Professor Nigel Lightfoot awarded CBE in New Year Honours

31 December 2008

Professor Nigel Lightfoot, Chief Advisor at the Health Protection Agency, has been awarded a CBE in the New Year Honours List. Professor Lightfoot receives the honour in recognition of his services to public health.

Speaking about the honour, Professor Lightfoot said: "I am delighted to receive this honour from Her Majesty. It is a reflection of the work of many of my colleagues in setting up the Agency's Emergency Response Division and contributing to the UK's preparedness against the new threats of terrorism."

Justin McCracken, Chief Executive of the Health Protection Agency, said: "Nigel's honour reflects the great contribution he has made to public health. From his work developing countermeasures against biological and chemical agents through to his cross-government initiatives while representing the Health Protection Agency to ensure our preparedness against pandemic flu, Nigel is a leading figure in emerging health threats. I am delighted that his work has been recognised today."

Professor Lightfoot is a graduate of St Mary's Hospital Medical School and gained experience in the Royal Navy in nuclear submarines, general practice and trained as a medical microbiologist becoming the Navy's consultant medical microbiologist in 1979.  He joined the Public Health Laboratory Service in 1982 becoming the Director of the Taunton Laboratory in 1984.  Appointed Director of the Newcastle Laboratory in 1989, he became Group Director of the Laboratories in the North of England in 1995.  He was appointed to the Department of Health in 2002 as Head of Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) training and scenario development where he developed the first health led multi-agency exercises for CBRN preparedness, and as Director of Emergency Response he set up the Emergency Response Division of the Health Protection Agency in 2003.

As expert advisor to the Chief Medical Officer he has made significant contributions to the Global Health Security Network of the G7 group nations where he is co chair of the Risk Management and Coordination Working Group.

Professor Lightfoot is Head of the Health Protection Agency's Pandemic Influenza Programme and has developed cross-agency co-ordination of expert facilities and planning for pandemic influenza preparedness.  He works across Government with other departments in pandemic influenza preparedness, particularly with the Department of Health, Cabinet Office, Department for the Environment Food and Rural Affairs, Department for Transport and Home Office.

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Last reviewed: 30 December 2008