Hosted by the West Scotland Branch and Public Health Specialist Group
We're excited to announce our upcoming face-to-face event, Dietitians Do Prevention - Public Health Dietetics in Action, taking place on 3 October at Glasgow Caledonian University.
There has never been a more important time to focus on public health as nutrition professionals. The British Medical Association reports that preventable ill-health accounts for around 50% of all GP appointments, 64% of outpatient appointments and 70% of all inpatient bed days. Focusing on prevention and health improvement is not a nice-to-have, it is essential for the future of our population health and healthcare system!
Join us at this event where we will explore ways to incorporate public health nutrition strategies into our work, whatever our area of specialism. Our expert speakers will take us through the latest evidence, policies and strategies to bring public health to the forefront of our practice. Join us for a deep-dive into public health nutrition followed by an opportunity to share ideas at our networking lunch - all provided in your ticket price,
We look forward to seeing you in Glasgow.
Speakers
- Jacqueline Walker, Consultant Dietitian, will be speaking about Healthcare Public Health and sharing the importance of innovation, service transformation and national policy across NHS Scotland.
From Policy to Practice: Delivering Healthy Weight Through a Healthcare Public Health Lens
Summary of talk - The Scottish Population Health Framework presents an opportunity to shift the focus from treating illness to improving health and wellbeing. In this session, Jacqueline Walker will explore the healthy weight ambitions within the Framework through a healthcare public health lens, highlighting the unique contribution of dietitians to prevention, reducing health inequalities, service transformation and population health improvement. Drawing on policy, practice and innovation, the session will consider how healthcare professionals can influence healthier outcomes at individual, community and system level.
More about Jacqueline - Jacqueline is Uni-Professional Lead for Dietetics within Moray Health and Social Care Partnership/ NHS Grampian and a Lead Clinician for the Digital Health & Care Innovation (DHI). With over 30 years' experience in dietetics and healthcare public health, Jacqueline has held a variety of national leadership, policy and improvement roles. For more than 13 years, she provided professional advice and specialist expertise to the Scottish Government across a number of policy areas, including diet, healthy weight, GI, unscheduled care, nutrition and health improvement. Her work has focused on prevention, reducing health inequalities, service transformation, the modernisation of patient pathways and the use of digital innovation to improve health outcomes. Jacqueline delivered the prestigious Elsie Widdowson Memorial Lecture for the British Dietetic Association in 2023 and is a recipient of the Dame Barbara Clayton Award. Her specialist area of practice is healthcare public health and the unique contribution dietitians make to improving population health outcomes through prevention, service delivery and system leadership.
- Kristy Maskell (MSc, RD), Senior Research Interpretation Officer at World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) International will be speaking on the work of WCRF International.
Summary of talk - Kristy will be speaking on the work of WCRF International, including their flagship portfolio of research, the Global Cancer Update Programme (CUP Global), which analyses global research on how diet, nutrition, physical activity and body weight affect cancer risk and survival. She will provide an overview of WCRF’s Cancer Prevention Recommendations, which are a blueprint for individuals and societies to reduce cancer. She will also signpost and discuss the available resources that healthcare professionals and dietitians can utilise within their practice.
More about Kristy - Kristy is a registered dietitian, working in London, with a strong interest in public health and reducing cancer risk. She is actively involved within research endeavours, forming part of the Secretariat for WCRF International. In her role, she interprets the evidence reviews conducted by external collaborators on diet, nutrition, physical activity, body weight, and cancer risk and survival. Having previously been a student volunteer for the BDA Mental Health Specialist Group (MHSG) and winning third place for the MHSG BDA’s research symposium in 2024, she also has a keen interest in nutrition for mental health.
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Laura Wilson RNutr (Public Health), Head of Public Health Nutrition, Public Health Nutrition Division, Food Standards Scotland will be speaking on Food Standards Scotland.
More about Laura - Laura Wilson is the Head of Public Health Nutrition at Food Standards Scotland. In her presentation she’ll cover key findings the latest dietary intake surveys covering both children and adults in Scotland, as well as results of modelling which looked at the impact of reducing meat and dairy consumption on micronutrient intakes. She’ll also present an overview of the newly Scottish Dietary Advice Forum and progress with the review of the Scottish Dietary Goals.
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Prof Mary Brennan, Edinburgh University, Chair of Food and Marketing Society speaking on National food strategy and Good Food Nation.
Mary is Chair of Food Marketing and Society at University of Edinburgh Business School, Director of the Wellcome Trust funded “Living Good Food Nation Lab” project and a member of the Statutory Scottish Food Commission.
Mary's research investigates complex food policy challenges exploring the complex relationships people have with food, how these shape everyday food practices, underpin contemporary food policy challenges. She also explores the application of social marketing to contemporary food policy and more recently has been investigating food systems transformation with specific focus on public (school) food.
Mary co-convenes FRIED, the Food Researchers in Edinburgh Network, is a member of Safefood’s (Food Safety Promotions Board (cross border body operating on the Island of Ireland) Scientific Advisory Committee, and led the coalitions work campaigning for new legislation in Scotland entitled the Good Food Nation (Scotland) Act 2022. Mary is Director of the Living Good Food Nation Lab and in June 2025 was appointed as one of 4 inaugural commissioners to the new statutory Scottish Food Commission.
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Dr Ruth Campbell, Consultant Dietitian in Public Health, NHS Ayrshire & Arran will be speaking about Public Health nutrition, prevention and the Population Health Framework.
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Laura Wilson, Health of Public Health Nutrition, Food Standards Scotland speaking on population nutrient intakes, DISH and FSS public health.
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Lindsey Marston, BDA Policy and Campaigns Manager speaking on BDA political toolkit overview.
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Kyle Kennedy, Registered Dietitian, Chair PHSG speaking on opportunities in Public Health, applying for fellowships.
Cost
- BDA Public Health Specialist Group member - £15.00
- West Scotland branch member - £15.00
- BDA member - £20.00
- BDA Student member - £10.00
- non BDA member - £25.00
- Dietetic student - £15.00
Admin code: SLA
