Worcestershire County Council is delighted to announce that Professor Lisa McNally, Director of Public Health, has been shortlisted as a finalist in the national LGC Awards 2026 in the Outstanding Individual Contribution category.
The Local Government Chronicle Awards (LGC) celebrate excellence across local government in the UK.
The Outstanding Individual Contribution category recognises exceptional leadership and impact.
Lisa McNally has been shortlisted following her work on enabling communities to take a lead role in health improvement.
Her work has strengthened public health delivery across Worcestershire and influenced practice nationally.
One of the strengths of the nomination was Lisa’s leadership of Worcestershire’s Priority Neighbourhood Development (PND) programme, a data-driven approach targeting areas with the greatest unmet need. The first PND initiative, delivered in the Westlands Housing Estate, reported early results including a 7% reduction in emergency hospital admissions (against a 5% rise across the county) and a 13% decrease in Children in Need social care referrals, alongside improvements in mental health and social isolation.
Over the past year, Lisa has led a major redesign of health improvement services to keep them effective, integrated and financially sustainable. The nomination highlighted measurable improvements including continued reductions in preventable mortality, lower smoking prevalence, and fewer hospital admissions due to falls, reflecting a rigorous focus on evidence and outcomes.
The nomination also recognises her national influence, particularly her leadership in public mental health. Through her role within the Mentally Healthier Councils Network, she has championed approaches that embed mental wellbeing into public health practice, sharing learning and shaping sector-wide thinking through blogs, peer learning events and national discussions.
Reacting to the shortlist announcement, Lisa said “I’m absolutely delighted to be shortlisted. Although this is an individual award, the impact it recognises is the result of an exceptionally dedicated, creative and committed Public Health team. I’m deeply grateful to the colleagues who nominated me and to the Worcestershire residents who have engaged so wholeheartedly in our work.”
Colleague and Public Health Practitioner, Katie Deeley said: “Lisa’s compassion for her work and for the people we support is clear in the way she leads both her team and the wider system. She consistently puts residents at the centre of decision making, ensuring services are shaped around real needs and lived experience. She is an exceptional leader who is respected across the council and who has influenced and inspired colleagues throughout the wider health and local government sector.”
The winners will be announced at the LGC Awards on Wednesday 10 June 2026 at JW Marriott Grosvenor House Hotel in London.
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