TUNEC Members
Vicki Bennett - Chair
What is your current role and responsibilities within the committee?
I am sitting in the Scotland seat and I am also the chair.
How long have you been involved in the committee?
From the beginning! 2021
What skills or experience do you bring to the committee?
I have been a rep for 14 years and have sat on ScERC for most of this as secretary and now chair. Dietitian for 24 years I am sure helps.
What’s one thing you wish BDA members knew about what this committee does?
To be aware of the influence TUNEC has on all aspects of the BDA as I sit on the board of directors I am able to input the TU perspective on strategies, policies etc to make the BDA as a professional body and TU much more accessible and relevant to members.
What do you enjoy most about working with the other committee members and being part of this team?
The committee is such a lovely bunch of dietitians, but aren't we all?! I find it really interesting hearing how all 4 nations approach employment rights in the workplace which leads to some really rich and deep discussions. Certainly gives me food for thought and reflection on the journey home. We all have the same goal - making our workplaces better for our members.
What’s been your proudest moment on the committee so far?
Receiving the Mary Turner Award (rep of the year) in 2023
How do you hope to see the committee evolve or grow to meet the needs of union members?
The Committee is constantly growing and evolving but I would like to see all the seats filled by end 2025 to ensure we fully represent the whole dietetic workforce.
If you had a magic wand, what’s the first thing you would change for workers everywhere?
If I had a magic wand I would like to see all workers everywhere have decent pay and conditions. I would love for all workplaces to have to have by law a TU rep/officer within the workplace - this would make employers more accountable.
What’s a fun fact or something unique about you?
I ran a marathon in 2015 and haven't run since! Couch25K has just been downloaded......
Katrina Evans - Vice Chair
What is your current role and responsibilities within the committee?
Vice Chair for both TUNEC and EERC, so I would step in to lead meetings if the Chair was unavailable.
How long have you been involved in the committee?
Since it started in 2020 (I think the date is right).
What skills or experience do you bring to the committee?
I’ve been a dietitian for over 25 years and worked in a variety of places and fields as well as both acute and community. I’m really keen to stand up for our members and enjoy sharing ideas and resource. I’m also committed to following up on things and nagging if I have to - I’m good at this!
What’s one thing you wish BDA members knew about what this committee does?
That we directly influence what they are paid via NHS Staff Council.
What do you enjoy most about working with the other committee members and being part of this team?
Being able to come up with ideas/share ideas from reps and see them come to fruition and having so much fun together working on things.
What’s been your proudest moment on the committee so far?
Getting the Rep Network meetings up and running as this was my first project with TUNEC.
How do you hope to see the committee evolve or grow to meet the needs of union members?
I’d like to see current practice embedded as a foundation that we can build on to offer more sources of support for reps as we. I’d like to get reps more involved with the committee via Reps Network, Reps Voice and the national Employment relations councils (ERCs).
If you had a magic wand, what’s the first thing you would change for workers everywhere?
In the NHS it would be pay restitution. More broadly it would be for everyone to be treated fairly from both a legal and moral perspective.
Finally, What’s a fun fact or something unique about you?
I used to be a collecting ring steward at show jumping events and was once given a microphone because I was too loud without it! I don’t think anyone in the BDA has ever heard me at full volume.
Rachael Hawthorne - Northern Ireland
What is your current role and responsibilities within the committee?
I am the representative for Northern Ireland on the committee, I ensure the issues effecting members in NI are included in the TU work plan and feedback to the NI TU reps. I have been a member of the committee since 2021 and prior to that sat on the Trade Union Board. I am passionate about fairness and definitely not afraid to say what I think!
How long have you been involved in the committee?
I would love BDA members to understand that the committee has everyone’s best interests at heart and that we are all motivated to make working conditions the best they can be for our members as well as ensuring the voice of members is represented at BDA strategic level.
What skills or experience do you bring to the committee?
I have really enjoyed getting to know the members of the committee who all come from a variety backgrounds and bring with them such a wealth of knowledge and experience. The team is so supportive and encouraging of each other, it is a privilege to work with the team.
What’s one thing you wish BDA members knew about what this committee does?
As a proud feminist my top moment has to have been speaking at the TUC Women’s conference on behalf of members. It was a fantastic conference and an inspiring experience.
What do you enjoy most about working with the other committee members and being part of this team?
I hope the committee can reach its full potential with more representatives joining from other groups and building a work plan that makes a true impact on the day to day working lives of members.
What’s been your proudest moment on the committee so far?
If I had a magic wand I would make sure workers were paid fairly for the jobs they do and had true flexibility in work.
Karen Smith - Dietetic Support Worker
What is your current role and responsibilities within the committee?
Dietetic Assistant (DSW) bringing my knowledge of my role to the committee.
How long have you been involved in the committee?
8 years.
What skills or experience do you bring to the committee?
My knowledge from 37 years at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals within different roles through the years with the last 24 years in Dietetics.
What’s one thing you wish BDA members knew about what this committee does?
The hard work and commitment from volunteers to help people.
What do you enjoy most about working with the other committee members and being part of this team?
Nice and friendly people who make you feel welcome plus all their knowledge & experiences you get from them.
What’s been your proudest moment on the committee so far?
Doing a speech at the Women’s Conference in front of hundreds of people, something I had never done before.
How do you hope to see the committee evolve or grow to meet the needs of union members?
To get more members on the board (I think still some vacancies) bringing fresh ideas and learning off one another.
If you had a magic wand, what’s the first thing you would change for workers everywhere?
Correct banding for the role that we do.
What’s a fun fact or something unique about you?
Love watching all kinds of sports.
Katherine Igidbashian - Young Members
What is your current role and responsibilities within the committee?
I am the young member representative for the National Executive Committee. My job is to voice our our younger members concerns and to ensure we are all represented.
How long have you been involved in the committee?I started back in 2020 when we first started out committee meetings, this is my second term on the board.
What skills or experience do you bring to the committee?
I am the newest member on the committee so it's been a big learning curve for me, but I've been a health and anti-racist activist since university so it's been great to have a supportive team to work with.
What’s one thing you wish BDA members knew about what this committee does?
We keep talking about our pay deals but we look at how we can support all our colleagues. Our EDI work is so important to make sure we all have the best opportunities for development and fair treatment.
What do you enjoy most about working with the other committee members and being part of this team?
Everyone has such great experience, every time I'm at a meeting I find I learn something new.
What’s been your proudest moment on the committee so far?
It has to be a toss up between raising the work of Stand Up to Racism at our meetings and raising my department's discussions on our most recent pay deal.
How do you hope to see the committee evolve or grow to meet the needs of union members?
I think our committee does some brilliant work but we really have to shout about it. We have information about us as a committee but we could be thinking out union visits and meetings to different dietetic departments so they can meet us.
If you had a magic wand, what’s the first thing you would change for workers everywhere?
Linking together struggles with anti-racist work, gender and LGBTQ+ issues. These are all connected to us as workers and we will not be divided on these. The only way we are going to have real change for workers is with solidarity in our struggles.
Finally, What’s a fun fact or something unique about you?
I was always quite shy at school but when I became an activist at university, I developed a new found confidence when I led 2500 health workers and supporters down to the Department of Health back in 2016 as a student to protest the cuts to the NHS bursaries.