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Exciting times ahead for EBPU!

14 February 2019

Young people walking across a field at sunset

Professor Jess Deighton
There are some exciting changes taking place at EBPU. Firstly, we are delighted to announce the appointment of Dr Jessica Deighton as Director of EBPU. Currently EBPU's Co-Director, Jess has been an integral part of the Unit since its creation and we are proud and honoured that she will be leading our work onwards and upwards.

 

Jess is Associate Professor of Child Mental and Wellbeing at UCL and Director of Innovation, Evaluation and Dissemination at the Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families. She also leads our HeadStart Learning Team, as well as a number of other large-scale national projects building the evidence base for children’s mental health and wellbeing.

Jess’ appointment comes following the news that, after an inspiring and productive 13 years at EBPU, our Founder and Co-Director Miranda Wolpert will be moving on to a pioneering role as Head of the new Mental Health Priority Area at the Wellcome Trust.

In her time at the EBPU, Miranda has clocked up many impressive achievements and has played a pivotal role in changing the understanding of the mental health needs of children and young people and the landscape of child mental health support.

Her vision and innovation have been a driving force in the work of EBPU. Those who have worked closely with her can testify to her infectious passion, warmth and unswerving appetite for tackling many of the thorny questions and important issues in our field.

We wish Miranda the very best in her new position and we are excited to see what she achieves in this important role.

Professor Julian Edbrooke-Childs
We are also excited to announce that Dr Julian Edbrooke-Childs will be working closely with Jess as Deputy Director. Julian has been a key part of the Unit since 2013, and is currently Associate Professor in Evidence Based Child and Adolescent Mental Health at UCL and Head of Digital Development at AFNCCF.

 

Much of his work in recent years has focused on digital innovation in child mental health, such as the creation of the Power Up app and the Royal Foundation’s Mentally Healthy Schools website.

Jess and Julian pick up the reins from 1st May 2019 and we cannot wait to see where our next chapter will take us!

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