Prof Susan Hopkins

Who Prof Susan Hopkins is

Professor Susan Hopkins CBE FMedSci is the Chief Executive Officer of the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), an executive agency of the Department of Health and Social Care responsible for health security in England and, on reserved matters, across the UK. She was appointed to the role by Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting in August 2025, formally taking up the position in September 2025, having previously served as UKHSA's Chief Medical Advisor since November 2021. She studied medicine at Trinity College Dublin and trained in infectious diseases, microbiology and epidemiology across Ireland, France and the UK, and continues to work clinically as a consultant in Infectious Diseases and Microbiology at the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust and as a Professor of Infectious Diseases and Health Security at UCL. During the COVID-19 pandemic she served as Incident Director at Public Health England, Interim Chief Medical Advisor to NHS Test and Trace, and Strategic Response Director. She is known for her work on antimicrobial resistance, having driven the implementation of the UK AMR Strategy and Five-Year plans, and has given expert evidence to the Science and Technology and Health Select Committees on both AMR and COVID-19.

References for this biography

1. 1.New chief executive appointed at UKHSA – GOV.UK — Confirms appointment as CEO of UKHSA, announced 7 August 2025, role commencing September 2025
2. 2.Professor Susan Hopkins – Chief Executive, GOV.UK — Official government staff page confirming role title, organisation, and previous roles including Chief Medical Advisor and NHS Test and Trace Chief Medical Advisor
3. 3.Professor Susan Hopkins CBE FMedSci – Academy of Medical Sciences — Confirms FMedSci fellowship elected 2023, AMR strategy work, expert witness role, and public communication via Number 10 press briefings
4. 4.Government names new UKHSA chief executive – Healthcare Management — Confirms medical training at Trinity College Dublin, COVID-19 pandemic roles, and professional fellowship credentials
5. 5.RFL staff elected to Academy of Medical Sciences – Royal Free London — Confirms election to Fellowship of Academy of Medical Sciences in 2023 and clinical role at Royal Free London
6. 6.UCL scientist to lead UK Health Security Agency – UCL News — Confirms professorship at UCL Division of Infection & Immunity and appointment as CEO
7. 7.Witness Statement No. 2 – Susan Hopkins, UK COVID-19 Public Inquiry (June 2025) — Primary source witness statement confirming pandemic roles and professional credentials including Fellowship of Academy of Medical Sciences, Royal College of Physicians, and Faculty of Public Health

Notable achievements

• Appointed Chief Executive Officer of UKHSA by the Secretary of State for Health in August 2025, formally taking up the role in September 2025. Source ↗
• Elected Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences in 2023 in recognition of her exceptional contributions to biomedical and health science. Source ↗
• Served as expert witness to the Science and Technology and Health Select Committees on AMR and COVID-19. Source ↗
• Drove the implementation of the UK AMR Strategy and Five-Year plans, with outputs making a profound impact on interventions to reduce antibiotic prescribing in the UK. Source ↗
• Provided a witness statement (Statement No. 2, June 2025) to the UK COVID-19 Public Inquiry. Source ↗

What Prof Susan Hopkins has said

• “I can say that in my 35 years working in medicine, in healthcare and hospitals, this is the most cases I've seen in a single weekend with this type of infection.”

  Chief Executive of the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) · Children's health · 10 Sept 2026 · Number of meningitis cases investigated in Kent rises to 20 ↗

• “Every epidemic and pandemic is a system test. Readiness is collective. When we maintain and strengthen the whole system, we improve health security and protect lives.”

  Chief Executive of UKHSA · Respiratory (asthma/COPD) · 10 Sept 2026 · GPs should have lower threshold for antibiotic prescribing in elderly, says CMO ↗

• “The Covid-19 pandemic has taught us the vital importance of being prepared for future health threats and this strategy underlines a shared commitment across Government to continue building our resilience capabilities.”

  UKHSA chief executive · Respiratory (asthma/COPD) · 10 Sept 2026 · Government to invest £1bn as part of pandemic readiness strategy ↗

• “Antibiotic resistance is one of the greatest health threats we face. More people than ever are acquiring infections that cannot be effectively treated by antibiotics. This puts them at greater risk of serious illness and even death, with our poorest communities hit the hardest.”

  Chief Executive of the UK Health Security Agency · Hospital discharge / bed-blocking · 27 Aug 2026 · Deaths linked to antibiotic-resistant superbugs rose 17% in England in 2024 ↗

• “But about 4,700 people remain undiagnosed, including one in three in Black African communities and higher rates of late diagnosis in older age groups. People need testing that meets them where they are, in ways that feel safe and accessible.”

  Chief Executive of the UK Health Security Agency · Hospital discharge / bed-blocking · 27 Aug 2026 · Testing at A&Es part of plan to end new HIV cases in England by 2030 ↗

Where Prof Susan Hopkins has been quoted

1. Dr Tedros visits LSHTM to strengthen collaboration with WHOlshtm.ac.uk · 4 Oct 2026
2. Number of meningitis cases investigated in Kent rises to 20theguardian.com · 10 Sept 2026
3. GPs should have lower threshold for antibiotic prescribing in elderly, says CMOpulsetoday.co.uk · 10 Sept 2026
4. Government to invest £1bn as part of pandemic readiness strategypulsetoday.co.uk · 10 Sept 2026
5. Deaths linked to antibiotic-resistant superbugs rose 17% in England in 2024theguardian.com · 27 Aug 2026
6. Testing at A&Es part of plan to end new HIV cases in England by 2030theguardian.com · 27 Aug 2026

Related media coverage

Recent UK press coverage of their topics — not necessarily citing them directly.

• Delay of children’s hospital would ‘impose considerable additional costs’, Minister warnsThe Irish Times
• Armenia representative to UN: Continued detention of 19 Armenians in Azerbaijan is outstanding humanitarian issueNEWS.am
• From left: Kjell Winkens, Project Officer, Mental Health & Prevention, Trimbos Institute; Prof. Dr. Laura Shields-Zeeman, Head of Mental Health and Prevention, Trimbos Institute & Professor of Public Mental Health, Utrecht University; Muraiye Pierre, VSAThe Daily Herald

Contact & links

• Staff pagehttps://www.gov.uk/government/people/susan-hopkins
• Xhttps://x.com/SMHopkinspublished here ↗
• LinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/susan-hopkins-a4607019/

Organisational contact points only, each taken from a page the organisation publishes itself. No personal or direct contact details are held or shown.