The British Dietetic Association Awards and prestigious Honours recognise the outstanding contributions individuals make in promoting the BDA and advancing dietetics. We bestow these annually to our members who do so much for us.
BDA Awards celebrate outstanding individuals within the dietetic profession. In 2019 a number of new awards were developed to recognise a fuller range of dietetic achievements.
Application and nominations for 2024 are closed
The 2024 Awards and Honours were presented during a lunchtime ceremony on Wednesday 5 June in Birmingham. Read our round-up and find out this year's winners.
Awards open to nomination or application
The Digital Innovation Award recognises outstanding achievements in integrating technology into dietetic practice.
The Dorothy Hopwood Award for Professional Achievement recognises a member of the dietetic support workforce who has made a valuable and significant contribution to the profession.
This award is to recognise one person who has created significant impact in the profession throughout their career and has been working in the profession for ten years or more.
This award is to recognise a rising star who has been in dietetics for ten years or less who has created significant impact in the profession in the early stages of their careers.
This award is to celebrate an individual or group who has been particularly influential on social media. It could be across a range of social media channels or just one, and could be a specific campaign or a range of activities.
This award celebrates a student who has contributed over and above the requirements of their course to promote the dietetic profession.
The BDA Volunteer of the Year award recognises an outstanding individual volunteer who has gone above and beyond for the profession and serves as an inspiration for others.
GET Awards
The General Education Trust Fund has a long history of supporting the science and practice of dietetics through the promotion of national awards which recognise the excellent work carried out by many BDA members, from publishing original research work, through to innovation in practice and educational resources. Awards include Rose Simmonds Award; Elizabeth Washington Award and Dame Barbara Clayton Award.
Office-nominated awards
The following are awarded from our office to thank member volunteers who have made the most significant contribution to the way in which we represent our members and the profession.
This award thanks one representative who has demonstrated the qualities of excellence and commitment.
This award recognises a spokesperson who has gone above and beyond in their role, by tackling difficult or high-profile stories or through providing consistent high-quality support.
Each year the BDA says thank you to one group which has demonstrated why it should be regarded 'Specialist Group of the Year'.
The BDA recognises one branch which has typified excellence and best practice each year.
Previous award winners
Awards
BDA Specialist Group of the Year
- 2023 - Critical Care Specialist Group
- 2022 - Awarded jointly to Oncology Specialist Group and Renal Nutrition Specialist Group
- 2021 - Obesity Specialist Group
- 2020 - Awarded jointly to Critical Care Specialist Group and Paediatric Specialist Group
- 2019 - Diabetes Specialist Group
- 2018 - Oncology Specialist Group
- 2017 - Freelance Specialist Group
- 2016 - Renal Nutrition Specialist Group
- 2015 - Critical Care Specialist Group (Dietitians in Critical Care)
- 2014 - Older People Specialist Group (NAGE - Nutrition Advisory Group for Older People)
BDA Branch of the Year
- 2023 - Yorkshire Branch
- 2022 - South East England Branch
- 2021 - Glasgow & West Scotland Branch
- 2020 - Glasgow & West Scotland Branch
- 2019 - Yorkshire Branch
- 2018 - East Scotland Branch
- 2017 - Yorkshire Branch
- 2016 - South West England Branch
- 2015 - Glasgow & West Scotland Branch
- 2014 - London Branch
BDA Media Spokesperson of the Year
- 2023 - Clare Thornton-Wood
- 2022 - Awarded jointly to Bahee Van De Bor and Marcela Fiuza
- 2021 - Dr Duane Mellor
- 2020 - Aisling Pigott
- 2019 - Clare Thornton-Wood
- 2018 - Linia Patel
- 2017 - Anna Daniels
- 2016 - Abigail Wilson
- 2015 - Priya Tew
- 2014 - Sioned Quirke
The Mary Turner Award
for BDA Trade Union Representative of the Year
- 2023 - Vicki Bennett
- 2022 - Christine Christie
- 2021 - Katrina Evans
- 2020 - Awarded jointly to Diana Markham and Suzanne Wong
- 2019 - Awarded jointly to Hazel Cheung and Susan Walsh
- 2018 - Victoria Gray
- 2017 - Alison Campbell
- 2016 - Bronagh Kelly
- 2015 - Clare Jones
- 2014 - Alison Green
Outstanding Achiever Award
- 2023 - Lauren Bowen
- 2022 - Tanya Haffner
- 2021 - Chris Cheyette
Social Media Influencer of the Year
- 2023 - Cristian Costas Batlle
- 2022 - Ro Huntriss
- 2021 - Awarded jointly to NHS Fife - Nutrition & Dietetic Department and Nutribytes Ltd
Dorothy Hopwood Award
- 2023 - Claire Loversidge
- 2021 - Julie Mason
Digital Innovation Award
- 2023 - DigiBete YoungType2 website and T2 diabetes app
- 2022 - Dietitians are Digital - NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHS GGC)
- 2021 - Implementing a Digital Healthy Weight and Type 2 Diabetes Prevention and Management Service in Argyll and Bute HSCP (Submitted by Jessica May Fletcher and Jackie Barron)
- 2020 - Professor Kevin Whelan for FODMAP by FM
Student Champion Award
- 2023 - Jacob Hamilton from Newcastle University
- 2022 - Marta Buczkowska from Newcastle University
- 2021 - Linsey Cockburn
- 2020 - Elaine Penman from Glasgow Caledonian University
Rising Star Award
- 2023 - Cristian Costas Batlle
- 2022 - Laura Caley
- 2021 - Dr Eirini Dimidi
- 2020 - Dr Sammie Gill
BDA PEN® Achiever Award
- 2023 - Darren Sills
- 2021 - Carly Killen
- 2020 - Sue Acreman
Honours
Fellowship
- 2023 - Simon Fevre
- 2022 - Dr Elizabeth Weekes, Fiona Huffer & Dr Julie Langian
- 2021 - Maxine Cartz, Fiona Moor, Alison Smith
- 2020 - Kate Hall and Sian Porter
- 2018 - Francesca Annan, June Copeman and Dr Fiona McCullough
- 2017 - Professor Kevin Whelan
- 2016 - Anne Holdoway, Mary O'Kane, Sian O'Shea, Dr Clare Shaw and Carina Venter
- 2015 - Marjory Macleod and Sue Kellie
Ibex
- 2023 - Lucy Eldridge and Bruno Mafrici
- 2022 - Gillian Regan, Janie Gordon, Lauren Bowen, Ruth Wood-Martin
- 2021 - Anna Julian, Karen Ward, Rhys White
- 2020 - Melanie Baker, Sue Brierley-Hobson, Elaine Gardner, Chris Jarvis, Dr Jacklyn Jones, Sue Perry, Pete Turner, Maria Tynan
- 2019 - Carole-Anne Fleming, Frances Hanson and Sian Lewis
- 2018 - Lisa Cooke, Alison Culkin, Kirstine Farrar, Stuart Galloway, Helen Ream, Laura Stewart and Lynne Thomas
- 2017 - Marion Harvey, Julie Royal and Jennifer McBratney
- 2016 - Mandy Gilmore, Nicola Henderson, Ailsa Kennedy, Pamela McIntosh, Najia Qureshi, Dr Sara Smith, Ella Segaran and Louise Sutton
- 2015 - Anne Holdoway, Anne Lamb and Sian Porter
- 2014 - Debbie Provan and Candice Ward
Professional Achievement Award
- 2023 - Gary Frost
Past awards and Honours
Extraordinary Circumstances Award
- 2022 - COVID-19 Pandemic Response - Nutrition & Clinical Dietetics - NHS Fife
- 2021 - COVID-19 Pandemic Response - BDA Critical Care Specialist Group
BDA Ambassador of the Year
- 2021 - Jill Stewart
- 2020 - Dr Hilda Mulrooney
- 2019 - Ursula Arens
- 2018 - Dr Megan Whelan
- 2017 - Alison Smith
- 2016 - Anne Donolan
- 2015 - Alison Nelson
- 2014 - Rhiannon Williams
Chair's Lifetime Achievement Award
-
2022 - Carole Middleton, Dr Joan Gandy and Andy Burman
Honorary Associateship
- 2018 - Graeme Copestake
- 2015 - Dr Trevor Brown
- 2014 - Dr Sumantra Ray
Mary Turner Honour
- Presented in 2015 to Caroline Bovey to honour the BDA Past President Mary Turner