SPHERE Annual Conference 2025
Posted 1 July 2025
We welcomed over 100 colleagues from local authorities, service providers, third sector and community organisations plus public health research academics to our third annual conference this year.
SPHERE Director, Professor GJ Melendez-Torres, opened the conference and, along with Dr Michelle Tester-Jones (SPHR Assistant Director for Involvement & Engagement), gave a recap of what SPHERE is, who we are, and our goals. There followed a CPD session led by Professor Judith Green which focused on 'Logic Models & Theories of Change'.
Lunchtime was not only an opportunity for refreshments, but also gave our attendees some valuable networking time before the afternoon sessions kicked off with a keynote address by Professor Ashley Adamson, Professor of Public Health Nutrition at the University of Newcastle and Director of NIHR School for Public Health Research.
The second half of the day was then dedicated to showcasing our research, and many of our academic colleagues gave concurrent presentations on their projects to date. Our trainees followed with lightning talks on their research and their experiences of embarking on a career in public health research. The conference concluded with a presentation by the Ilfracombe Poverty Truth Commission - a partnership between Devon Community Foundation, PenARC and the School for Public Health Research.
