The UK Health Security Agency has appointed Prof Susan Hopkins as its new chief executive.
Hopkins, who is currently chief medical officer at UKHSA, will take over in September from Dyfed Alsop, who has been acting chief exec over the last few months.
She replaces Dame Jenny Harries, who led the organisation from its creation in 2021 until earlier this summer.
An executive agency, sponsored by the Department of Health and Social Care, UKHSA has a remit to prevent, prepare for and respond to infectious diseases and environmental hazards to keep communities safe, save lives and protect livelihoods.
It also provides scientific and operational leadership, working with local, national and international partners to protect the public’s health and build the nation’s health security capability.
Hopkins described her appointment as an “honour and privilege” and said she will step into the role “with humility, excitement, and deep commitment to our mission – protecting people’s health and security, quietly, consistently, and expertly”.
She said her priorities are “ensuring we continue to deliver excellence in health protection and security and strengthening our capabilities and systems to enhance how we support our communities”.
Health secretary Wes Streeting said Hopkins “brings extensive experience in the field of infectious diseases and public health as well as significant leadership skills and knowledge of the agency”.
Chief medical officer Prof Chris Whitty said Hopkins “has consistently provided outstanding leadership and expertise throughout a number of major public health challenges including Covid-19 and Mpox”.
He said her “considerable experience and technical knowledge will be invaluable” in the role of chief exec at UKHSA.
“I very much look forward to continuing working with Prof Hopkins in her new role,” Whitty added.
Hopkins is an infectious disease clinician, epidemiologist and public health leader. She studied medicine at Trinity College Dublin and trained in infectious diseases, microbiology and epidemiology across Ireland, France and the UK.
UKHSA said she has played pivotal roles in the UK’s Covid-19 response, including as incident director and strategic response director at Public Health England, UKHSA's predecessor agency, and interim chief medical advisor to NHS Test and Trace. She has been UKHKSA's chief medical advisor since November 2021.
Hopkins remains clinically active as a consultant in infectious diseases and microbiology at the Royal Free Hospital in London and as professor of infectious diseases and health security at UCL.