Polisi has led on reactive, evidence-based projects, as well as generating new evidence and thinking on a broad range of subjects that impact on population health and well-being in Wales. With a focus on the domestic policy context, Polisi has undertaken work in a range of subjects, including the potential impacts of Brexit, the intersection of health and the wider economy, the case for investment in housing improvements and how futures thinking can be incorporated into public health policy planning.
Our work Lead: Sumina Azam
What we do
The Policy Team co-ordinates Public Health Wales’ participation in, and monitoring of, consultations, policy development and legislation impacting on population health. The team aims to influence public health policy development in Wales through collaborating with a wide range of partners both within and outside the organisation, and undertaking projects and programmes of work.
What we have done
Recent work includes: producing a Three Horizons toolkit to help public bodies and others to think and plan for the future and longer term; A Young People and Brexit report, to look at health and well-being and the perceived impact of Brexit; Taxation and Healthier Lifestyles in Wales; Improving Winter well-being and reducing winter pressures, as well as a range of housing and health reports.
Current key areas of work include: Brexit; Covid 19 including producing daily Covid-19 updates; supporting a range of Health Impact Assessments and carrying out a Health Impact on Housing Security (includes homelessness and feeling safe in the home) in light of Covid-19; co-ordinating and producing organisational responses to a range of national consultations, and working in partnership with the Future Generations Office on Covid-19 Futures work and long term planning.
Polisi Team
Dr. Louisa Petchey
Senior Policy SpecialistLouisa joined Public Health Wales in 2018. In her current role Louisa manages the Polisi team and leads a collaborative partnership with the Future Generations Commissioner’s office on embedding the long-term way of working into public body thinking and planning. Prior to this appointment, Louisa influenced policy and practice on behalf of health and social justice charities, and completed a PhD in Developmental Genetics.
Jo Peden
Consultant in Public Health and International HealthProfessor Jo Peden is a Consultant in Public Health and International Health in the Policy and International Health Team. She has an Honorary Professorship from University of Wolverhampton relating to her work on violence prevention, improving the health of women and children in prison and evaluating complex system change. She has previously worked for the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) in Malaysia and the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) in Rome and as Deputy Director of Public Health Programmes for Public Health England South, leading on health inequalities. In 2019 Jo helped to set up the West Midlands Violence Prevention Partnership which takes a public health approach to preventing violence. She has also previously worked as a Consultant in Health Protection.
Leah Silva
Senior Policy and International Evidence Development OfficerLeah joined Public Health Wales in 2022 as a Senior Policy and International Evidence Development Officer. Prior to this role, Leah worked at the Wales Centre for Public Policy focusing on looked after children, economy and skills, health and social care, and tertiary education projects. Previously, Leah worked at the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) in the United States where she helped build the capacity of state and territorial health agency leadership to identify, develop and implement evidence-based law and policy. She has also worked in state government as a public health lawyer. Leah has an MSc in Health Policy, Planning and Financing from LSE and LSHTM (2021), a juris doctorate from Penn State Law (2013) and a BA in political science from the George Washington University (2010).
Sara Elias
Senior Policy OfficerSara is a Senior Policy Officer in the Polisi Team, having joined Public Health Wales in 2022. Sara’s current work focuses on a partnership with the Future Generations Commissioner’s Office on embedding long-term thinking into public policy making, and on the promotion of the Socio-Economic Duty to impact on the wider determinants of health. Prior to this role, Sara has worked in the field of research and evaluation to inform policy and more recently led a Local Authority’s Strategic Policy function.
Manon Roberts
Senior Policy OfficerManon is a Senior Policy Officer in the Polisi Team, having joined Public Health Wales in 2022. Manon’s work focuses on housing, social capital and wider determinants of health. Prior to this role, Manon worked at the Wales Centre for Public Policy focusing on equalities-related policy, and Crest Advisory, specialising in crime and justice policy.
Menna Thomas
Public Health Policy OfficerMenna is a Policy Officer in the Polisi Team, having joined Public Health Wales in 2022. Menna works on homelessness and social capital and coordinates PHW consultation responses. Previously Menna worked in policy and practice in public and voluntary sector organisations with children, young people and families.
Lewis Brace
Public Health Policy Research OfficerLewis joined the Policy and International Health team as a Public Health Policy Research Officer in July 2021 after working for PHW on the COVID response as a practitioner within the Cardiff and Vale team. Lewis is currently involved with research projects on winter wellbeing, climate change and renewable energy. His free time is spent enjoying the outdoors and exploring the Welsh coast on his inflatable boat.
For further information about the work of the Polisi, please email publichealth.policy@wales.nhs.uk or
contact Louisa Petchey, Senior Policy Specialist, at Louisa.Petchey@wales.nhs.uk.