Public Health Practitioners

Lauren Thomas

Public Health Practitioner

Lauren joined the NHS in 2020 and currently works with the Tobacco team at the Cardiff and Vale Public Health Team. The main focus of her role is addressing the harms of smoking to children and young people.

Lauren has held various roles in public health, including Health Improvement and Public Health Practitioner. Before joining the NHS, Lauren worked as a Sports Development Officer for nine years and holds a BSc (Hons) in Sports Development and a PGCE.

Lauren is passionate about supporting the population of Cardiff and Vale, particularly in educating them about how smoking can exacerbate existing health inequalities in our communities.

Sadie Alexander

Health Promotion Practitioner
Sadie was appointed as a Health Promotion Practitioner in March 2014, as a member of the unique multidisciplinary Substance Misuse Education Team, Switched On. During 2021, Switched On won the Education and Development Award at CAVUHB’s Staff Recognition Awards. 
Sadie’s previous roles include Youth and Community Education in both local authority and third sector organisations across Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan. She now works on health promotion topics such as immunisations, falls prevention and Making Every Contact Count (MECC). 
This has allowed her an insight to health inequalities and valuable connections with communities on how working together can improve the health and wellbeing of the local population and reduce the health inequalities throughout Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan.

Rachel Sanderson

Public Health Practitioner
Rachel started with the team in July 2024 on secondment cover as a Practitioner, before this working as a Senior Practitioner in the Communities and Public Health team in Bristol City Council. 
She has worked in health focused community development roles for over 15 years, starting in Communities First as a Health Officer, then working across north Bristol developing strategic partnerships that aimed to bridge the gap between asset-based community development practices and public health. 
Rachel has an MA in Urban Design and has several years’ experience in engaging citizens in the neighbourhood planning and design process, along with experience in designing neighbourhoods and public spaces. Rachel is also a registered UKPHR Practitioner and a practicing assessor for the scheme. Rachel is passionate about working with communities to reduce obesity and developing new partnerships where people’s passions and skills are maximised.

Rebecca Winslade-Rees

Public Health Practitioner 
Rebecca was appointed as a Public Health Practitioner for the Good Food and Movement Team in March 2021. Following university, Rebecca started her career in the NHS in 2006 and worked in local Nutrition and Dietetics Services specifically for Learning Disabilities, Mental Health and Public Health. 
Since 2012 Rebecca has worked in a variety of Public Health roles both locally and nationally. Rebecca has a BSc (Hons) in Applied Human Nutrition. Rebecca has a particular interest in Early Years and the Healthy Weight agenda.