We’re pleased to announce that, subject to usual checks, Anna Hartley will be joining us later this year as Executive Director of Public Health and Communities.

Anna joins us from Wakefield Council where she is currently the Director of Public Health, and will take over from Julia Burrows who announced earlier this year that she will retire on 1 October.

Before training in public health, Anna worked in a multi-purpose community centre for the NHS in Leeds and West Yorkshire Police to address the needs of vulnerable adults in the criminal justice system. She has a national and regional lead role for the Association of Directors of Public Health on the health of asylum seekers and refugees and is the lead Director of Public Health for West Yorkshire Integrated Care Board on inclusion health.

Anna said: “I’m really excited to be joining Barnsley at such a great time, building in the successes of my predecessor and also the multi-award winning council. I’m passionate about addressing health inequalities and want to bring my experience together with the great work already underway in public health and communities.”

Sarah Norman, Chief Executive of Barnsley Council, said: "I’m very much looking forward to welcoming Anna to Barnsley. She is joining the council at an exciting time during our council of the year term.  

“During her appointment process, Anna demonstrated strong engagement, passion and enthusiasm for both Public Health and Communities, a great breadth of experience from previous roles including in the voluntary sector, that Barnsley will benefit from.”

Anna will be leading our public health and communities service which includes wellbeing and health protection, regulatory services, libraries, welfare rights, community safety and enforcement, area councils and community engagement and volunteering.