Sian has received an Ibex honour for her significant personal commitment and contribution to paediatric mental health dietetics for more than five years nationally in Wales and the UK.
As Clinical and Strategic Lead Dietitian, CAMHS, at Aneurin Bevan University Health Board, she has demonstrated exceptional leadership, founding and chairing both CAMHS and ARFID BDA Specialist Sub-Groups, elevating the profile of dietetics within paediatric mental health services and increasing access to specialty-specific dietetic support.
Her research into ARFID has directly informed the development of the BDA’s ARFID course and national competency frameworks and she co-authored the award-winning BDA ARFID Position Statement.
Sian shared what receiving this honour means to her.
What does it mean to you to receive the Ibex honour?
Receiving the Ibex is a huge honour. I’m lucky to work with thoughtful, passionate people who inspire me every day and I am proud to be a dietitian.
I’m really grateful to be part of a profession that supports and uplifts one another, and this award encourages me to keep contributing in ways that matter.
What drove you to become a dietitian in the first place and be where you are today?
A careers adviser at school encouraged me to consider dietetics because it combined the two things I knew I wanted to do - work with people and work with food.
As my career developed, discovering mental health dietetics was a real turning point and showed me how powerful nutrition support can be in recovery and the importance of the clinical relationship and rapport that we build with our patients and families.
More recently, completing my Master’s in Advanced Practice so many years on has been hugely motivating, reigniting my curiosity and reinforcing why I’m so committed to continuing to growth within the profession.
Who inspires you?
Dietetically, I’m inspired by colleagues who blend solid evidence with real compassion - people who stay curious, reflective and genuinely supportive of those around them. I’ve been really lucky to have great supervision throughout my career, which has shaped how I work and why supporting and developing others matters so much to me.
Outside of dietetics, I’m inspired by people who lead with kindness and integrity, especially those who advocate for children and young people and keep pushing for better systems, even when progress feels slow. Working in CAMHS, the power of relationships, consistency and hope is something I see every day, and that’s hugely motivating.
What advice would you give to future dietitians?
Say yes to learning opportunities, even when they feel a bit uncomfortable - that’s often where the growth happens.
Stay evidence-based, where you can, but remember people aren’t protocols, and kindness and communication really matter. Get good supervision, get involved in the profession if you can, and don’t underestimate how much difference you can make.
What has been the highlight to your dietetic career to date?
A real career highlight for me has been my work around ARFID. Completing my Master’s in Advanced Practice using ARFID focused projects, helping develop competencies for dietitians, and being closely involved in the BDA’s award winning ARFID position paper has been incredibly rewarding.
I’ve also valued working at a national strategic level in Wales through the ARFID steering group, helping shape thinking and pathways more broadly.
Alongside this, setting up peer support spaces like the CAMHS and ARFID sub-groups within the BDA Mental Health Group has been a real highlight, as it’s helped colleagues feel connected and supported in complex areas of practice.
