About us
Most diseases of modern life can be prevented. Many can be reversed.
We build the evidence, teach it widely and campaign for policies that put prevention first.
Our vision
A country where the diseases of modern life are prevented, not just treated.
Our mission
To empower, inspire and educate people that most chronic diseases can be prevented and reversed by maintaining good metabolic health through sustainable lifestyle changes.
What we stand for
Four principles
Common risks, many outcomes
Many of the diseases people fear most share common risks we can change, from smoking and alcohol to what we eat, how we move and sleep, chronic stress and our wider circumstances. Improve them and the risk of several diseases falls at once.
Evidence first
We only claim what the evidence supports, say openly how strong it is and link every figure to its source.
For prevention, not against treatment
We make the case for prevention and work alongside doctors and the NHS. We never ask anyone to stop treatment they need.
Independent
We follow the evidence, not a diet tribe or a sponsor. We promote no products, and we work with every party, never against one.
Our story
Ten years of prevention
- 2016
PHC Founded
The Public Health Collaboration is founded as a UK registered charity in March 2016.
- 2016
Healthy Eating Guidelines Review
Our review of healthy eating guidelines is published in May 2016.
- 2016
First Annual Conference
The first PHC annual conference is held in Birmingham in June 2016.
- 2017
Ambassadors Programme
The volunteer Ambassadors programme is launched in September 2017.
- 2018
Conference at RCGP
The annual conference is held at the Royal College of General Practitioners for the first time in May 2018.
- 2019
RCT Summary Table
Our summary table of randomised controlled trials comparing low-carb to low-fat diets is published in February 2019.
- 2020
Sugar Infographics
Dr David Unwin's sugar infographics are published on the PHC website in several languages for free download in May 2020.
- 2021
The Lifestyle Club Pilot
In collaboration with X-PERT Health, The Lifestyle Club is piloted by NHS GP practices around the country in June 2021.
- 2022
Real Food Runners
Our informal running club, Real Food Runners, is launched in April 2022.
- 2023
Scottish Conference
The first Scottish annual conference is held in Edinburgh in March 2023.
- 2024
HSJ Partnership Award
The Lifestyle Club is awarded Silver for Primary Care Project of the Year in the HSJ Partnership Awards in March 2024.
- 2025
First Liberate Paper
Frontiers in Psychiatry publishes the first Liberate paper detailing outcomes of the ultra-processed food addiction course in October 2025.
- 2026
A new chapter
Ten years on, we become the Preventive Health Collaboration, after celebrating our 10th anniversary at the Nourish to Flourish conference in May 2026.
Thank you, Sam
Sam Feltham founded the Public Health Collaboration in 2016 and led it for ten years. Everything in this story grew from the work he started, and we are grateful to him.
Our people
The people behind the work
13 members
Scientific Advisory Committee
Healthcare professionals and scientists who guide our work and advise the trustees.
Meet them6 trustees
Trustees
An independent board responsible for governance and strategy.
Meet them5 people
Management team
Led by our Chief Executive, Steve Bennett.
Meet them5 patrons
Patrons
Supporters who champion our work.
Meet them
Scientific Advisory Committee
Our 13 healthcare professionals and scientists guide our work and advise the trustees.
Board of Trustees
An independent board, responsible for governance and strategy.
Dr David Jehring
Chair of Trustees
David is the CEO of Black Pear Software, a medical software house putting joined-up health and care records into the hands of patients and frontline staff. Alongside a 20-year career as an NHS family doctor, David designed the first Windows GP clinical system in the UK.
Olivia Khwaja
Co-Vice-Chair
Olivia has been a Consumer Strategist and Marketing expert for large brands for over 20 years, delivering award-winning campaigns at British Airways and British Gas. She has now directed her passion towards human health transformation.
Graham Phillips BPharm, FRPharmS
Co-Vice-Chair
Graham is a Fellow of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society and Superintendent of a multi-award-winning pharmacy group. He has styled himself as 'The Pharmacist who Gave Up Drugs' and his project ProLongevity combines lifestyle interventions and de-prescribing.
Professor Susan Fairlie RN, BSc (Hons), MSc
Trustee
Susan is a clinician and organisational development specialist with extensive NHS experience. Her clinical leadership programmes have been recognised with the CNO Silver Medal for Nursing Excellence, and she is a Visiting Professor at the University of East London.
Giles Corby
Treasurer
Giles is a chartered accountant based in Exeter who uses his skills with numbers to help clients make a difference. He is deeply interested in health, regenerative agriculture, and wildlife restoration.
Catherine Rogers
Trustee
Catherine is an integrative therapist with over 25 years' experience, using Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), NLP, EFT and nutrition to bridge physical and mental health. She is one of a handful of UK-based practitioners to have completed Dr Bredesen's ReCODE health coach training and is the author of Gut Well Soon. She founded Reset Your Health and Reset Your Brain Health to help others reduce toxic load and sustain lifestyle change.
Management team
Led by our Chief Executive, Steve Bennett.
Steve Bennett
Chief Executive
Steve leads the Preventive Health Collaboration as Chief Executive. He turned his own health around after living with obesity for over 25 years, founded Health Results and the Bennett Foundation, and is an adventurer and the author of Primal Cure and Fat & Furious.
Sarah James
Operations Manager
Sarah leads delivery of The Lifestyle Club and supports the day-to-day running of the charity. Having discovered how lifestyle change can transform lives when her family transitioned to a real food diet, she hopes her role at PHC will help other families discover this too.
Ellen Bennett RD
Liberate Operations Manager
Ellen is a Registered Dietitian, PhD researcher, and founder of the Liberate programme, working at the intersection of nutrition and addiction. Her background combines clinical practice, research, and lived experience of addiction recovery.
Elizabeth LePla
Volunteer Manager
Liz recruits and supports volunteers in delivering lifestyle courses throughout the UK. Having been diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes eight years ago and successfully put it in remission, she is passionate about helping others do the same.
Shauna Davis
Social Media Manager
Shauna leads content strategy and digital growth to support PHC's mission. With a background in social media strategy and AI-driven marketing, she specialises in creating content that educates, engages, and drives meaningful behaviour change.
Patrons
Supporters who champion our work.
Hannah Sutter
Patron
Hannah is a solicitor-turned-entrepreneur who founded Natural Ketosis in 2004 and authored 'Big Fat Lies' in 2011 to challenge government dietary advice. She also founded The Natural Low Carb Store.
Giancarlo & Katie Caldesi
Patrons
Giancarlo and Katie are restaurateurs, cookery teachers and authors running two restaurants and a cookery school. They appear regularly on MasterChef, BBC Breakfast and other programmes.
Tom Redwood
Patron
Tom co-founded fu:di after transforming his health, losing weight and normalising his blood sugars within 3 months through a low-carb approach. He recreates favourites like ketchup, bread and granolas.
Ben Calderhead
Patron
Ben is a former Imperial College mathematics and statistics academic who co-founded fu:di, pairing data expertise with recipe development to create metabolically supportive foods.
Dr James Goolnik BDS, MSc
Patron
Dr Goolnik is a dentist, educator and founder of Optimal Dental Health. Former President of the British Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, he lectures internationally on the mouth-body connection.
Governance
Open and accountable
Preventive Health Collaboration is the working name of Public Health Collaboration, registered charity 1171887 / SC052248.
View our Charity Commission record (opens in a new tab)Join the prevention movement
Whether you are a doctor, a researcher or someone who wants to stay well for longer, there is a place for you at PHC.