Abstract Background The COVID-19 pandemic is raising new questions on public health competences and leadership and on health workforce preparedness for global public health emergencies of this magnitude. This study aims to explore the new demand and opportunities for innovation in public health competencies, which were caused by the COVID-19 crisis. Methods We draw on secondary sources and critically review the public health competency framework recently launched by WHO and ASPHER through the lens of COVID-19. Results The WHO-ASPHER Competency Framework for Public Health Workforce illustrates an interdisciplinary, inter-professional and lifelong learning approach to public health. Five critical competency areas can be identified in relation to global public health emergencies: (1) flexibility, adaptation, motivation, communication, (2) research, analytical sensitivity, ethics, diversity, (3) epidemiology, (4) preparedness and (5) employability. However, this may not be enough. New models of public health leadership and changes in the health workforce are needed, which transform the silos of professions and policy. Such transformations would include learning, working, leading and governing differently and must stretch far beyond the public health workforce. Innovating public health competences stretches far beyond individual competence development. Moreover, it is about resilience and preparedness and calls for learning, working, leading and governing differently. Critical public health competences are not limited to the public heath workforce, but must become relevant for all healthcare professions. Conclusions To achieve transformative capacity, critical public health competences must be considered for all healthcare workers on all levels of policymaking, thus becoming the ‘heart' of health workforce resilience and pandemic preparedness. Key messages Innovating public health competencies calls for learning, working, leading and governing differently. Public health competences must be considered for all healthcare workers and transform professional silos.