Professor Kevin Fenton
Public Health England director Professor Kevin Fenton was ranked just behind Hamilton, becoming the second most influential Black person in Britain for his work leading the fight against coronavirus, including minimizing the impact on BAME (Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic) communities. Fenton was a leading practitioner tackling HIV and Aids issues for three decades before being appointed regional director of Public Health England for London in April 2020.
Fenton, who is “truly honoured” to be included in the Powerlist said: “I have been lucky enough to experience support and encouragement from mentors and peers throughout my career, which combined with hard work, has enabled me to take advantage of opportunities and deal with challenges along the way.
“Sadly, that structure of support is too often not there for many BAME researchers and health professionals. That is why I feel passionately about paying forward, guiding and mentoring others throughout my work.”