Kyle Kennedy speaks to us about how he progressed to the Chair role of the Public Health Specialist Group in only a short time after graduating from his studies.
My career has been driven by a passion for improving health at a population level and ensuring dietetics has a strong voice within public health.
This ultimately led me to the role of Chair of the BDA Public Health Specialist Group. What inspired me to put myself forward was the belief that dietetics needs to be at the centre of public health leadership.
The Chair role provides an opportunity to influence positive change and to support and develop the next generation of public health leaders, something I feel strongly about.
One of the biggest lessons I've learned is that leadership is complex. There is no single style that works in every situation, and understanding how to adapt your approach while achieving the best outcomes for the profession is an ongoing learning process.
Looking ahead, my ambition for the Specialist Group is to help all dietitians recognise that they are public health professionals. I want the group to provide meaningful benefits to members, support them to be effective public health practitioners, and strengthen the contribution dietitians make to public health messaging and policy across the UK.
I'm particularly excited about the year ahead. We have a refreshed committee, a renewed work plan and real enthusiasm for moving the group forward.
There has been significant political change taking place across the UK, so I feel there is a valuable opportunity for dietitians to increase their influence and demonstrate the impact of our profession on public health.
For students and those early in their careers, my advice is simple: go for it. Anyone, at any stage, can be a leader. The more dietetic leaders we have in public health, the stronger our professional voice will become, helping us create fairer, healthier outcomes for the populations we serve.
