9 September, 2005
MEDIA RELEASE
Awards Recognise The Best In Health And Nutrition
Outstanding members of the dietetic profession were honoured this week by receiving awards at the New Zealand Dietetic
Association (NZDA) annual conference.
The awards evening recognised the achievements of this year’s award winners, while last night was reserved for the
surprise announcement of the prestigious NZDA Award of Excellence.
This year’s recipient of the Excellence Award was Penny Field, Director of the University of Otago’s Dietetic Training
programme. The Award of Excellence is given to a professional dietitian who has made a significant contribution to the
advancement of the profession in New Zealand.
Penny Field’s position of Director is a new one, recognising the programme at Otago is world renowned and unique in
acknowledging the growing diversity of the profession.
Penny is passionate about nurturing dietetic students and graduates and plays a significant mentoring role at the
University. She is currently completing a PhD, focusing on the application of research in nutrition policy making.
Her nominating colleagues said of Penny, “She believes in teaching for tomorrow, and the profession is particularly
indebted to her leadership of the dietetic training programme and her contribution to the Dietitians’ Board for so many
years.”
Karen Fukofuka received this year’s Nestlé Young Achiever Award. Karen is recognised for performing well outside the
realms of an ordinary workload, having completed her dietetic training at the same time as working in both paid and
voluntary dietetic positions, and raising a family of seven!
Karen holds various positions on nutrition-related Boards and Committees, and her advice and guidance on the health and
nutrition of Pacific Islanders is extremely valuable.
For outstanding diligence and dedication to the study of dietetics, Susan Cook received this year’s Bernice Kelly award
for Top All Round Student. Susan also received the Spotless Award for Top Academic Student.
NZDA president, Helen Wallwork, said the recipients were all outstanding. “We were absolutely thrilled to have such a
high calibre of nominees this year, and it was with great pleasure we were able to honour our profession in this way.”
“The NZDA would like to thank all award sponsors for recognising the importance of dietetics and for making the awards
possible.”
A full list of awards, recipients, and sponsors follows:
NZDA Awards 2005
Award Recipient Sponsor
Young Achiever Award Karen Fukofuka Nestlé
Abbott Award Alex Chisholme, Julian Jensen Abbott and Education Trust Fund
Abbott and Ed Trust Awards Ingrid Perols, Jenny Hayward (NZDA Central District) Abbott and Education Trust Fund
Bernice Kelly Award – Top All Round Student Susan Cook Bernice Kelly
Spotless Award – Top Academic Student Susan Cook Spotless Services (NZ) Ltd
Neige Todhunter Award Amy Pettigrew (Masters in Science in Human Nutrition) Neige Todhunter
Nutricia Auspen Award Paul Rigby Nutricia Auspen
Award of Excellence Penny Field NZDA
ENDS
About the NZDA
The New Zealand Dietetic Association, founded in 1943, is the professional Association for registered dietitians and
associated professionals. New Zealand registered dietitians are registered by the Dietitians’ Board. Members of NZDA
work within a professional code of ethics.
For more information visit: www.dietitians.org.nz