The British Dietetic Association’s Awards and prestigious Honours champion the incredible impact our members make every day. These accolades shine a light on those who go above and beyond to promote the BDA and push the boundaries of dietetics — and we proudly celebrate them every year.
The BDA Awards spotlight the trailblazers, innovators, leaders, and rising stars across our profession, recognising the full spectrum of achievement that drives dietetics forward and inspires our entire community.
Find out more about the 2026 ceremony and winners.
Applications and nominations for 2026 are closed - 2027 open in early 2027.
Awards for application only
The Digital Innovation Award recognises outstanding achievements in integrating technology into dietetic practice.
Awards for nomination only
This award celebrates a student who has contributed over and above the requirements of their course to promote the dietetic profession.
Awards for application and nomination
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.
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.
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
The Specialist Group of the Year Award recognises and highlights the immense work that the volunteer members give to Specialist Groups in developing and supporting the profession. New to 2025, we are pleased to offer three awards under the banner 'Specialist Group of the Year Award'
The BDA recognises and highlights the fantastic work that volunteers do to promote and develop dietetics in their local area. The award was launched to thank volunteer members for their enthusiasm, commitment and time given to their branch. It is also a great opportunity for branches to celebrate and highlight all the fantastic work that they have achieved over the past 12 months.
Introduced in 2024 the Sub-group of the Year Award recognises the fantastic work and contribution of the BDA sub-group communities. This award seeks to recognise member volunteers for their time, effort and support given to sub-group communities and the support provided to their corresponding 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
Since 2025, we are pleased to offer three awards under the banner Specialist Group of the Year Award.
Campaigning and influencing
- 2026 - Cardiovascular Specialist Group
- 2025 - Women’s Health and Fertility Specialist Group
Membership engagement
- 2026 - Obesity Specialist Group
- 2025 - Paediatric Specialist Group
Projects and impact
- 2026 - Industry Specialist Group
- 2025 - Parenteral & Enteral Nutrition Specialist Group
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
- 2026 - Prescribers Sub-Group
- 2025 - Prescribers Sub-Group
- 2024 - Neonatal Sub-Group
BDA Branch of the Year
- 2026 - Northern Ireland
- 2025 - West Scotland
- 2024 - West Scotland
- 2023 - Yorkshire
- 2022 - South East England
- 2021 - Glasgow & West Scotland
- 2020 - Glasgow & West Scotland
- 2019 - Yorkshire
- 2018 - East Scotland
- 2017 - Yorkshire
- 2016 - South West England
- 2015 - Glasgow & West Scotland
- 2014 - London
BDA Media Spokesperson of the Year
- 2026 - Sammie Gill
- 2025 - Priya Tew
- 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
- 2026 - Alison Carr
- 2025 - Abigail Dean
- 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
- 2026 - Dr Alastair Duncan
- 2025 - Dr Sharon Huish
- 2024 - Moira Taylor
- 2023 - Lauren Bowen
- 2022 - Tanya Haffner
- 2021 - Chris Cheyette
Social Media Influencer of the Year
- 2026 - Sally J Freeman
- 2025 - Lucy Upton - The Children's Dietitian
- 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
- 2026 - Eunice Ajayi
- 2025 - Awarded jointly to Shelley Hannon and Padma (Paru) Mistry
- 2023 - Claire Loversidge
- 2021 - Julie Mason
Digital Innovation Award
- 2026 - AI-Powered Patient Consultations in Dietetic Practice Based Learning
- 2025 - Cloud-based software for smarter menu planning - Food Services House
- 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
- 2026 - Kato Lambrechts, University of Hertfordshire
- 2025 - Dean Hargan, Cardiff Metropolitan University
- 2024 - Shona Wells, Newcastle University (The third time in a row that a student from Newcastle has won!)
- 2023 - Jacob Hamilton, Newcastle University
- 2022 - Marta Buczkowska, Newcastle University
- 2021 - Linsey Cockburn
- 2020 - Elaine Penman, Glasgow Caledonian University
Rising Star Award
- 2026 - Stephanie Smith
- 2025 - Paula Chinchilla
- 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
- 2026 - Rebekah Smith
- 2025 - Angeline Taylor
- 2024 - Awarded jointly to 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