On 4 July we brought together nearly 100 people from the UK dietetic industry to celebrate those individuals and groups that have gone above and beyond to support patients as well as the wider profession.
14 awards were presented, as well as four BDA Honours, considered the pinnacle of a career in dietetics.
Liz Stockley, BDA CEO said, "What an incredible evening, celebrating all the talent we have in our industry. It was clear to me that all our award winners and honours recipients care so deeply about the profession and work far beyond what's expected of them in order to look after the public and further the evidence base. It's so important that we celebrate your successes. Congratulations to all our award winners and honours recipients."
Media Spokesperson of the Year
Presented by Giles Yeo, BDA President
Winner - Clare Thornton-Wood
"Clare Thornton-Wood has responded to the most media enquiries this year and is a trusted pair of hands when responding to them. Clare is always happy to put herself forward and not just for the high-profile pieces, but also to support other media titles to ensure evidence-based food and nutrition messages are shared. Clare has won the award previously but that only demonstrates her commitment and consistency when it comes to the enquiries. Clare is also a huge supporter of BDA campaigns and we’re really grateful for all that she does."
Shortlisted
- Dr Duane Mellor
The Mary Turner Award
Presented by Kathryn Duff
Winner - Vicki Bennett, NHS Fife
"Vicki is a longstanding and very experienced trade union representative who has been representing members both individually and collectively at all levels since 2011. Vicki is an excellent local rep in NHS Fife having undertaken many individual cases and worked with colleagues on the staff side as well as supporting other BDA Reps in Scotland. She has been an active member of the Scottish Employment Relations Committee for many years carrying out the role of Secretary for the past 5 years.
"In 2021 Vicki was elected to represent Scotland on the newly formed Trade Union National Executive Committee and subsequently elected Chair at the inaugural meeting. She has made a huge contribution to the BDA’s input at the Scottish Trade Union Congress, moving the BDA motions and speaking in debates. In March this year Vicki represented the BDA at the TUC Women’s Conference. Vicki is an excellent advocate, leader and colleague in our Trade Union and this award is very well deserved.”
Shortlisted
- Alison Carr, Frimley Health
- Jaqueline McNeilly, Northern Health and Social Care Trust
BDA PEN Achiever Award
Presented by Andrea Wilson
Winner - Darren Sills
Darren was unable to attend the awards ceremony. In Darren’s application he commented, "Being a reviewer for the PEN pathways was an excellent learning opportunity and helped my development. This has been part of my career pathway into research alongside being a clinical specialist."
General Education Trust Fund Awards
Overseen by Morag Mackellar, presented by GET trustees Michele Rae and Linda Wedlake.
Dame Barbara Clayton Award
Winner - Eleanor Tidswell for the use of activity placemats to help educate children and young people with kidney disease about their diet in an engaging manner
Elizabeth Washington Award
Winner - Shawn McLaren for the Nutrition and Global Health textbook
Rose Simmonds Award
Winner - Sally Abbott for variation and outcomes of liver-reducing dietary regimens before bariatric surgery: A national retrospective cohort study
Digital Innovation Award
Winner - DigiBete YoungType2 website and T2 diabetes app
"This project between DigiBete CIC, NHS Healthcare professionals and service users is an example of a collaboration to benefit young people living with T2 diabetes. A digital innovation to complement routine dietetic care."
Submitted by Kate Brennan, Specialist Paediatric Dietitian, Leeds CYP Diabetes Team, Leeds Children's Hospital
Shortlisted
- Data driven dietetics
Dorothy Hopwood Award
Winner - Claire Loversidge, Dietetic Assistant Practitioner, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals
Claire was nominated by Helen Beagan, Specialist Dietitian, on behalf of her dietetic colleagues and patients to thank her for her 14 years of team work and dedication to dietetic services in Sheffield and an amazing 30 years commitment to NHS services. Claire always goes the extra mile to deliver a timely and a high level of service to patients and their families with complex conditions on home enteral nutrition. She has significantly contributed to the development and expansion of the Dietetic HEF service in Sheffield.
"I want to thank Claire for the compassion and care she shows on a daily basis and for being a joy to work with. She is a most deserving winner and I wish Claire the best of luck!"
Outstanding Achiever Award sponsored by Yakult
Winner - Lauren Bowen, Head of Patient Food Service, ISS and Chair of BDA Food Services Specialist Group
"Lauren Bowen is a dedicated colleague who has made a huge impact on the profile and role of food service dietitians both within the BDA with her role on the Food Services Specialist Group but also educating other dietitians on the specialism and being involved in a number of major influential projects over the past two decades."
Shortlisted
- Carolyn Paddock, Advanced Specialist Eating Disorders Dietitian, East London NHS Foundation Trust
Rising Star Award sponsored by Nestle Health Sciences
Winner - Cristian Costas Batlle
"Cristian’s passion, enthusiasm and interest in coeliac disease with his understanding of the need for outcome reporting, quality and service improvement in addition to his care and compassion for patients has really driven the service forward. Cristian has been instrumental in developing and building trusting relationships with the gastroenterologists who have supported us in the development of the dietetic-led service."
Shortlisted
- Krishna Kohlia, Specialist Oncology Dietitian (Macmillan), University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust
- Hannah Style, Professional Development Lead Dietitian, East London Foundation Trust (ELFT)
- Adelle Williams, Specialist Mental Health and Acute Medicine Dietitian, University Hospitals Birmingham
Social Media Influencer of the Year sponsored by The Akkermansia Company
Winner- Cristian Costas Batlle
"Cristian created an Instagram page during the COVID-19 pandemic to support people living with coeliac disease struggling to access evidence-based information about the condition and the gluten free diet. Over the last three years it has turned into a highly valuable resource for patients, health professionals and the general public and Cristian uses it to raise much needed awareness of coeliac disease and the essential value that dietitians have in leading the way with this medical condition."
Shortlisted
- Fareeha Jay, Freelance Dietitian
- Long Li, Lecturer in Dietetics and Registered Dietitian, University of Surrey
Student Champion of the Year
Winner - Jacob Hamilton, Newcastle University
"Jacob is a Year 2 student on the MDiet programme at Newcastle University. Since commencing University as a mature applicant, he has enthusiastically embraced his studies and the wider promotion of the nutrition and dietetic profession. He has been a positive role model as a Peer Mentor, successfully guiding his mentees to win a cross-university ‘Sustainability Development Goals Challenge’, which also saw him being nominated, and winning, ‘Peer Mentor of the Year’.
"Jacob is now voluntarily working to implement the groups ‘tailored video-based educational dietary initiative’ to promote sustainable development. He has been a student representative for his cohort, secretary for the staff:student liaison committee, and also promoted the profession through his role as a social media intern. He has also been selected to sit on the NHS Multi-Professional Student Council. His enthusiasm for nutrition and dietetics is evident in all he does, and he very much deserves this nomination for BDA Student Champion of the Year."
Shortlisted
- Rhiannon Bullen, University of Surrey & PENG Committee Member
BDA Branch of the Year
Presented by Samantha Peters, BDA Board of Director
Winner - Yorkshire
"The Yorkshire Branch has done some excellent campaigning to grow their committee and raise the profile of their branch to students and local members. They have been involved with key BDA campaigns by sharing their experiences and promoting diversity across their committee."
Shortlisted
- Glasgow and West Scotland
BDA Specialist Group of the Year
Presented by Abdul Elghedafi, BDA Board of Director
Winner - Critical Care
"The Critical Care Specialist Group has demonstrated excellent stakeholder engagement, consistently putting their members at the forefront of their activity. The committee is ambitious, seeking to engage with the dietetic community, the public and external stakeholders with the aim of promoting their specialism in an approachable and accessible format."
Shortlisted
- Food Services
- Optimising Nutrition Prescribing
- Paediatric
BDA Honours
Professional Achievement
Presented by Andrea Wilson, Chair of BDA Honours Committee
Professor Gary Frost
"Gary has been a leading light in research and a staunch ambassador for the profession throughout his career. Publishing over 400 papers, his work continues to progress dietetic knowledge in a range of key areas including diabetes and obesity, malnutrition, intestinal function, gut health, fibre, fermentable carbohydrate, and appetite control. Gary selflessly passes on his knowledge and expertise, encouraging dietitians to develop the evidence base for dietetics."
Ibex Awards
Presented by Giles Yeo, BDA President
Bruno Mafrici
"Bruno is given the Ibex Award for his exemplary leadership of the Renal Nutrition Group. He is also the editor of the ever-popular Pocket Guide to Clinical Nutrition. His contribution to ensuring dietitians of the present and future have the knowledge, skills and information to deliver high quality evidence- based care cannot be underestimated. Those who have worked with Bruno have universally applauded his tireless energy, drive, and passion for dietetics. He is truly an inspiration."
Lucy Eldridge
"Lucy is awarded the Ibex Award for her recognition and personal commitment and significant contributions as chair, education office and treasurer of the BDA Oncology Specialist Group. Lucy is a dietetic team lead in oncology at the Royal Marsden and has shared her knowledge and experience in cancer care by being a facilitator on the Tier 1 online training module. She has been a great support to dietitians and is passionate about forming links with other professional groups. She is highly respected in her field and has a particular focus on ensuring that patients, carers and members of the public have access to evidence-based information about diet and cancer."
Fellowship
Presented by Giles Yeo, BDA President to Simon Fevre (Simon was sadly unable to attend the awards).
"Simon has worked as a dietitian in Scotland for 37 years. Alongside his clinical role he has been a stalwart of industrial relations representing the profession for more than 20 years. As well as being a BDA Trade Union representative, chairing the Scottish Employee Relations Committee for more than 18 years, he was the first employee director in NHS Fife and is currently Co-Chair of Fife Health and Social Care Local Partnership Forum and has a seat on the Integrated Joint Board as a staff side representative.
"Leading with an extensive knowledge of employee relations, passion and enthusiasm, Simon has also attended and delivered motions on behalf of the BDA at both the TUC and STUC."
