Emma Catling has been appointed as Bwrdd Cymru Chair. To learn more about Emma and her plans for the role, we asked her a few questions...
What was your journey to becoming a dietitian and what has your career looked like so far?
I took a traditional route to become a dietitian - the ideal career for me that combined my interests of food and people. I graduated from Cardiff Metropolitan University in Applied Human Nutrition and completed my state registration to become a dietitian. I have worked as a dietitian in Wales for 28 years, working across a variety of clinical settings and was the regional lead kidney dietitian for over 20 years for the South West Wales Kidney Services. I have been in my current post, Malnutrition Strategic Lead in Hywel Dda University Health Board, for the last 4 years. The role has been focused on applying a ‘whole system’ approach to addressing malnutrition across the Health Board.
I completed a MSc in Advanced Health and Care Management (specialising in Value-Based Health Care, VBHC) in 2024. This provided me with an excellent opportunity to use work-based learning to deliver prudent and VBHC solutions for individual service users and wider systems, to address nutrition and hydration issues within the Health Board.
What experience have you had with BDA volunteering roles in the past?
I have been a Bwrdd Cymru committee member since September 2023 and Deputy Chair of Bwrdd Cymru since October 2024. It has been insightful helping to deliver the BDA's strategy at a Welsh level and supporting the connection with BDA members.
What motivated you to apply for the role of Bwrdd Cymru Chair?
I had been supporting the previous Chair, Penny Doyle, as her deputy and this gave me an opportunity to see how the strategic work of Bwrdd Cymru can support and strengthen the work of the dietetic workforce across Wales. This motivates me, as I see the role of Chair as a bridge between the diverse Welsh membership and the BDA, supporting both sides to focus and consolidate the work of dietitians and dietetic support workers, working in a variety of settings.
What would you like to achieve in your role as Chair? Are there any objectives you are particularly interested in or excited about?
We’ve already achieved an early objective with the success of the in-person BDA Bwrdd Cymru meeting in Cardiff at the start of October. There was such an energy in the room with our members all connecting - it was great to see and be a part of. I’m also keen to continue raising the profile of the excellent work of our members within Wales.
Is there anything else you’d like us to know?
I’m currently walking around Wales, completing the Welsh coast path in my free time. I’ve completed just over 50%, so I have plenty to keep me occupied with over the next year or so! By exploring the coastline, discovering more about its associated industry and meeting people on my travels, it is a great way of seeing how diverse Wales is as a country.