Paul qualified as an Environmental Health Officer in Birmingham. After gaining varied experience he specialised in tobacco control for many years.
As Regional Tobacco Policy Manager for the Department of Health, he was heavily involved in the development and implementation of the English Smoke-Free Law and the expansion of specialist stop-smoking services. His tobacco control work was recognised with Honorary Membership of the Faculty of Public Health.
Paul has extensive media experience and is particularly skilled in providing training, chairing seminars, and presenting to a variety of professionals.
Paul also has knowledge of modern local government and the partnership environment in a time of diminishing resources. He has managed a wide range of council services including the commissioning of drug, alcohol, and domestic abuse contracts, aspects of community safety and crime prevention, and local authority counter-terrorism.
He has been a consultant to the World Health Organisation for several years advising numerous countries on aspects of tobacco control through in-country assessments and workshops, virtual training and developing online interactive training packages.
Paul is Co-Director of the Tobacco Control Collaborating Centre and has experience of both the Tobacco and Alcohol CLeaR assessment tools.