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 to recognise a fuller range of dietetic achievements. Read our round-up and find out about the 2024 winners.
Application and nominations for 2025 are now open
Applications and nominations for 2025 are open until Monday 7 April at Noon. The 2025 awards will be presented on Wednesday 4 June in Birmingham.
Awards open for application only
The Digital Innovation Award recognises outstanding achievements in integrating technology into dietetic practice.
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.
Awards open for nomination or application
This award celebrates a student who has contributed over and above the requirements of their course to promote the dietetic profession.
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 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.
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 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.
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.
Given for recent or current work which promotes dietetic innovation, and demonstrates benefits/positive outcomes for the profession and patients/clients. The winner will receive £2,000.
Given for a dietitian’s published/presented educational work in the previous year, which is broadly within the discipline of nutrition and dietetics. The winner will receive £2,000.
The BDA’s most prestigious award. It is given for a dietitian’s original research publication published in a peer reviewed journal during the previous two years. The winner will receive £3,000.
Office awards
Open for applications
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.
It is also a great opportunity for sub-groups to celebrate and highlight all the fantastic work that has been achieved to their members and ‘parent’ specialist group.
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.
Previous award winners
Awards
BDA Specialist Group of the Year
- 2024 - Paediatric Specialist Group
- 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 Sub-Group of the Year
- 2024 - Neonatal Sub-Group
BDA Branch of the Year
- 2024 - West Scotland
- 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
- 2024 - Nichola Ludlam-Raine
- 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
- 2024 - Rachael Hawthorne
- 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
- 2024 - Moira Taylor
- 2023 - Lauren Bowen
- 2022 - Tanya Haffner
- 2021 - Chris Cheyette
Social Media Influencer of the Year
- 2024 - @CUH_dietitians
- 2023 - Cristian Costas Batlle
- 2022 - Ro Huntriss
- 2021 - Awarded jointly to NHS Fife - Nutrition & Dietetic Department and Nutribytes Ltd
Dorothy Hopwood Award
- 2024 - Not awarded
- 2023 - Claire Loversidge
- 2021 - Julie Mason
Digital Innovation Award
- 2024 - Simple App: Nutrition Scores and Food Feedback
- 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
- 2024 - Shona Wells, Newcastle University (The third time in a row that a student from Newcastle has won!)
- 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
- 2024 - Critical Care Specialist Group Social Media Team: Lisa Corrigan and Chloé McMurray
- 2023 - Cristian Costas Batlle
- 2022 - Laura Caley
- 2021 - Dr Eirini Dimidi
- 2020 - Dr Sammie Gill
Volunteer of the Year Award
2024 - Joint Winners - Eleanor Coles and Krishna Kholia Parmar
Honour recipients
Past awards and Honours
BDA PEN® Achiever Award
- 2023 - Darren Sills
- 2021 - Carly Killen
- 2020 - Sue Acreman
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
Mary Turner Honour
- Presented in 2015 to Caroline Bovey to honour the BDA Past President Mary Turner