Sheffield Hallam University’s Advanced Wellbeing Research Centre (AWRC) has appointed a former director of health tech specialist, Medilink, as its new Deputy Director.
Jason Brannan has joined the helm at the world-leading research centre dedicated to designing innovations that help people move.
Bringing over 20 years of health industry experience to the role, Jason is passionate about effecting change in the healthcare sector, addressing health inequalities and moving the focus from intervention to prevention.
As chair of the Sheffield City Region Healthcare Technology Sector Group, the business strategy and public relations and communications specialist will help to harness the multi-disciplinary research and industry expertise within the AWRC and will drive forward its focus on the development and application of new and emerging technologies to help people move and improve health and wellbeing across the population.
“COVID-19 has placed a spotlight on the need for greater focus on prevention and resilience and it’s important that businesses and large organisations recognise the opportunity to effect change in the sector by being involved in upstream healthcare,” said Mr Brannan.
“Another important aspect of this for me is addressing health inequalities. Someone from South West Sheffield really should not have a vastly different life expectancy or health outcomes than someone from North East Sheffield, and the same applies to other towns and cities across the UK.
“While the Deputy Director position at the AWRC has a global remit, I am passionate about Sheffield and this role will truly give me a chance to make a positive impact on the Sheffield City Region.”
Professor Robert Copeland, Director of the Advanced Wellbeing Research Centre, said: “The appointment of Jason Brannan as Deputy Director is a significant move forwards for the AWRC in realising one of its core ambitions, to lead in research and development for business and industry across the health and wellbeing sector.
“Jason and I have spoken at length since he agreed to join the project and he shares a personal as well as professional commitment to improving the health and wellbeing of residents across the Sheffield City Region.
“Jason is a strong fit for the mission-led culture we are building at the AWRC and I am genuinely excited about the opportunity to work with him in the next phase of development for the Centre.”
