The Publishers of CN Magazine are delighted to reveal the 2026 CN Awards shortlist.
Nominated by: Ileen Patel, Head of Nutrition & Dietetics, Lewisham & Greenwich NHS Trust
‘Bolus Feeding in Adults: A practical guide’ is a high quality clinical guidance resource designed to support healthcare professionals in delivering safe, person-centred bolus enteral feeding. Developed through collaboration between NHS clinicians and industry partners, this freely accessible guidance addresses an important area of practice that has historically lacked consistency, with direct implications for patient experience and outcomes.
The primary aim of the resource is to ensure that bolus feeding is used safely and appropriately, while supporting patient choice, independence and quality of life. For many patients and carers, bolus feeding offers greater flexibility, dignity and the ability to participate more fully in daily activities. However, inconsistent advice and variable confidence among professionals can create confusion, anxiety and unnecessary restrictions. This guidance provides clear, evidence-based recommendations that help clinicians balance safety with individual patient needs and preferences.
In my practice, this resource has had a clear and positive impact on patient care. It has supported more confident, consistent conversations with patients and carers about feeding options, helping them feel informed, reassured and involved in decision making. The practical guidance has reduced conflicting advice between teams, supporting smoother transitions between acute, community and home settings. Patients have benefitted from clearer expectations, improved education and greater confidence in managing their feeding regimens at home.
The guidelines have also enhanced staff confidence and competence, which directly translates into better patient experiences. By standardising practice and providing a shared reference point, the resource supports safer care, reduces risk and promotes continuity. It has been particularly valuable for training new staff and supporting multidisciplinary working, ensuring patients receive consistent, high quality advice regardless of setting.
Overall, ‘Bolus Feeding in Adults: A practical guide’ places patients at the centre of care, promoting autonomy, safety and quality of life. The contributors should be recognised for developing a resource that meaningfully improves patient experience while strengthening clinical practice across services.
The Caroline Walker Trust – www.cwt.org.uk
Nominated by: Jade Dobson, ACP Dietitian, Complex Nutrition, Great Western Hospital
Eating Well for People with Learning Disabilities is a much-needed resource for dietitians, nutritionists, and health professionals supporting people with learning disabilities, as well as family carers and care providers. This newly revised edition, published last year by the Caroline Walker Trust, was supported by various working groups, including the members of the BDA’s Learning Disabilities Specialist Sub-group. The updated resource reflects both current evidence and practical, real-world insight, making it highly relevant for those working in a variety of care settings.
I consider this resource to be essential for anyone supporting individuals with Learning Disabilities, as it clearly explains the foundations of good nutrition while also addressing more complex and specific issues. These include obesity, dysphagia, bowel health, cardiovascular disease, and oral hygiene, alongside important considerations around mealtime behaviours, food preferences, and barriers to healthy eating. It provides a well-rounded and thoughtful approach that recognises the diverse needs of this population.
I have found this guide particularly helpful when discussing supportive eating environments with carers and colleagues, as it offers practical advice that can be implemented in everyday situations. The guidance feels realistic and achievable, which is crucial when working in busy care environments.
I particularly appreciate that the design is clear, bright, and engaging, with visuals that aid understanding and enhance accessibility. The inclusion of helpful signposting to additional resources further strengthens its usefulness. This makes it valuable not only for professionals seeking to understand the evidence behind the recommendations, but also as a tool to use collaboratively with carers and those they support.
I firmly consider it a must-have for anyone involved in supporting people with Learning Disabilities.
Nikki Griffiths, Nutrition Nurse, Birmingham Community, Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
Nominated by: Emma Butt and Lesley O’Meara, Lead Nutrition Nurses, Birmingham Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
Existing commercial training mannequins can be overwhelming for some patients and carers. Some are tricky to use even for healthcare professionals (HCPs). Nutrition Nurse, Nikki Griffiths, identified a need for user friendly mannequins and developed a range of in-house mannequins covering PEG, RIG/BGT and NG tube care. These gentler, less clinical alternatives can help make training feel more reassuring and accessible.
Some of the mannequins are specifically aimed at children using images of well-known children’s characters. Feedback from patients, parents and carers are that they find the mannequins fun and practical whilst allowing them to acquire understanding and the skills required to care for enteral feeding tubes.
Feedback from HCPs is that the mannequins bring some light relief to their training yet cover everything they need to learn and can have their competency assessed. The HCPs have reported that the mannequins look more human and aid their understanding of tube placement. The mannequins have reservoirs for liquids so that pH testing for nasogastric tube training can be simulated. Nikki also created a bespoke mannequin to assist staff with training for the administration of a blended diet, which could be physically administered into the reservoir to simulate direct patient care. This addressed a gap in available commercial training resources and provided a cost-effective alternative for our Trust to deliver safe and effective care.
The nutrition nurses love being able to provide training in lots of different settings and to different groups / individuals because they have a range of appropriate training mannequins. They always provide a talking point which helps with rapport building and overall training experience.
In addition, the mannequins are easily transportable fitting into an ordinary shopping bag; an important factor when the team caseload is wholly within community settings. The reservoirs can be easily cleaned and reused.
Nikki has created these mannequins in her own time, utilising her own resources, skills and creativity. This is a perfect example of Nikki’s commitment to providing the best experience for staff, patients and carers alike. This is why Nikki’s mannequins deserve to be considered for the Nutrition Resource of the Year.
*Supporting information was supplied for this nomination. Please email jodie@cm-2.co.uk for further details.
Nominated by: Jenny Rosborough, Head of Nutrition Advice and Translation, Department of Health
I would like to nominate SENSE as Nutrition Resource of the Year at a particularly meaningful moment in its history: its 30th anniversary.
Founded by Margaret Ashwell, who has chaired the organisation since its creation, SENSE has spent three decades supporting self-employed nutrition professionals by offering a space for connection, professional growth and empowerment.
As Margaret prepares to step down from her role as Chair, this feels like the perfect opportunity to recognise both her inspiring legacy and the organisation she built with such passion, professionalism and generosity.
For me, SENSE has been far more than a professional resource. It is a space of warmth, trust and mutual respect, where knowledge is shared generously and professional exchange feels safe, supportive and non-competitive.
SENSE brings together nutrition professionals from a wide range of backgrounds and career stages, creating opportunities for learning, discussion and collaboration that are grounded in science, with people at its heart – whether through events, shared resources, peer support, or simply knowing you are part of a community that values rigour, ethics and curiosity.
What makes SENSE such a valuable resource is not just the information it provides, but the culture it nurtures: one that encourages generosity, critical thinking and collective progress.
Thirty years on, SENSE remains as relevant as ever. Celebrating it as Nutrition Resource of the Year would honour its past, recognise its present impact, and pay tribute to Margaret Ashwell’s enduring contribution to the nutrition profession.
Nualtra Ltd – https://nualtra.com/products/altrapro
Nominated by: Suzanne Parry, Product Development Manager, Nualtra Ltd
Launched on 1 December 2025, Altrapro is nominated for the CN Awards New Product of the Year as a low-volume, high-protein shot designed to support patients who are malnourished or at risk of malnutrition.
Altrapro was developed to meet the need for an innovative, evidence-based nutritional solution that delivers high-quality protein in a format that supports both compliance and clinical effectiveness. Altrapro is ACBS approved for the dietary management of patients with, or at risk of, disease-related malnutrition. It was specifically developed for patients with increased protein requirements where nutritional needs could not be met through a food-first approach or standard oral nutritional supplements alone, due to commonly reported symptoms such as poor appetite, early satiety or intolerance to larger volumes.
The range of patients Altrapro can support is broad and includes, but is not limited to, those in oncology, liver disease, surgical recovery, wound care, and burns. Altrapro is also well placed to support patients with increased protein requirements, but no additional calorie needs, including those on weight management or bariatric pathways.
What sets Altrapro apart is that it is the first UK ONS to use pure Beta-Lactoglobulin (BLG) as its primary protein source, whereas most protein shots currently available rely on bovine collagen. BLG is a rapidly digested and absorbed, high-quality whey protein with a superior amino acid profile. Altrapro delivers 20 g of protein and 81 kcal in just 60 ml, providing 2.8 g of leucine and 9.8 g of essential amino acids per serving, levels associated with triggering and sustaining muscle protein synthesis.1-4
Altrapro is recently halal certified and suitable for vegetarians, supporting inclusivity and wider patient suitability. In addition to its strong nutritional profile, Altrapro also delivers clear economic value, being 28% less expensive than the market-leading comparable product.
Since its launch in December, customer feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, with users describing Altrapro as “one of the best supplements I’ve ever tried,” reflecting excellent acceptability and demand for a great-tasting, low-volume, high-protein shot ONS.
Overall, Altrapro combines cutting-edge protein science, patient-centered design, and affordability, making it a highly deserving contender for New Product of the Year.
References: 1. Zaromskyte G, et al. (2021). Evaluating the leucine trigger hypothesis to explain the postprandial regulation of muscle protein synthesis in young and older adults: a systematic review. Front Nutr.; doi: 10.3389/fnut.2021.685165. 2. Katsanos CS, et al. (2006). A high proportion of leucine is required for optimal stimulation of the rate of muscle protein synthesis by essential amino acids in the elderly, Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab.; 291(2),: E381–E387. 3. Glynn EL, et al. (2010). Excess leucine intake enhances muscle anabolic signalling but not net protein anabolism in young men and women. J Nutr.; 140(11): 1970–1976. 4. Plotkin DL, et al. (2021). Isolated leucine and branched-chain amino acid supplementation for enhancing muscular strength and hypertrophy: a narrative review. Int J Sport Nutr Exercise Metab.; 31(3): 292–301.
Nestlé Health Science – www.nestlehealthscience.co.uk/brands/compleat/compleat-1.1-hcp
Nominated by: Ahmed Abbas, Brand Manager, Nestlé Health Science – Medical Nutrition
Compleat® 1.1 is a nutritionally complete adult tube feed formulated with 16% food-derived ingredients†. Presented in a 1L SmartFlex® bottle, this feed is both Halal certified and gluten-free.
As the newest addition to the UK’s first and only tube feed range containing food-derived ingredients (FDI), Compleat® 1.1 offers a unique blend of fibre and protein designed for evidence-based gastrointestinal tolerance. Compleat® 1.1 is the latest chapter in a series of targeted innovations. It builds upon the strong legacy established by the original paediatric enteral feed (500 ml) and the high-protein Compleat® 1.5 HP for adults. By adding this standard concentration option to the line-up, dietitians now have access to a comprehensive suite of FDI solutions, ensuring that evidence-based, food-derived nutrition is available for a wider spectrum of adult patient needs.
†Contains 16% of food-derived ingredients from rehydrated chicken meat and rehydrated vegetables, orange juice from concentrate and peach puree.
Nutricia – www.nutricia.co.uk/hcp/where-we-specialise/tube-feeding/nutrison-bolus-energy-hp.html
Nominated by: Maria Walters, Brand Manager, Nutricia
Nutricia proudly launched Nutrison Bolus Energy HP in December 2025 – the first and only product of its kind in the UK.1 Designed for patients wishing to bolus feed without the need for a pump or syringe, this innovation responds directly to the changing needs of tube fed patients.
In the UK, at least one in three home tube-fed patients now use bolus feeding.2 Many choose this method because it closely mimics physiological eating patterns, supports greater mobility and fits better into patient lives.³⁻⁶
However, before the launch of Nutrison Bolus Energy HP, bolus feeding options were not patient centric.⁵ Patients often relied on oral nutritional supplements, which are not nutritionally optimised for tube feeding, and typically require a syringe-based method for delivery. Common syringe-based methods are time consuming, inconvenient, and increase the risk of spills and contamination.⁵⁻⁷
Nutrison Bolus Energy HP was created to transform this experience. Nutrison Bolus Energy HP is a high energy, high protein, nutritionally complete* tube feed designed for patients wishing to bolus feeding without the need for a pump or syringe. Its innovative, unique squeezable pouch and connector reduce preparation and feed delivery time, simplify administration, and make feeding away from home easier, cleaner, and more discreet.⁷
Backed by clinical evidence, Nutrison Bolus Energy HP has been shown to be well tolerated with excellent compliance, significantly increasing protein intake while reducing the time patients spent tube feeding.8 It has also been shown to significantly improve patients’ quality of life, enabling greater freedom and fewer social limitations.**8
By placing patients at the heart of innovation, Nutrison Bolus Energy HP is redefining bolus feeding in the UK and setting a new benchmark for enteral nutrition. It represents a meaningful step forward in helping patients who are tube-fed improve their quality of life.
Supporting information:
This information is intended for Healthcare Professionals only.
Nutrison Bolus Energy HP is a Food for Special Medical Purposes for the dietary management of disease-related malnutrition and must be used under medical supervision.
References:
1. MIMS, March 2026.
2. Hubbard, et al. Br J Nutr. 2019;122(11:1271-78).
3. Chowdhury, et al. Clin Nutr. 2016;35(2):371-9.
4. Fogg. Br J Community Nurs, 2007;12(6):246,248,250-252.
5. White. CN Focus. 2016;8(1):27-9.
6. Reynolds, et al. Proc Nutr Soc. 2024;83(OCE4):E466.
7. Nutricia UK ACBS Trial, data on file 2022.
8. Nutricia trial data, data on file 2022-2024.
*Nutritionally complete in 4 pouches, using a 19-49 year old male RNI for a comparator (excl. Na, K, Cl & Mg). A typical intake would be 4-6 pouches (1600-2400 kcal per day) if used as a sole source of nutrition.
**Assessed using the FACT-EF questionnaire.
Kindly sponsored by Abbott
Abbott is a global healthcare leader that helps people live more fully at all stages of life.
For more information, visit proconnect.abbott/uk
Associate Dean Research and Innovation, University of Chester
Nominated by: Pooja Shah, Science Manager, Medical Research Council – UK Research and Innovation
I am delighted to nominate Basma Ellahi for the Community Nutrition Professional of the Year award in recognition of her outstanding dedication to inclusive community nutrition through the Tangerine Project (nuTritional heAlth aNd aGeing in oldER ethnIc miNoritiEs). Basma has consistently gone above and beyond her day-to-day role to ensure that nutrition research is genuinely inclusive and shaped by the voices of ethnically diverse communities.
Within the Tangerine Project, Basma has led outreach and patient and public involvement and engagement (PPIE) activities targeting older adults from ethnic minority backgrounds—groups often underrepresented in nutrition research. She has built trust with local communities, faith organisations, and voluntary groups, creating culturally sensitive opportunities for participation that empower individuals to contribute their lived experiences of diet, health, and ageing. Her commitment has ensured that participants feel valued and heard, transforming research design and delivery to better reflect community needs.
Basma has developed and facilitated innovative workshops, discussion sessions, and feedback mechanisms that translate complex nutritional research into accessible and engaging formats. By doing so, she not only promotes understanding of healthy ageing but also demonstrates the tangible impact of research on everyday lives. Her work has strengthened collaboration between researchers and communities, exemplifying co-production and equity in practice.
Beyond her core responsibilities, Basma’s leadership in inclusive outreach and engagement represents a professional achievement that sets a benchmark for community nutrition practice. She has inspired colleagues through her approach, sharing best practices for working effectively with ethnically diverse populations and highlighting the importance of inclusivity in public health research.
Basma’s dedication, cultural sensitivity, and innovative engagement strategies have significantly enhanced the impact and relevance of the Tangerine Project. Her work ensures that research is not only scientifically robust but also equitable, accessible, and meaningful to those it aims to serve. For these reasons, she is a truly deserving candidate for Community Nutrition Professional of the Year.
Specialist Community Dietitian, Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust
Nominated by: Emma Lightowler, Advanced Dietitian, Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust
Alan has developed an IBS Service for our Community Dietetics team. He has gone above and beyond to support patients and has received amazing feedback, including that his dietetic input has been ‘lifechanging’ and has allowed patients to ‘regain my independence’. Alan has completed a service evaluation and is now furthering his research by completing an internship with the National Institute for Health & Care Research (NIHR).
Alan has also presented his work at the BDA Research Symposium, highlighting the positive work which he has been doing. Alan has been presenting his work at multiple forums within the Trust including Nutrition & Hydration Week CPD, AHP Day and the AHP forum to highlight the importance of the role of a Dietitian within IBS care and his work on this has been recognised within the Trust when he won Clinical Individual of the Year at Mersey Care Stars Awards.
Alan has worked unbelievably hard to develop the service and support his patients, ensuring that they are receiving gold standard care, by benchmarking the service against NICE Recommendations. We are all really proud of Alan and the hard work and dedication which he has put into both the service and his internship. He has supported other Dietetics Services within the Trust to develop their IBS guidance, resources and has creating guidance and SOPs to ensure that patients are receiving equitable and safe care. Thank you Alan for her dedication and congratulations on all of your achievements!
Lead Nutrition Nurse for Learning Disabilities, Birmingham Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
Nominated by: Tracy Powell, Learning Disability Nutrition Nurse, Birmingham Community Healthcare Foundation Trust
Over the past year, Olivia Muhlwa has demonstrated exceptional clinical leadership, innovation, and compassion in delivering high quality community nutrition care to individuals with learning disabilities and complex health needs. Her contribution has significantly enhanced patient safety, strengthened multidisciplinary working, and reduced preventable hospital admissions.
A major achievement has been Olivia’s strategic and proactive approach to hospital admission avoidance. Working closely with acute hospital partners, she has developed efficient pathways enabling comprehensive assessments and diagnostic testing to be completed within the community. This has reduced unnecessary hospital attendances, minimised distress for individuals who may struggle in acute environments, and ensured timely, person-centred care.
Olivia is widely recognised for her exceptional communication skills and her ability to work seamlessly across the multidisciplinary team. She collaborates closely with learning disability dietitians and other specialist MDT colleagues, advocating consistently for high quality, equitable nutrition care. Her leadership in learning disability nutrition has strengthened local practice and ensured that reasonable adjustments are embedded into every stage of care delivery.
To address communication barriers often experienced by her patient group, Olivia and her team have introduced learning disability specific communication strategies, including the use of simple Makaton. This has enhanced engagement, improved patient understanding, and supported a truly person centred approach.
Olivia is a skilled advocate for individuals who present with behaviours that challenge, particularly during feeding tube procedures. By implementing structured desensitisation techniques, she has achieved outstanding success in reducing distress and increasing tolerance—outcomes consistently reflected in family feedback.
Her team’s strong expertise in mental capacity assessments and best interest decision making ensures that care remains ethically robust and tailored to each individual’s needs. Clinically, she has demonstrated innovation by trialling and implementing different feeding tube types, selecting equipment based on what best supports both patients and their carers.
Further contributions include establishing a paediatric to adult transition pathway, providing comprehensive training to day centre staff, supporting families through bereavement, and reducing preventable complications through extensive carer education.
As a working carer and Co-Chair of the Staff Carers Network, Olivia brings empathy, authenticity, and lived experience to her leadership. Her dedication, clinical excellence, and unwavering advocacy make her an exceptional Community Nutrition Professional.
Public Health Dietitian Group (PHDG) Northern Ireland
Nominated by: Natasha Porter, Specialist Antenatal Dietitian, Northern Health and Social Care Trust
Public Health Dietitian Group (PHDG) Northern Ireland, commissioned by the Public Health Agency and working across Health and Social Care Trusts, has developed an innovative digital resource to increase public access to and understanding of evidence-based nutrition.
The Eating Well YouTube channel provides the public with a trusted, practical source of evidence-based nutritional guidance across the life course. Since launching in 2022, the channel has expanded rapidly and now hosts over 126 videos, attracting more than 107,000 views and over 1,800 subscribers, demonstrating its strong public reach and engagement.
The resource aims to translate complex nutrition science into accessible information that supports healthier choices that can be delivered at scale, supporting public health efforts to improve diet and reduce nutrition related disease for people in Northern Ireland and beyond. Each video is grounded in current public health recommendations and designed to combat the online spread of nutrition misinformation. Content includes short informational videos, myth busting, practical recipe demonstrations and in depth educational webinars. The videos acknowledge barriers such as rising food costs, time pressures, cultural diversity etc., and offer practical strategies.
The Channel is increasingly used by dietitians and healthcare professionals across Northern Ireland as a trusted patient education resource. Within our regional weight management service supporting pregnant women with raised BMI, the videos reinforce key nutrition messages to help reduce pregnancy-related complications and support healthier outcomes for mother and baby. We routinely signpost this resource during consultations to reinforce key nutritional messages. Recognising its value, the resource was regionally adopted and embedded from June 2024 within a supportive telehealth text messaging protocol used across our service in Northern Ireland. Our patients receive links to relevant videos at key stages throughout pregnancy, supporting sustained engagement and healthier lifestyle behaviours. These pregnancy-related videos alone have received over 7,300 views.
By combining credible evidence, digital accessibility and practical behaviour-change approaches, the PHDG has created a scalable public health resource that supports healthcare professionals and empowers the wider population. It extends the reach of trusted, evidence-based nutrition guidance far beyond traditional clinical settings and our service has gained so much value from it.
Paediatric Diabetes Dietitian, Birmingham Women’s and Children’s NHS Foundation Trust
Nominated by: Nola Blackburn, Nutrition Support Dietitian, University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust
Anjanee Kohli is a Registered Paediatric Diabetes Dietitian whose social media presence goes far beyond content creation, it is a powerful public health intervention.
Through her Instagram platform (@anjanee.dietitian), she delivers credible, evidence-based nutrition information in a culturally intelligent and deeply relatable way. With over 6,000 followers, she addresses the significantly increased risk of type 2 diabetes within South Asian communities, translating complex clinical guidance into practical, culturally relevant advice. Her messaging reframes traditional Punjabi foods within balanced glycaemic management rather than promoting restriction, dismantling common myths (for example, around jaggery and “natural sugars”) while preserving cultural identity.
What distinguishes Anjanee is the seamless bridge between her NHS clinical role and her digital advocacy. As a paediatric diabetes dietitian, she supports children transitioning to greater independence through structured education sessions, including practical carb-counting workshops. She shares real-world patient feedback (with appropriate anonymisation), humanising care and strengthening public trust in dietetics.
Her impact extends offline. Anjanee actively delivers community-facing health initiatives including diabetes and hypertension screening events attended by over 200 people, faith-based health checks within Sikh and Muslim communities, retinal screening awareness events, and culturally tailored webinars highlighting that South Asians have up to six times higher risk of diabetes. She has contributed to inclusive resources in collaboration with Talking Tube Feeding and participated in professional panels exploring ethnic diets and representation within the profession.
Her tone is warm, confident and evidence-led. She addresses racism within healthcare, promotes representation, and normalises discussions around GLP-1 medications, cholesterol, and pre-diabetes without sensationalism.
Anjanee exemplifies what modern nutrition communication should look like: clinically robust, culturally competent, community-embedded and digitally accessible. She is not simply active on social media, she is reshaping how marginalised communities engage with nutrition science.
For her innovation, reach and measurable community impact, Anjanee Kohli is a truly outstanding candidate for Social Media Personality of the Year.
Registered Nutritionist, SR Nutrition
Nominated by: Cordelia Woodward, Registered Dietitian, Freelance Working for MyNutriWeb and SR Nutrition
I would like to nominate Charlotte Stirling-Reed of SR Nutrition for Social Media Personality of the Year.
Charlotte has become one of the most trusted voices in child nutrition in the UK. As a registered nutritionist with the Association for Nutrition, a bestselling author of four books including How to Wean Your Baby, and host of the How to Feed podcast, she brings both expertise and real warmth to everything she shares.
Her social media presence is exceptional. With over 419,000 followers on Instagram, Charlotte has built a highly engaged community of parents who turn to her daily for support, reassurance and clear guidance. What sets her apart is the way she communicates. Her content is always evidence-based but never overwhelming. She makes complex topics feel simple, practical and achievable.
Charlotte covers the topics that really matter to families, from starting solids and navigating fussy eating to understanding nursery and school food. Alongside this, she shares regular, balanced recipe ideas for babies, toddlers and young children that parents can realistically put into practice.
What truly makes Charlotte stand out is her commitment to her audience. She consistently takes the time to answer questions, respond to concerns and host live Q&As. She shows up for parents in a way that feels personal, supportive and genuinely caring.
Her mission is clear in everything she does, to help parents feel confident feeding their children and to make family mealtimes feel easier, calmer and more enjoyable. The impact of this is huge. She is not just sharing content, she is changing how families experience food.
Beyond social media, Charlotte continues to lead in her field. She works with trusted organisations such as Zebedees and Little Dish, contributes to national media, and speaks at events across the UK, from nurseries to major conferences, always delivering credible and accessible advice.
She is an outstanding communicator, a trusted expert and a constant source of support for parents. Charlotte Stirling Reed is more than deserving of Social Media Personality of the Year.
Kindly sponsored by Fresenius Kabi
Fresenius Kabi proudly sponsors the CN Awards, celebrating healthcare professionals’ dedication, impact and excellence across clinical nutrition.
www.fresenius-kabi.com/gb/
Highly Specialist Dietitian, The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust
Nominated by: Hiba Al-Jolani, Dietitian, Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust
I would like to nominate Jumana Ahmed for the Paediatric Nutrition Professional of the Year award. Jumana is an exceptional Specialist Paediatric Dietitian whose dedication, research and commitment to improving patient care truly stand out.
Recently, she presented her research at the British Society of Allergy and Clinical Immunology Annual Conference, focusing on parental attitudes towards early allergen introduction. Building on the LEAP and EAT studies, her project explored how parents introduce egg and peanut in real life and highlighted important gaps in practice. For example, she found clear differences in the early introduction of egg compared to peanut, as well as lower peanut introduction rates among minority ethnic groups and in families with a history of allergy. These insights are incredibly valuable for shaping future education and improving health outcomes for children.
What I admire most about Jumana is her drive to turn evidence into meaningful action. She is passionate about improving awareness of early allergen introduction, both for parents and for primary care staff such as GPs and health visitors. Her work shines a light on areas where support and targeted education are needed, especially for families who may face barriers or uncertainties.
Jumana is a compassionate, thoughtful and hardworking clinician. She consistently goes above and beyond to support her patients and colleagues, and she brings a genuine warmth and professionalism to everything she does. Her contribution to paediatric nutrition, her commitment to reducing health inequalities and her enthusiasm for learning and sharing knowledge make her a truly deserving nominee.
Lead Specialist Paediatric Dietitian in Inherited Metabolic Disease, University Bristol and Weston Hospitals Trust
Nominated by: Suzanne Ford, Metabolic Specialist Dietitian, North Bristol NHS Trust
Camille is the Southwest regional lead for Paediatric Inherited Metabolic Disorders (IMD) since 2014. She is our trail blazer for IMD dietetics, having now completed her non-medical prescribing and Advance Practitioner qualifications. She is Deputy Head of the Paediatric Nutrition and Dietetic Department at Bristol Royal Hospital for Children, and she is Chair of the dietitians’ group of the British Inherited Metabolic Diseases Group (BIMDG).
Camille is a natural leader with a strong vision of building a robust dietitians group for the dietitians within the British Inherited Metabolic Disorders Group. Since Camille became Chair of this group, she has developed structured way of working, continuing to build on the work of those who came before. Camille has grown and strengthened the group whilst continuing to engage and involve a wide range of dietitians with diverse and different interests and ways of working. As a result, the community of practice of metabolic dietitians is stronger than ever, and those with less experience are as welcome as dietitians who have been in post for 20 or 30 years. Camille has ensured that the dietitians voice is heard in the every evolving clinical practices in inherited metabolic diseases.
Camille teaches and develops others around her, for instance through the BDA/University of Plymouth’s Module 4 Masters module for paediatric dietetics in Inherited Metabolic Disorders.
Camille is one of the early adopters and advocates for IMD dietitians undertaking continuous professional development via extended roles – she is both an Advanced Dietetic Practitioner and a Prescribing Dietitian.
Camille leads the dietetic service for the Paediatric Southwest Inherited Metabolic Disorders service – her families recognise that they are in dedicated, safe, (and empathic) hands and Camille is highly respected by all who work with her.
Camille recognises and supports patient organisations and their work, too. Kate Learoyd, Chair of the National Society for Phenylketonuria said that “Camille inspires confidence in families who she treats in her service, her calm and caring nature is always apparent, as is her expertise. The NSPKU recognises and truly values our metabolic dietitians and Camille is a wonderful example of her profession”.
Kindly sponsored by Nutricia Homeward
The Nutricia Homeward Nursing Service is the largest dedicated enteral nursing service in the UK. It has been supporting enterally fed community patients for over 25 years.
www.nutriciahomeward.co.uk
Community Dietitian, Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust
Nominated by: Lily Moorhouse, Community Dietitian, Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust
Gerard is an enthusiastic and committed community dietitian; he always goes above and beyond for his patients. He works hard to ensure that all areas of a patient’s health and social circumstances are considered and is often the first person to pick up on complex safeguarding concerns. This is because he is such a genuine and caring person that patients feel comfortable opening up to him.
Gerard recently took a leading role in a complex moral and legal situation with a patient whose family were requesting his enteral feed to be stopped. Gerard advocated for the patient’s best interests and took a significant role in moving the process along. This was an unfamiliar situation for the whole MDT and also for our department, so Gerard made sure to seek out expert advice and consider all legalities. He organised the MDT and provided unbiased evidence-based advice. He was enthusiastic about sharing his experience with our team and the wider trust at the senior leadership team level. This included him reflecting on what could have been done differently to ensure anyone who comes across this in future feels more confident.
Gerard is often a mentor for students, and he recently managed this on top of his clinical demands, which was challenging to juggle given the complexities of his MDT meetings.
Gerard has also taken on the development of a gastrostomy passport over the last year. The view is for this to be rolled out across Liverpool and the wider Merseyside area to ensure there is no delay in the handover of feeding regimes for patients admitted to hospital. Gerard has liaised with the research department at Merseycare and has completed a pilot to gain feedback on the passport. He has spoken to teams across the trust and within the hospitals to understand how well the passport is working and what else may be needed to ensure it is as helpful as possible.
Gerard is a friendly and helpful person who is always happy to support when someone else needs help, even when he is very busy. When we have unexpected illness in the team, he finds a way to support and cover work and is happy to step up to cover on-call work when there are no Band 7s in. Gerard has helped all the new band 5s settle in and will answer any questions we may have and takes the time to explain things in detail so that we gain a deeper understanding.
Dietetic Team, Clatterbridge Cancer Centre
Nominated by: Kathryn Parr, Head and Neck Cancer Dietetic Lead, Clatterbridge Cancer Centre Liverpool
Early Identification of Low Muscle Mass in Head and Neck Cancer: A simple, dietitian led predictive tool.
Low muscle mass is a common yet under-recognised problem in people with head and neck cancer and is strongly associated with poorer treatment tolerance, increased toxicity and worse clinical outcomes. Despite this, current methods for identifying low muscle mass, such as CT-based body composition analysis, are not routinely available early in the cancer pathway, limiting opportunities for timely nutritional intervention and prehabilitation.
This work was developed and evaluated by our head and neck dietetic team within a population with high levels of socioeconomic deprivation, where the burden of nutritional risk is particularly significant and equitable access to early identification and intervention is essential. Recognising this unmet need, the team went beyond routine clinical practice to improve patient safety and outcomes.
In a cohort of 126 patients with head and neck cancer, the team assessed muscle health using EWGSOP criteria and identified that one third of patients presented with severe sarcopenia prior to starting oncological treatment, highlighting a substantial gap in early identification of nutritionally vulnerable patients.
To address this, our team led the development of a dietitian-led predictive screening tool, in collaboration with Liverpool John Moores University. The model uses routinely collected, non-invasive measures including height, weight and handgrip strength, making it feasible for everyday clinical use. The predictive equation demonstrated strong performance (R² = 0.8, p < 0.001), supporting its potential as a practical screening tool within the cancer pathway.
This innovation is being embedded into dietetic assessment to enable earlier identification of patients at risk, without reliance on specialist imaging or software, facilitating timely nutritional assessment, targeted intervention and referral to prehabilitation services. To improve accessibility and consistency, the team is translating the tool into a mobile phone application to support point-of-care decision making. Further testing and validation across broader clinical settings form the next planned phase of this work, ensuring robustness, safety and appropriate clinical governance.
Using a continuous improvement approach, the next phase focuses on introducing the tool earlier in the patient pathway, with the aim of identifying nutritional risk as close to diagnosis as possible. This supports earlier nutritional intervention and prehabilitation, maximising the potential to improve treatment readiness and patient outcomes.
This project exemplifies dietetic leadership, innovation and a clear commitment to patient care, aligning strongly with the values of the Geoff Simmonett ‘Commitment to Patient Care’ Award.
1Head and Neck Surgical Oncology Dietitian, NHS Tayside
2Speech and Language Therapist, NHS Tayside
Nominated by: Helen Webster, Lead Oncology Dietitian, NHS Tayside
Rachel Stewart and Sinead McCarney were funded by the Scottish Government to deliver enhanced dietetic and Speech and language care to people preparing for major head and neck cancer surgery. The Scottish Government quality performance indicators were not being met prior to their appointment and bringing them both into post has completely turned this around. However, people undergoing major head and neck cancer surgery are much more than a QPI. Rachel undertakes full dietetic assessment to improve their nutritional status prior to surgery as well as discussing potential nutritional consequences of cancer surgery helping people to be more prepared for what lies ahead and have their concerns listened to. Sinead also provides advice prior to surgery about what to expect during and after surgery and the impact on swallowing and speech.
Together they have created a seamless pathway of care for surgical head and neck patients and have received excellent feedback from their patients and the wider MDT. They have also helped to reduce the support needed when patients then undergo the next phase of treatment.
They have also helped to raise awareness of the difficulties faced by head and neck cancer patients by eating a puréed diet for a week and sharing their experiences in the local media and social media which had a terrific response from staff, patients and their families and carers.
Sadly the Scottish Government have been unable to provide permanent funding for their roles and there remains uncertainty about whether the NHS health board can fund their roles going forward.
Kindly sponsored by Nestlé Health Science
Nestlé Health Science empowers healthier lives through nutrition. We provide products to help towards a healthier future, helping customers and patients to live their healthiest lives possible.
www.nestlehealthscience.co.uk
Critical Care and Parenteral Nutrition Clinical Lead Dietitian, Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Nominated by: Isabelle Boocock, Critical Care Dietitian, Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals (DBTH) NHS Foundation Trust
Martin goes above and beyond during his work at DBTH, advocating for patients under his care, ensuring that appropriate nutrition plans are put in place for those patients where it can be so easily overlooked amidst their complex clinical needs.
Alongside his patient work, Martin leads on developing both services in which this year alone he has redesigned and co-written the parenteral nutrition (PN) policy for the trust, updated the nutrition in critical care guidelines, created a new standard operating procedure for oral diet on critical care, redeveloped the NG feeding protocols for critical care and for prone feeding on critical care, all whilst being a reliable presence and sounding board for members of the dietetic team in a struggling department.
His work doesn’t stop here, he also has taken a leading role within developing staff members and dietetic learners within the department, sharing his experience and knowledge around nutrition in critical care and PN with others, and providing support to struggling staff members. His educator role also spans from dietetic colleagues to critical care and PN where he conducts regular education sessions with rotating resident doctors, senior medical staff, nursing staff and allied health professionals. Martin was recognised for all of his hard work in 2024 when he won the trust’s annual awards for both ‘Educator of the Year’ and ‘Clinical Team of the Year’.
Martin took time to develop myself and others within the department, and he is a truly inspirational colleague to work with. I hope that you take this nomination into consideration so we can acknowledge one of the many unsung heroes working within the NHS.
Principal Upper GI Surgery Dietitian, Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust
Nominated by: Gemma Fagan, Senior Specialist GI Surgery Dietitian, Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust; Dilan Durmaz, UGI Dietitian, Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust; Natalie (Hiu Kei) Mak, Specialist UGI Surgery Dietitian, Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust.
Gemma Fagan: Orla is an outstanding Dietitian, really going above and beyond for her Upper GI surgery patients. Her knowledge depth of surgical procedures and the impact they have on patient symptoms, tolerance of diet and most importantly quality of life is incredible. She is extremely patient with those under her care, and spends so much time and energy getting to the bottom of their issues and exploring tailored solutions to help them.
Orla is dedicated to improving the patient experience both pre and post surgery. She prepares patients so well for their life-changing surgeries and has recently introduced a virtual group to provide patients with all the essential information on what to expect following oesophagectomy or gastrectomy.
An example of her dedication to patients following upper GI surgery is her consistent effort and commitment to the multidisciplinary survivorship service at St Thomas’ Hospital. Orla set this up from the recognised impact of post-surgical symptoms on nutritional status, quality of life, and healthcare needs. She coordinates a busy team of consultant surgeons, gastroenterologists, a clinical nurse specialist and a psychologist to ensure that the patients she advocates for have the most holistic, thorough care plans. Patients are extremely grateful for this which is reflected in their feedback consistently. She doesn’t give up on anyone, accepting that some patients need time and understanding before they are ready to accept the major life change they have experienced.
Orla is an incredible team leader to the Upper GI Surgery Dietitians at St Thomas’. She is so understanding, supportive and always a team player! She’ll always offer a helping hand with difficult cases, both work and non-work related. We are so lucky to work with her at St Thomas’.
Dilan Durmaz: I am delighted to nominate my manager for this award in recognition of the exceptional dedication, leadership, and compassion she demonstrates every day. She consistently goes above and beyond her role, creating a supportive and inclusive environment where every team member feels valued and empowered.
As a working mum, I have personally felt the impact of her kindness and understanding. She actively promotes flexible working, supports work–life balance, and ensures that staff wellbeing is prioritised alongside delivering high-quality patient care. Her leadership fosters a culture where people feel safe to speak up, ask for help, and grow professionally.
She is deeply committed to patient safety and care, always striving to improve services and outcomes. She has played a key role in supporting colleagues, leading by example, and encouraging collaboration across the team. Her proactive approach to problem-solving and willingness to step in whenever needed truly sets her apart.
In addition, she champions inclusivity and ensures that all voices are heard, creating a positive and respectful workplace. She continuously looks for ways to improve processes and services, demonstrating innovation and a genuine passion for the profession.
Her professionalism, empathy, and unwavering support make her an outstanding leader and truly deserving of this recognition.
Natalie (Hiu Kei) Mak: I am nominating Orla for the Clinical Nutrition Professional of the Year 2026 CN Award. Orla is an exceptionally supportive manager and a highly specialist dietitian whose professional expertise and leadership consistently elevate both staff experience and patient care.
Orla brings extensive specialist knowledge in upper GI cancer surgery and upper GI survivorship service, which she shares generously and consistently. Her contributions meaningfully shape our clinics and service pathways, ensuring that our practice remains evidence based, forward thinking, and patient centred. She provides daily clinical support to the team, offering thoughtful guidance on complex cases while empowering staff to develop confidence and autonomy in their own practice.
Her commitment to quality improvement is evident across multiple initiatives. A recent example is her development of a prehabilitation presentation designed to improve patient experience and understanding prior to surgery. She continues to lead and support ongoing service improvement projects that enhance efficiency, streamline dietitian time, and ultimately strengthen the quality of care we deliver.
Orla demonstrates exceptional leadership every day. She supports junior staff with both clinical and non clinical matters, communicating with clarity, empathy, and assurance. Her approachable style and open door policy foster a positive, inclusive, and supportive working environment where staff feel heard, valued, and encouraged to grow.
Orla’s dedication, expertise, and compassion make her an outstanding role model within our profession. She is truly deserving of recognition for her unwavering commitment to improving clinical nutrition services and patient care.
Project Dietitian, Nutrition and Dietetics, NHS Tayside
Nominated by: Helen Webster, Lead Oncology Dietitian, Nutrition and Dietetics, Ninewells Hospital, Dundee
Emma was recruited to the Oncology Team at Ninewells Hospital to undertake a screening project within our oncology outpatients department.
It was a four month post funded by Abbott Nutrition and the aim was to determine the unmet need within our oncology population in regards to malnutrition and sarcopenia.
In NHS Tayside we only have dedicated funding for dietetics to the UGI, HPB, and head and neck cancer pathways. All the other patients are treated reactively. There is no screening tool in place and with strong evidence for cancer prehabilitation we wanted to undertake a piece of work to look at rates of malnutrition and sarcopenia in people attending their first oncology appointment.
Emma undertook nutrition screening using the PGSGA, MUST and the Pronto tool. She measured sarcopenia using SARC-F tool but also recorded hand grip strength and calf circumference. During her time with us, she screened 300 patients giving us a fantastic data set and showing that PGSGA would be the tool of choice for detecting malnutrition in our cancer populations as it was the most sensitive and most specific.
Emma worked in the busy oncology outpatient department joining the existing team of health care assistants, nurses and oncologists and slotted in really well.
Her excellent communication skills, passion for research and dedication to the write up has had such an impact both at local level where we can use the data in future business cases for dietetic recruitment but also more widely as her data is now being used in other research within our organisation looking into CT measurement of sarcopenia and nationally as the data is being used to inform the implementation of prehabilitation in Scotland.
Kindly sponsored by Nutrinovo
As the company behind the innovative ‘ProSource’ and ‘HyFIBER’ product ranges, we are proud to be sponsoring these industry-leading awards – recognising the nutrition professionals who go ‘above and beyond’ to make a difference.
www.nutrinovo.com
Senior Specialist Paediatric Critical Care Dietitian, Evelina London Children’s Hospital
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Specialist Dietitian, The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester
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Macmillan Lead Dietitian, Salisbury District Hospital
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Kindly sponsored by Nutricia Flocare
Nutricia Flocare, supporting over 30,000 home enterally fed patients with safe delivery of their nutrition and hydration.
www.nutriciaflocare.com/Flocare2020/index.php
Birmingham and Solihull (BSOL) System
Nominated by: Jodie Owen, Service Clinical Manager for Children’s Nutrition and Dietetics, Birmingham Community Healthcare
Three children’s dietetic and nutrition nursing Trust teams have worked collaboratively across the complex Birmingham and Solihull (BSOL) system to deliver a transformational reduction in plastic use within paediatric enteral feeding. Spanning community, secondary, and tertiary care, this work went well beyond routine clinical practice and required system-wide leadership, behaviour change and sustained engagement across multiple organisations.
BSOL supports approximately 650 children receiving enteral nutrition, with around 300 feeds administered daily in special schools alone. As one of the largest enteral feeding contracts in the region, the potential for environmental benefit was significant. However, implementation was complex. Many families experience socioeconomic disadvantage, language, literacy and numeracy barriers, and children frequently transition between home, school, complex care services and hospices. Ensuring safe, consistent and equitable practice across all settings required careful planning, engagement and coordination.
Each team member brought unique expertise, enabling the development of both individual Trust-level and joint BSOL action plans to coordinate implementation safely and effectively. Equality, diversity and inclusion principles were embedded throughout, ensuring communication was accessible and culturally sensitive. Highly developed communication and leadership skills were essential to challenge and change long-standing clinical practices among both families and healthcare professionals, while maintaining confidence in patient safety and care quality.
Through this collaborative approach, the three Trusts have achieved exceptional, measurable outcomes over two years:
Feedback from families and schools has been consistently positive, particularly regarding reduced storage requirements in the home and less plastic waste to dispose of. These benefits were especially valued during the recent Birmingham bin strikes, easing the burden on families managing complex care at home.
Despite the scale and complexity of the project, the team demonstrated resilience, adaptability, effective cross-system leadership and shared learning throughout. This initiative has delivered lasting environmental impact while improving family experience and establishing a scalable, sustainable model for paediatric enteral feeding across integrated care systems.
BSOL Enteral Feeding Sustainability Group: Carolyn Patchell, Sue Meredith, Emma Butt, Shirley Phillips, Louise Hirons, Gemma Kavanagh, Lorna Hull, Rachael Yeates
Principle Service Lead Paediatric Dietetics, Bolton Foundation Trust
Nominated by: Amanda Wall, Principle Service Lead Adult Dietetics and SLT, Bolton Foundation Trust
Louise has reviewed the use of plastic ancillaries used for home enterally feeding (HEF) across all ages within the Bolton Locality. This has involved multiple healthcare teams within the organisation, Adult and Paediatric Dietitians, Paediatric and Adult Community Nurses. An ancillary formulary was agreed including recommended volumes per month.
Ancillary initialisation and monitoring for Paediatric patients was transferred from the Paediatric Community Nursing team to Paediatric Dietetics for closer monitoring. Liaison with our local contracted enteral feed delivery company to review current products and volumes to meet new formulary and to employ an invoice clerk to monitor spend and compliance longer term. Along with the HEF company we planned a change from single use to multiple use products. These changes are being monitored as part of the enteral feed contract reviews.
To date the weight of an adult male lion has been saved in plastics, as well as reduced transport. Invoices are more accurate and paid more timely to the feed company. Patients reported improved satisfaction due to being clear on ancillary requirements and management of stock levels within the home.
Dietitians & Clinical Nurse Specialist, Kent Community Health Foundation NHS Trust
Nominated by: Alisa Morris, Highly Specialist Paediatric Dietitian, Kent Community Health Foundation NHS Trust
Enteral feeding in the community requires large volumes of single-use plastic consumables to support safe delivery of nutrition, hydration and medication for patients in their homes and care settings.
The Home Enteral Nutrition (HEN) Team identified an opportunity to significantly reduce waste while improving patient experience, supporting the Trust’s sustainability goals across East and West Kent. Two key initiatives were implemented.
Working with community nursing teams and enteral feed company nurse specialists, the team reviewed clinical guidance and safely extended the routine replacement interval for balloon retained feeding tubes from three to five months where clinically appropriate. This reduces the number of procedures required each year, lowering plastic waste from equipment while also reducing nurse travel and clinical interventions.
Together, these changes demonstrate how small service redesigns can deliver safer, more sustainable care while maintaining high-quality patient support in the community.
The project has delivered measurable environmental benefits while improving patient experience.
Container use and plastic weight for January–February 2024 vs January–February 2026 are shown below:
This shows a net reduction in plastic waste of 112.471 kg or reduction of 60%.
Patient and family benefits: Patients reported more space in their homes and a positive sense of contributing to environmental sustainability. For families managing complex care equipment, the reduction in packaging and waste has made home management simpler.
Reducing the number of tube changes and therefore, frequency of nurse visits, gives patients greater independence and freedom from clinical intervention. Not only will this decrease clinical waste, reduce nurse travel and free clinical capacity while maintaining safe care, but it also addresses the discomfort and anxiety many patients experience during tube replacement, with a more positive overall care experience.
Dietetics Student, University of Nottingham
Nominated by: Fiona McCullough, Professor of Dietetics, University of Nottingham
Since starting as a student almost 3 years ago, Pheobe has been a champion for diversity of roles and approaches within dietetics, as well as inclusive, inter-professional working.
During the academic year 2024/25, Pheobe was selected to undertake a prestigious Research Discovery Internship, completing a project exploring ”Harnessing AI in Nutrition”. Innovation in digital health is a topical area for healthcare. Pheobe compared how different AI models could be used to support personalised dietary advice, especially after hospital discharge- including GPT-4, MyFitnessPal, and Replika, concluding how these have potential to support personalised, accessible, and ethical nutrition care, but caution is required. AI won’t replace personalised care, but it has the opportunity to make it more accessible to those who may not have access to a dietitian. This opportunity provided a unique understanding of where tech and healthcare can come together to support better outcomes.
Pheobe has reflected that completing the internship within Computer Science, alongside her academic studies, pushed her out of her comfort zone, resulting in professional and personal growth. Two highlights have been, selection to present the project work at the Future Food Symposium at the University of Birmingham, networking with PhD researchers, public health professionals, and industry experts (being selected out of 110 submissions), as well as presenting at the BDA Research Symposium in December 2025. These experiences have deepened Phoebe’s passion for research and desire to pursue a PhD in the future.
In addition, since Year 1 Pheobe has demonstrated commitment to widening her networks, particularly connecting with other healthcare students. She has been an active member of the student interprofessional learning committee and their activity was recognised with a University of Nottingham Lord Dearing Team Award in 2024.
Pheobe is passionate about gaining additional student networking experiences. She is a Senior Representative for the Clinical Nutrition theme within the School of Biosciences, as well as a Student Ambassador at open/offer-holder days, with prospective parents and students finding her approachable and passionate about dietetics.
Overall, Pheobe is an inspirational student, who always looks both for development opportunities and how best to support fellow students.
Apprentice Dietitian, Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Nominated by: Jenny Landrum, Highly Specialist Eating Disorder Dietitian, Mersey Care NHS Trust
Claire had an eight week placement within our Children and Young People’s (CYP) Eating Disorder Service as an apprentice dietitian, where she made an exceptional contribution to both patient care and the wider team.
She joined our service last year as an apprentice dietitian, bringing with her over ten years of experience as a Dietetic Assistant in an acute hospital setting. Even before her placement began, Claire demonstrated excellent professionalism and enthusiasm by contacting the senior dietitians to learn more about the service and prepare herself thoroughly. She undertook extensive background reading to upskill and approached the placement with an open mind, particularly as this was her first experience in mental health and her first time working with children, young people, and families.
As our first full time apprentice, Claire exceeded every expectation and helped us shape what future student placements could look like within the CYP Eating Disorder Service. She arrived early each day, showed great flexibility, and consistently went above and beyond. Claire created a range of high quality resources on metabolism, balanced eating, hunger and satiety, and motivation for change. These are now embedded in our practice, used regularly with young people, and have significantly enhanced engagement in dietetic sessions. Claire also arranged a training session with our nursing colleagues to demonstrate how to use her motivation for change resource, which is still in active use.
Throughout her placement, Claire grew rapidly in confidence and competence, eventually managing a small caseload by the end of placement. She built excellent rapport with young people—who still ask after her—and her warm, friendly presence made her a highly valued member of the team. Even after completing her placement, Claire has stayed in touch and has continued to attend our oline training days, demonstrating her continued commitment to this specialty.
Claire was truly a joy to work with, and we would welcome her back to our team in the future without hesitation.
Student Dietitian, Leeds Beckett University
Nominated by: Dr Linsey King, Claire Gardiner and Lisa Edwards, Course Director (LK), Senior lecturers (CG, LE), Leeds Beckett University
Sandy is a final year learner on the BSc Dietetics course at Leeds Beckett University. We proudly nominate her for Student of the Year for many reasons, but above all for her selflessness, exceptional leadership skills, and commitment to supporting the development of others.
Sandy immerses herself in the learning environment, engaging meaningfully in discussions, seeking additional information to deepen understanding, and sharing insight for the benefit of others. Her passion is evident, as a student ambassador supporting open days, and the nutrition and dietetic community group where she actively engages with prospective learners promoting the profession.
Sandy has also promoted dietetics locally and internationally, primarily as an ambassador, but also supporting visiting international partners. Sandy gave up her time to welcome and support the visitors as well as coordinating activities to share positive experiences of Leeds and the UK, fostering community links. This was recognised and praised by senior leaders in the university.
Sandy consistently goes above and beyond. Despite final year pressures, she volunteered to support a fellow learner in preparation for an assessment. She showed care, compassion, patience, and a strong commitment to inclusive practice—core values that underpin high quality healthcare.
She also volunteered to deliver a session for first year physiotherapy learners to promote the role of dietitians. She independently created a pre recorded presentation that demonstrated her enthusiasm, initiative, and creativity with feedback from the group: “A great understanding of how we work together across professions,” and “Lovely engaging images to keep our attention—well spoken and really interesting.”
Sandy demonstrates hard work, motivation, and dedication, she is a positive role model for our dietetic courses, the university both locally and internationally and all our future graduates. We have no doubt she will make an exceptional dietitian and feel she should be recognised for the contributions she has made.
Kindly sponsored by Yakult
Yakult Science for Health is an educational hub for healthcare professionals to deepen their knowledge and understanding of the gut microbiome, probiotics and more.
https://hcp.yakult.co.uk/
Founder of AJ Associates and Lead for Nutrition and Hydration Week
Nominated by: Edward Wilson, Retired, NHS; Julie Jones, Retired
Edward Wilson: Andy has spent 45 years in the NHS and is dedicated to patients’ wellbeing with good food and drink. He has innovated from the NHS water jug, which is now used in all NHS hospitals, after talking to patients and clinical teams about what they wanted to see in a jug for water, finger food menus, and dysphagia meals. The current focus is on hydration from IDDSI drinks machines to chilled water on a beverage trolley, serving hot drinks as well.
He set up Nutrition and Hydration week 14 years ago, which is now celebrated in healthcare, social care, and retail.
Nutrition and Hydration Week:
Nutrition and Hydration Week is an annual, international campaign focused on promoting the importance of good nutrition and hydration in health and social care settings. It’s widely marked in hospitals, care homes, community services, and catering departments across the NHS.
Hospital Food Transformation:
NHS Water Jug – The Problem
Patients and staff had long complained about the standard NHS water jug, as it was too heavy for frail patients to lift, lids fell off easily and the handles were hard to grip, especially with cannulas.
NHS Water Jug – The Initiative
Andy collaborated with Caroline Lecko (NHS England) and Sam Lee (NHS Supply Chain). They used patient feedback to guide the redesign process.
NHS Water Jug – The Solution
After several prototypes and trials, the jug was made smaller and lighter; new handle was added for better grip; secure lid was designed to prevent spills; jug was 12% cheaper than the previous version; new glasses were also designed to suit different grips.
NHS Water Jug – The Outcome
This project is a great example of how listening to patients and collaborating across departments can lead to practical, cost-effective improvements in care.
Andy has been a key advocate for improving packaging accessibility led Packaging Taskforce, which he helped lead as part of his broader mission to enhance patient care through better food service.
Packaging Accessibility – The Problem
Patients—especially older adults or those with limited dexterity—struggled to open single-portion food and drink packaging. This led to wasted food, poor nutrition, frustration and reduced dignity.
A study found that 63% of 73 million single-portion packs were difficult or impossible to open, equating to 44 million items. Helping patients open them could cost 250,000 work hours annually
Packaging Accessibility – The Initiative
Jones, as a Packaging Taskforce member and Chair of the Public Sector Catering 100 Group, worked with NHS England, Sheffield Hallam University (Dr. Alaster Yoxall), and Suppliers like Premier Foods, Unilever, and Juice Works.
They adopted ISO 17480, an international standard for accessible packaging design, and began testing products against it.
Packaging Accessibility – The Outcome
Julie Jones: Andy Jones, founder of AJ Associates, is a leading figure in UK public sector catering, particularly in health and social care. Here’s a detailed profile of his work and impact: Founder of AJ Associates (est. 2016): A consultancy focused on improving catering standards and contract management in the health and social care sectors.
Andy has over 40 years of experience in public sector catering, including senior roles in the NHS and private sector providers like ISS.
Achievements & Recognition
Advocacy & Influence
Media & Public Engagement
Andy is never one to shy away from issues and tackles them above and beyond.
Paediatric Inherited Metabolic Clinical & Research Dietitian, Birmingham Children’s Hospital, Birmingham Women’s and Children’s NHS Foundation Trust
Nominated by: Suzanne Ford, Dietitian Advisor to the NSPKU, National Society for Phenylketonuria (UK)
Alex started an internship in 2016 with the Inherited Metabolic Disorders (IMD) team at Birmingham Children’s Hospital, and from then became integral to the service.
From the outset, Alex demonstrated exceptional commitment to advancing metabolic dietetics and improving the lives of children living with IMDs. Alex’s passion lies in research that directly benefits patients. By combining clinical dietetic practice with high quality scientific investigation, he has built a unique and trusted relationship with the children and families he supports. He understands their daily challenges, listens to concerns, and ensures that his research addresses real world needs.
In 2025 Alex completed his PhD in Phenylketonuria (PKU), adding to an already remarkable academic record. He has authored more than 70 peer reviewed publications, consistently driving forward the evidence base for dietary management in IMDs. His work focuses on reducing the burden of low phenylalanine diets and equipping dietitians with the knowledge and tools needed to deliver the highest standard of care.
Alex has strengthened the international network of metabolic dietitians, supporting collaboration on rare IMD conditions. His leadership has improved practice and ensured expert attention for rare disorders. He has organised UK-wide and national studies on Citrin deficiency and PKU, led projects on methylmalonic acidaemia and fructose 1,6 bisphosphatase deficiency, and coordinated a major nine-centre European PKU project to enable harmonised data and cross-country comparisons.
Alex’s dedication extends beyond clinical and academic responsibilities. He regularly gives up weekends and bank holidays to support children with IMDs at family events and activity weekends. Whether making low protein pancakes at a children’s party, helping young people build confidence on outward bound activities, or collecting research stool samples, Alex always goes the extra mile.
He is a regular and respected speaker at national and international conferences and has been a long standing supporter of patient organisations, including NSPKU and ESPKU. His willingness to share expertise, mentor others, and contribute to peer support networks makes him a valued figure among families and professionals alike.
Alex’s contribution to metabolic dietetics is exceptional. His research, clinical insight, collaborative leadership, and unwavering dedication to children and families make him an outstanding and deeply deserving candidate for this award.
Critical Care Dietitian, Ulster Hospital
Nominated by: Nirouz Zarroug Broderick, Medical Affairs Dietitian, Nestlé Health Science
Pete Turner, Critical Care Dietitian at Ulster Hospital, is a truly outstanding nominee for Outstanding Achievement. Throughout his career, Pete has consistently demonstrated exceptional clinical expertise, leadership, and a deep commitment to advancing the field of dietetics.
As a former Chair of the Programmes committee for BAPEN, Pete has played a pivotal role in shaping national conversations around clinical nutrition. His leadership has helped elevate the profile of dietitians within multidisciplinary teams and ensured that nutrition remains central to patient care. He has been instrumental in paving the way for the profession, advocating for evidence-based practice and empowering others to challenge outdated approaches.
Pete is widely respected for his ability to translate complex evidence into practical, clinically relevant insights. He is passionate about education and consistently shares his knowledge with colleagues across the UK. A recent example is his highly regarded webinar on peptide feeds and the role of fibre in critical care, which was both insightful and impactful, sparking meaningful discussion and reflection among healthcare professionals.
What truly sets Pete apart is his willingness to challenge the status quo. He is not afraid to question established practices when the evidence suggests a better way forward, and he does so with professionalism, integrity, and a clear focus on improving patient outcomes. He remains at the forefront of emerging research, ensuring his practice and that of those he influences is always aligned with the latest evidence.
Pete Turner is an exceptional ambassador for dietetics. His leadership, innovation, and dedication make him a highly deserving recipient of this award.