The BDA Honours Committee is responsible for overseeing and managing honours applications for both internal BDA Honours (Fellowship, Ibex, etc.) and National Honours.
The committee provides expert knowledge of the profession around the UK, and provides guidance (where appropriate) on Honours applications, research and drafting of Honours nominations/citations. The committee can assist and advise members across the UK with help creating nominations for National Honours or advising on the process. If you are considering nominating a dietetic colleague for a BDA or National Honour and would like to talk to a member of the Honours Committee or would like some support please do get in contact.
To contact the Honours Committee please email [email protected].
Who is involved in the make-up of the Honours Committee?
While the committee is chaired by a Director from the BDA Board, we have (and continue to need) representation from each UK country: with knowledge of the profession or access to suitable networks.
Meet the committee
Andrea Wilson, Chair
I originally registered as Dietitian in 1984 and worked as a paediatric and research Dietitian for 12 years in Dundee before using the skills I learned to take on various leadership and management roles. I joined the BDA Board of Directors in 2022 and one of my roles is to Chair the BDA Honours Committee. Working with the other members of the Committee, I am privileged to hear about the amazing work that members are leading on and as such inspiring others. The BDA Honours are a way to recognise individuals who have shown outstanding personal commitment and contributions, as are the National Honours. The work of the Honours Committee enables us to help raise the awareness of what members do above and beyond that of their job role.
Liz Stockley, Advisor to the Honours Committee
As Advisor to the Honours Committee, I am delighted to be able to help profile the amazing work so many of our members are involved in. Being able to rely on a dedicated Committee of knowledgeable members, who are as passionate about raising the profile of the membership as I am, is hugely important. This is a real team effort, and a lot goes on behind the scenes - which I hope members recognise and appreciate when it comes to honouring the valuable work BDA members deliver.
Pauline Douglas
As a previous Honorary Chairman of the BDA I was exposed to the tremendous work that our dietitians do in many localities and in many diverse arenas. I am passionate about promoting dietitians for the work they do at every level, and particularly ensuring this is recognised across the four home countries.
I feel we often underestimate our contribution in optimising population health outcomes. So many times, when we see honours being awarded to others it is only then that we think we should have nominated one of our own – but do we? I applied to join the Honours Committee to help promote our profession and to give support to those who wish to nominate dietitians for awards.
Sue Kellie
I was attracted by the balance of food, people and science and I’ve never regretted the decision to train as a dietitian. I worked in generalist roles then specialised in paediatrics and service management prior to working for the BDA for 14 years before I retired in 2019.
I was always aware of how patients and others would see us and receive and use the information we were sharing, and I hope that insight helped my practice. There are many dietitians doing amazing work that helps people and inspires others, and they should be recognised. The Committee encourages submissions for national honours to help dietitians be recognised more widely. Please do think about who you know and whether you would like to nominate them for national or BDA Honours. We love hearing about inspirational dietitians.
Sian O’Shea
I began my career in a teaching hospital in England where I had the opportunity to specialise in renal dietetics before moving on to be assistant charge dietitian in New Zealand. I returned to the UK as a district dietitian in 1978 before finally moving back to my homeland of Wales in 2005. It was here that I specialised in working with adults with learning disabilities and began my BDA career as Wales Constituency Council Member, establishing the Wales Board (Bwrdd Cymru BDA) and becoming its first Chairman. We all need to work together to raise the profile of the profession. Let us celebrate our excellence by recognising those within the profession and telling the world….don’t be shy! As a colleague once said to me: “We must shout loud and proud!”
Marjory MacLeod
I started my career working in a geriatric inpatient and assessment hospital and moved on to working with clients with learning disabilities until my retirement. I was an active committee member of the Mental Health Group (Membership Secretary) of the British Dietetic Association, working on consensus statements on enteral feeding and weight management in Learning Disabilities.
I jointly contributed to the chapter on Learning Disabilities in the Manual of Dietetics and also in a medical publication on Dysphagia Diagnosis and Treatment. I have been passionate in my quest to safely address nutrition and hydration as a compensatory treatment for dysphagia and worked with members of IDDSI to achieve an International framework. Working with people who have both mental and physical health issues has enabled me to practice in a holistic manner and to be active in helping address health inequalities.
I was chair of the BDA Scotland committee for several years enabling me to promote both Dietetics and the BDA to major stakeholders in Scotland. Being a member of the Honours Committee enables me to continue to promote and recognise the great work that dietitians do.
Belinda Mortell
I am delighted to be accepted to the committee. I've worked in various other roles in the BDA but this one is quite unique. I think it is vital that members who go above and beyond their day job, for the benefit of both the profession and society as a whole, should be recognised by the BDA.
I have a varied background, including working in industry and other non-NHS roles. I am very keen that we make the nomination process as easy as possible whilst still retaining the high level of esteem associated with these honours, as these are the highest awards that members can receive from the BDA.
Azmina Govindji
I initially felt disillusioned by dietetics. During my student placement, I felt overly micro-managed and decided to leave and to pursue an International Diploma in Beauty Therapy. It was fun, but ultimately not fulfilling! After struggling to find employment as a dietitian, I asked the late Anne Donelan RD to help me secure a voluntary dietetics position at West Middlesex University Hospital. That role was the turning point, eventually leading to various clinical roles, becoming Chief Dietitian at Diabetes UK, Chair of BDA Public Relations Committee, and ultimately establishing myself as an author and media dietitian.
I share this because Anne demonstrated the vital role experienced dietitians play in mentoring and supporting new graduates. I feel it’s my responsibility to empower younger dietitians and colleagues to excel, while also elevating the profession on a larger scale. Being appointed to the Honours Committee gives me the chance to encourage a more diverse range of nominations for BDA Honours. I aim to be approachable, supportive, and to inspire dietitians to promote the profession and celebrate their unique skills.
Kyle Kennedy
I am a Final-year Dietetic Student at Glasgow Caledonian University with a postgraduate qualification in Health Inequalities from Robert Gordon University, Level 1 ISAK Anthropomitrist, and the Former BDA Student Representative and Member of the BDA Board of Directors for 2023/2024.
I am also a Committee Member of the BDA Public Health, Diabetes, and Industry specialist groups and sit on the EFAD European Specialist Dietetic Network for Public Health and their Public Health Advisory Board.
I believe we work within a profession where members do not share their successes enough. Therefore, I am delighted to be in a position to both recognise and empower BDA members for their impactful work and share this with the entire profession for inspiration and celebration. In dietetics we are a team. So let's support each other and cheer for our teammates.