Nearly 100 guests gathered earlier today at Birmingham’s prestigious Council House for the 2026 BDA Awards and Honours ceremony - an inspiring celebration of excellence across the dietetic profession.
Bringing together leading figures and rising stars alike, the event offered a vibrant afternoon of recognition, connection and shared pride, as attendees came together to honour outstanding achievements and forge new relationships.
Susan Price, Chair of the BDA, said “Getting to celebrate this year’s Awards and Honours in the 90th year of the BDA, is particularly special. From those early days of the BDA in 1936, our association has been here to champion the dietetic workforce and what better way to do this than to celebrate all of you today.”
Thank you to our awards supporters:
Let's take a look at the 2026 winners.
BDA Awards
BDA Volunteer of the Year
Sponsored by Whitworths
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.
2026 recipient - Rebecca Smith
Becky is recognised for her exceptional volunteer contributions and leadership across the BDA. From transforming PENG’s ePENlines newsletter to supporting national conferences and specialist groups, she has strengthened communication, championed innovation and elevated the profile of dietetics - consistently inspiring colleagues across the profession.
Finalists - Clare Ellison, Rebeca Romain and Jenny Leyland and Karen Thomas
BDA Branch of the Year
Sponsored by Whitworths
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 all the fantastic work that they have achieved over the past 12 months.
2026 recipient - BDA Northern Ireland Branch
The BDA Northern Ireland Branch is a confident, outward-facing group with clear energy and purpose driving their work. The cross-border misinformation project was an mpactful piece of work, well aligned to wider professional priorities and a testament to the power of collaboration. Strong representation on boards and specialist groups demonstrated real influence beyond the branch, while the "Connect, Celebrate,Collaborate" event showcased the branch's commitment to bringing members together and raising the profile of the dietetic profession locally. With strong partnerships, clear impact and a real sense of momentum, the BDA Northern Ireland Branch is a worthy and inspiring winner.
Finalist - BDA London Branch
BDA Sub-Group of the Year
Sponsored by Whitworths
Introduced in 2024, the Sub-Group of the Year Award recognises the fantastic contribution of the BDA's 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.
2026 recipient - Prescribers Specialist Sub-Group
The Prescribers Specialist Group have shown an evidence-driven approach to influencing, with heaps of passion and drive to securing dietitians' independent prescribing rights. Their work across all four nations, combined with a strong focus on research and publication, demonstrates both reach and impact. The breadth of their activities and their effective collaboration with the BDA and national working groups to drive change is a real testament to what this group has achieved.
Finalist - Learning Disabilities
BDA Specialist Group of the Year
Sponsored by Whitworths
The Specialist Group of the Year Award recognises and highlights the immense work that volunteer members give to BDA Specialist Groups in developing and supporting the profession. New in 2025, the BDA is pleased to offer three awards under the banner Specialist Group of the Year Award.
Campaigning and influencing
2026 recipient - Cardiovascular Specialist Group
The Cardiovascular Specialist Group has got off to a solid start in their first year, with contributions to clinical guidelines, resources and the Manual of Dietetic Practice, all demonstrating early impact and commitment. Effective collaboration with the Obesity Specialist Group and an accessible, evidence-based approach to health and wellbeing messaging have helped to establish the group's presence. The group's accessible, evidence-based approach to health and wellbeing has guided its direction and we are looking forward to seeing what they will achieve in the years to come!
Membership and engagement
2026 recipient - Obesity Specialist Group
The Obesity Specialist Group has delivered impressive work on learning, education, guidelines and national policy across the four nations. A strong external presence, extensive partnerships with other professional groups and close collaboration with BDA specialist groups and staff, demonstrates an active and effective group. The clear and consistent focus on mental health and underserved groups, combined with impressive external working and a growing influence in policy and political conversations, reflects both the thoughtfulness and impact of everything this group does.
Finalist - Mental Health Specialist Group
Projects and impact
2026 recipient - Industry Specialist Group
The Industry Specialist Group has made significant impact in a relatively short time, with clear enthusiasm for supporting the professional development of its members. The work to support the future workforce through facilitating student placements is a forward-thinking project that supports both Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) and students. The group has shown steady, consistent growth over three years, which reflects a thoughtful and committed approach to supporting those working in industry.
Finalist - Critical Care Specialist Group
Mary Turner Award (Trade Union Representative of the Year)
This award thanks a representative who has demonstrated the qualities of excellence and commitment.
2026 recipient - Alison Carr
Finalist - Jasmine Carbon
Media Spokesperson of the Year
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.
2026 recipient - Sammie Gill
Sammie is an exceptional representative for the BDA in the media. Sammie consistently donates her time and expertise to a range of media requests, demonstrating an unwavering commitment to sharing evidence-based nutrition information with the public. We're incredibly grateful for all she does to advocate for the BDA and for dietetics as a whole.
Finalists - Nichola Ludlam-Raine, Bini Suresh
Digital Innovation Award
Sponsored by Yakult
The Digital Innovation Award recognises outstanding achievements in integrating technology into dietetic practice.
2026 recipient - AI-Powered Patient Consultations in Dietetic Practice Based Learning
Recognised for its groundbreaking AI-powered simulation platform, which is transforming dietetic education. By expanding placement capacity and delivering high-quality, accessible clinical training, this innovative solution is strengthening workforce readiness, supporting educators and shaping the future of digital learning in healthcare.
Finalists - The MUST Dashboard- Digital Innovation Delivering Safer Care and Preventing Malnutrition Harm, Sarcopenic obesity and multimorbidity: establishing a clinically useful assessment and diagnostic tool for lymphoedema patients to enable timely and effective intervention
Outstanding Achiever Award
Sponsored by Nutricia
This award recognises a person who has had a significant impact on the profession throughout their career and has been working in the profession for ten years or more.
2026 recipient - Dr Alastair Duncan
Alastair is the UK’s first Consultant Dietitian in HIV care, having spent over 30 years advancing HIV nutrition, research and patient care. He has made an outstanding contribution to clinical practice, research and education. His pioneering work in HIV nutrition, diabetes prevention and weight management has improved the lives of thousands of patients, while his research has advanced understanding of metabolic health in people living with HIV.
Finalists - Beverley Beynon-Cobb, Sarah Fuller, Denise Kennedy
Rising Star Award
This award recognises a rising star who has been in dietetics for ten years or less and has had a significant impact on the profession in the early stages of their careers.
2026 recipient - Stephanie Smith
Steph is a Consultant Dietitian (Clinical Academic) and Chair of the BDA Mental Health Specialist Group. Steph has made an outstanding impact across clinical practice, education, research and leadership. Her work to advance mental health dietetics, expand learning opportunities and build research capacity, combined with her collaborative and inclusive leadership, reflects her exceptional contribution to the profession
Finalist - Clodagh Ni Chleirigh
Social Media Influencer of the Year Award
Sponsored by Yakult
This award celebrates an individual or group that 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.
2026 recipient - Sally J Freeman
Eat Sleep Rave Sleep has been recognised for their outstanding impact in advancing dietetics within the music and performing arts sector.
Through powerful social media advocacy, evidence-based content, and collaboration with leading experts, they have elevated the importance of nutrition and wellbeing for musicians -bringing visibility to key challenges and driving meaningful change across the dietetic industry.
Finalists - Laskarina Digkliou, Amber Woodhouse
Student Champion Award
Sponsored by Yakult
This award celebrates a student who has contributed over and above the requirements of their course to promote the dietetic profession.
2026 recipient - Kato Lambrechts
An exceptional graduate of the University of Hertfordshire, Kato has demonstrated outstanding achievement across practice, research, learning and leadership. Her dedication to community nutrition, extensive volunteering and award-winning research in healthy ageing highlight her passion for improving health and supporting others. Now working as a Band 5 Dietitian, Kato continues to champion the profession with compassion, innovation and professionalism.
Finalists - Clodagh Lynch, Victoria Zoboli Chilavert
GET Awards
The General and Education Trust (GET) presents three annual awards which recognise the excellent work carried out by many BDA members, from publishing original research work, to innovation in practice and educational resources.
Dame Barbara Clayton Award
Given for recent or current work which promotes dietetic innovation and demonstrates benefits/positive outcomes for the profession and patients/clients.
2026 recipient - Anna Bell-Higgs
Awarded for 'ANIA National Digital Type 2 Diabetes Remission Programme (Scotland): A Dietetic-Led National Transformation.'
Elizabeth Washington Award
Given for a dietitian’s published/presented educational work in the previous year, which is broadly within the discipline of nutrition and dietetics.
2026 recipient - Bruno Mafrici
Awarded for 'Phosphate management in adults with chronic kidney disease.'
Rose Simmonds Award
Given for a dietitian’s original research publication published in a peer reviewed journal during the previous two years.
2026 recipient - Emma Stennett
Awarded for 'Development and Implementation of Novel Virtual Triage and Exploration of Attitudes Towards the Potential Use of Artificial Intelligence in the Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) Dietetic Pathway.'
BDA Honours
The BDA Honours recognise and reward BDA members who go above and beyond, inspire others and are making a real difference. This year there were six honour recipients
Edith Elliot
The Edith Elliot Honour recognises a significant contribution for over five years by any member (excluding students and apprentices) to the profession locally, regionally, in a specific speciality or diverse area of practice.
2026 recipients - Wendy Barber and Sarah Sabey
Ibex
The Ibex is an honour given to any member of the BDA (excluding students and apprentices) for over five years of significant contributions to the association and the profession either locally, regionally or in a specific speciality.
2026 recipients - Jennie Brown and Sian Taylor
Professional Achievement
The Professional Achievement Honour is bestowed upon a member in recognition of over ten years of outstanding personal commitment and exceptional contributions to the profession of dietetics at a national or international level.
2026 recipients - Ursula Arens and Dr Samford Wong
You can find out more about the honour recipients in the Honours Corner.
Thank you to our awards supporters: