Matthew Cole, Joint Director of Public Health, NHS Barking and Dagenham and London Borough of Barking and Dagenham.

Matthew’s NHS career began in 1990 as a Senior Health Promotion Officer in Redbridge and Waltham Forest Health Authority. He has worked in the NHS in outer north east London since that time and in 2001 was one of the first Directors of Public Health in England who was jointly appointed between the NHS and Local Authority.

He has a strong professional interest in the links between physical activity and health improvement, working locally with Sport England initiatives. This interest carries over into his private life and he has been Secretary of the London Borough of Redbridge Swimming Club since 2005, since when he has turned the club into a profitable and thriving one, nationally accredited to provide training opportunities in the swimming and leisure industry.