Dr Nick Gent CBE

Chief Scientific Adviser

SJ Group International

Dr Nick Gent is a highly distinguished scientist and medical practitioner with more than 20 years of senior experience in public health, major incident management, and national security risk assessment. As Senior Medical Adviser and Consultant in Public Health at the UK Health Security
Agency, he specialised in chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) risks and the response to severe public health threats.

A significant part of his portfolio involved the assessment and
management of intentional and unintentional product contamination threats, including extortion attempts targeting the food and pharmaceutical sectors. In this capacity, Dr Gent regularly supported
investigations and provided expert guidance on safeguarding supply chains, public health, and commercial integrity.

Prior to his national role, Dr Gent served as a Director of Public Health and executive member of several Health Service Authorities within the UK National Health Service, where he held responsibility for health protection, population health strategy, and the commissioning of wide-ranging
healthcare services.

Dr Gent’s international experience includes extensive work with the European Union, World Health Organisation, World Bank, and the UK Department for International Development. His global contributions span legislative advice on public health and human rights, preparedness and response to major incidents, disaster relief coordination, strengthening national public health systems, and the development of essential health services. He has also been a member of the World Health Organisation roster of experts on radiation emergencies, bioweapons-related public health security, and high-consequence risk assessment.

A highly respected leader in his field, Dr Gent chaired the UK Faculty of Public Health’s Health Protection Committee for many years. His work has been recognised through major honours, including the Alwyn Smith Prize (2015), the Faculty Service Award (2022), and the West Africa Medal for his role during the 2014–15 Ebola outbreak in Sierra Leone. He was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 2018 for his services to health protection.

At SJ Group International, Dr Gent brings unrivalled expertise in product contamination risk, public health security, CBRN threat management, and crisis response. He supports clients operating in complex and sensitive environments, ensuring robust risk mitigation and resilient operational strategies.