People over profit: Changing the goal for a healthier, fairer future ONLINE Booking

Rob Noonan, Professor of Public Health

Professorial Inaugural Lecture

Health is our most precious asset. Health also functions as a social barometer. Disease rates, life expectancy, and years lived in

good health indicate how well a society is functioning. In the United Kingdom, there are clear signs that society could be functioning better. Life expectancy is stalling and, in some cases, falling. Health inequalities are widening, and interconnected crises of obesity and mental ill-health are worsening. Yet, despite these red flags, there remains a persistent reluctance to acknowledge the role that continued economic growth plays in driving these trends.

In this lecture, Professor Rob Noonan, will challenge the dominant narrative that economic growth is the solution to society’s problems, arguing instead that its relentless pursuit often undermines progress toward health goals. He will challenge conventional thinking that there are no desirable alternatives and will provide a roadmap for how we might build a healthier, fairer future.