on improving indoor air quality, considering methods of collaboration to benefit the health and wellbeing of our most vulnerable populations.
The main aims of the objectives of the event are:
- To learn more about C&M work on indoor air quality
- To look at future opportunities for collaboration to improve the wellbeing of the most vulnerable
- To discuss next steps that can be taken forward at a C&M level
- To give time for networking and informal discussion
Download the full agenda for the event here
Speakers and Presentations
There will be 8 speakers representing local authorities, public health programmes and ICBs with individual presentations, Q&A intervals and table discussions.
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Dr Merav Kliner BA (hons) MBChB, MPH, FFPHDirector for Health Protection for the UKHSA North WestConsultant in Health ProtectionDr Kliner is Regional Deputy Director for Health Protection for the North West in UK Health Security Agency and a consultant in health protection. She is co-editor of Health Protection: Principles and Practice textbook which is widely used by trainees and health protection practitioners in the UK.
She has an interest in evidence-based health protection, having worked with the Cochrane Infectious Diseases Group in Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine on Cochrane reviews and other reviews of evidence and practice. She has a special interest in TB and sexual health, which developed during clinical training, guideline development work with WHO, and academic work within Good Shepherd Hospital in Swaziland, with the University of Leeds.Presentation Link:
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Mike Bridges VR, FFPHConsultant in Public HealthHealth Protection lead – Warrington Borough CouncilMike Bridges is a seasoned Consultant in Public Health, and the health protection lead for Warrington Borough Council. With over 24 years of experience in public health across the NHS and local government, Mike has built a distinguished career managing diverse portfolios including Tobacco Control, Mental Health, Children and Young People, Learning Disability, Ageing Well, Oral Health, Serious Violence, Suicide Prevention, and Commissioning. For the past 12 years, Mike has held senior leadership roles as a public health specialist and consultant in Oldham, North Northamptonshire, Berkshire West, and Warrington, driving impactful strategies and initiatives to improve population health outcomes.
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Roy EvansLead Coordinator – Healthy Air for Healthy Lungs ProjectSt Helens Wellbeing servicesRoy is employed by St Helens Wellbeing services and has worked within the health sector for over 15 years. Roy started out as a volunteer helping exercise instructors deliver specialist classes to people in the communities and over the past 10 years, he has worked as a Health Trainer, Lifestyle advisor and a Wellbeing worker. His current role is a Lead coordinator for the Healthy Air for Healthy Lungs Project, helping to coordinate all the operational aspects of the project.
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Richard MooreEnvironmental Protection Team ManagerWarrington Borough CouncilRichard has worked for 10 years in the industrial waste sector as an Environmental Chemist carrying out stack emissions testing and water sampling. He has now worked for 20 years in the public sector at Warrington Borough Council. Originally as an Air Quality Officer, for the last 3 years Richard has been the Environmental Protection Team Manager. Richard has a degree and a masters in environmental Protection.
Presentation Link:
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Gisele SpencerHealthy Air for Healthy Lungs Project ManagerSt Helens CouncilHaving come from working in ICB and working clinically, Gisèle Spencer is currently in her third year of Public Health speciality training in Cheshire and Merseyside and is on placement at St Helens Council. As well as working on a number of other projects within the public health team she has recently taken over the management of the Healthy Air for Healthy Lungs project which aims to support households with an asthmatic child to monitor and improve their air quality.
On top of her local authority work Gisèle is also active in the NW speciality trainee body, with current roles as Network Co-Chair, and Annual Event Lead. She has particular interests in health inequalities and respiratory health having worked as a resident doctor in respiratory medicine for one year and focusing her MPH dissertation on reducing the rates of smoking in pregnancy. -
Kim WilliamsLead Nurse for the Cheshire and Merseyside CYP NetworkKim is a Nurse Consultant in Paediatric Emergency and Unplanned care, and the Lead Nurse for the Cheshire and Merseyside CYP Network. She has worked in the NHS for over 40 years and has also worked in Australia and Nepal. Kim was the Lead nurse in Alder Hey ED until November 2017 and is an honorary lecturer with John Moores and Edgehill universities. Since leaving Alder Hey, she has worked across region in Warrington, Preston and Morecambe Bay in a clinical and consultancy role for quality improvement. She is also a CQC clinical advisor.
Kim has a passion for improving health inequalities for children and families and works in this capacity as a clinical lead for Respiratory and Asthma, Healthy Weight and Obesity and Mental health in acute settings, within the Beyond CYP Transformation programme. She has three grown up children, a long suffering husband and a lovely rescue dog who is always pleased to see her!Presentation Link:
Beyond & Torus Housing Indoor Air Quality Project (2022 – 2023)
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Dr Jonathan HighamSenior Lecturer at the University of LiverpoolDr Jonathan Higham is a Senior Lecturer at the University of Liverpool. His work in air pollution stems from his foundational research into the fractal forcing of complex turbulent flows through urban environments. His current focus is on data analysis, exploring the connection between large-scale pollution patterns in outdoor environments and their impact on indoor air quality.
Dr Higham’s research also examines how various pollutants from different sources significantly affect respiratory health, particularly in children. His recent work investigates specific chemical elements that influence respiratory health, linking these to the Index of Multiple Deprivation. Dr Higham has established the University of Liverpool Air Quality Network, consisting of 60 sensors spread across Liverpool, from Speke to Bootle. He also coordinates a network of professionals through his Liverpool Air Quality Roundtable events.
Presentation Link:
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Prof. Thanh Trung NguyenProfessor of Operational Research in TransportationCo-director of the Liverpool LogisticsOffshore and Marine (LOOM) Research Institute.Thanh is a Professor of Operational Research in Transportation and a co-director of the Liverpool Logistics, Offshore and Marine (LOOM) Research Institute. He is leading the Smart Green Things group, a research group working on digital innovation, modelling and AI for sustainable development, especially in the area of transport and air quality. The research products of his group have been used across the Liverpool City Region and beyond, for example in train stations, seaports, hospitals, schools, rail, bus and road networks, to encourage modal shift, transport efficiency and reduce air pollution. He and his team have received some awards for their contribution to sustainable development, including a Mersey Maritime Technology & Innovation Award in 2024, two LJMU Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Research Impact and Research Excellence in 2023 and 2015, and two runner-up prizes in the Newton Prize and Mersey Maritime Innovation award in 2017 and 2018.
Presentation Link:
Air Quality Research – Liverpool John Moore’s (Prof. Thanh Trung Nguyen)
