CWT announce shortlist for Nutritionist and Freelance Nutritionist of the Year Award

The Caroline Walker Trust (CWT) is delighted to announce the shortlist for the CWT Awards 2020 Nutritionist of the Year and Freelance Nutritionist of the Year.  The awards celebrate the achievements of those who work in evidence-based nutrition.

The theme for this year’s award was to ‘To Triumph through Adversity’, aimed at highlighting the lengths which Nutritionists are going to promote the need for good quality food to improve health, particularly during challenging personal and professional times, while supporting others to also make a difference to public health by advancing the standards of good nutrition for health and wellbeing.

“Caroline Walker Trust awards are intended to highlight distinctive and outstanding work in promoting public health by maintaining and advancing standards of food and nutrition. This year we acknowledge those who are striving to make a difference when times are tough, and there are so many changes to our daily lives” said Kathy Lewis, Acting Chair of the CWT

The official shortlist of the CWT 2020 Annual Awards showcases the diversity of nutritionists working in a variety of settings to provide and improve the quality of our food and nation’s diet.  The shortlisted nominees for Nutritionist of the Year comprise Dr Farzard Amirabdollahian, Zoe Griffiths, Suzanne Fletcher and Holly Roper.

“The diversity of nominees achievements for 2020 was extremely insightful, especially in the face of such unprecedented adversity.  Those shortlisted have also shown resilience by adapting their work to support the needs of the others during a pandemic,” remarked Kathy Lewis.

The Trust also wants to reflect how Registered Nutritionists work freelance, just like Caroline Walker had done.  The shortlisted nominees for the Freelance Nutritionist of the Year comprise Barbara Bray, Zoe Griffiths, Lee McCusker and Dr Lucy Williamson.  (Quotes from each provided in Editor’s Notes)

“I am delighted with the strong innovations of this year’s category. The awards aim to highlight the great work of Nutritionists, to support those who are continuing to make a difference while inspiring a new generation of nutritionists to do likewise,”  said Maria Papagiannaki, Chair of CWT Award Judging Panel for Nutritionist of the Year and Freelance Nutritionist of the Year.

The Nutritionist of the Year award is sponsored by the Nutrition Society and supported by the Association for Nutrition.  The Freelance Nutritionist of the Year award is sponsored by the Nutrition Society and SENSE.

CWT would like to congratulate all the shortlisted nominees and everyone who submitted nominations.  CWT would also like to thank the Judges for their hard work for judging the nominees from an impressive range of submissions, and the Nutrition Society, Association for Nutrition and SENSE for their sponsorship of the Awards.

For further information on the awards nominations: https://bit.ly/3jTIf2f

Contact Kathy Lewis [email protected] 07961 317 621

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Notes to the Editor

1. For information on the background to the awards and how the result was arrived see: https://www.cwt.org.uk/the-caroline-walker-trust-awards-2020/
2. The Caroline Walker Trust was founded in 1989 after the death of the distinguished nutritionist, writer and campaigner Caroline Walker. Established to continue her work and in her spirit, the CWT works tirelessly to promote the improvement of public health through good food. The work of CWT is particularly targeted towards vulnerable groups and people who need special help.
3. This year the theme for the Awards is ‘To Triumph Through Adversity’. Unfortunately, due to Covid-19, the Reception and Awards Celebrations will now be held in 2021.
4. The Nutritionist of the Year award has been sponsored by the Nutrition Society nutritionsociety.org and the Association for Nutrition www.associationfornutrition.org
5. The Freelance Nutritionist of the Year award has been sponsored by SENSE and the Nutrition Society nutritionsociety.org
6. The Association for Nutrition (AfN) holds the UK Voluntary Register of Nutritionists (UKVRN), a register of competent, qualified nutrition professionals who meet our rigorously applied standards for scientifically sound evidence-based nutrition and its use in practice.  The UK Voluntary Register of Nutritionists is the only register of qualified nutritionists recognised by Public Health England, NHS Choices and NHS Careers.
7. The Nutrition Society of the UK and Ireland was established in 1941 and is one of the largest learned societies for nutrition in the world. With over 2,600 members internationally, the Society is dedicated to delivering its mission of advancing the scientific study of nutrition and its application to animal and human health. The Society disseminates and promotes nutrition science through its six journals and six textbooks, in addition to regularly organising CPD endorsed conferences and webinars. Working with universities, parliamentarians, industry representatives, academic researchers, and other membership organisations, the Society aims to create opportunities for building relationships that strengthen research and collaboration within the field. Membership is open to any individual with an interest in nutritional science.
8. SENSE is the original unique network for professional self-employed Registered Nutritionists and Registered Dietitians. It exists to provide members with professional development, support and advice. Founded in 1996 by Dr Margaret Ashwell as  ‘Self Employed Nutritionists’  Support and Enlightenment’, SENSE now has more than 70 members and a flourishing CPD programme of twice-yearly meetings. http://www.sense-nutrition.org.uk

Shortlisted Nutritionist of the Year Quotes

9. “I am extremely proud to have been nominated for the Caroline Walker Trust Nutritionist of the Year. I am passionate about promoting evidence-based nutrition and raising the profile of Registered Nutritionists, so this is a great honour indeed.”  Zoe Griffiths, Registered Nutritionist (Public Health), ZG Nutrition
10. “It’s an honour to be shortlisted for CWT’s Nutritionist of the Year. The Book Club has, & continues to, provide a platform for nutrition students, graduates & professionals to meet & access CPD. It has been a privilege to create such a passionate & welcoming community during such trying times.” Miss Holly Roper, ANutr 
11. “I am delighted to be shortlisted for the CWT Nutritionist of the Year Award. The CWT is dedicated to the improvement of public health through good food, and I am passionate about contributing to this mission bymaintaining and advancing standards of nutrition education and research within academia.”  Dr Amirabdollahian, Associate Professor in Nutrition, Liverpool Hope University.
12. “It feels great to be nominated for the Nutritionist of the Year award. This year has been difficult for everyone but particularly so for our most vulnerable and disadvantaged communities. Being recognised in this way is a wonderful and welcome gesture of support.” Suzanne Fletcher, Founding Director, Registered Nutritionist, Nutrition Scotland.

Shortlisted Freelance Nutritionist of the Year Quotes

13. “My growing Food LINKS initiative, enabling British farmers to effectively communicate the health benefits of their produce, has been particularly rewarding this year, given the challenges faced by many. Recognition by the Caroline Walker Trust of evidence-based work by Registered Nutritionists is invaluable in promoting public health; I am delighted and grateful to have been shortlisted.” Dr Lucy Williamson DVM BVM&S, MSc
14. “I am honoured to have been nominated for the Freelance Nutritionist of the Year. To be recognised for my work in public health nutrition and supporting the next generation of Registered Nutritionists is an incredible privilege.” Zoe Griffiths, Freelance Registered Nutritionist (Public Health), ZG Nutrition
15. “I’m absolutely thrilled to be shortlisted for the awards, and I congratulate my fellow nutritionists on their achievements. In a year that has been volatile, unpredictable and chaotic it has felt good to be able to help others in their work on nutrition and food security and to highlight what changes we need to make in society. The recognition by the Trust of the distinguished nutritionist Caroline Walker is an honour. Thank you” Barbara Bray MBE, FIFST RNutr NSch, Director of Alo Solutions Ltd, alo-solutions.com
16. “I am delighted to have been shortlisted for the CWT 2020 ‘’Freelance Nutritionist of the Year’’. I am very grateful that people in the nutrition world have taken note of my work especially during the coronavirus pandemic.”  Lee McCusker (BA; MSc; MSc) Food Nutritionist