Anthony Kessel author page

Anthony Kessel biography

Anthony Kessel is a British public health physician, academic and author. He currently serves as National Deputy Medical Director (Specialised Services) and Clinical Director for National Clinical Policy at NHS England.

He previously held leadership roles at Public Health England, including Director of Global Public Health and National Director of Public Health Strategy, and served as Medical Director at the Health Protection Agency. He also worked as Director of Public Health for Camden Primary Care Trust. Alongside his clinical roles, Kessel is a practicing GP.

Kessel holds the title of Honorary Professor at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, where he co-founded the International Programme for Ethics, Public Health and Human Rights. He advises the World Health Organization, the Football Association, film and television industry bodies, and sits on the boards of several charities including BookTrust and GambleAware.

He made his children’s fiction debut in 2013 with The Amazing Adventures of Perch the Cat, followed by the psychological detective series *Don’t Doubt the Rainbow*, which features titles such as The Five Clues (2021), Outside Chance (2022), Missing Link (2024) and American Mystery. The series weaves mystery with themes of mental health and resilience for readers aged 11 and above.

In 2025, Kessel appeared as a guest on BBC Radio 3’s programme Private Passions, discussing his dual career in public health and writing.