BAPEN’s new Communications Officer
Ellie, tell us a bit about your background as a dietitian and lecturer, and what first inspired you to pursue this career?
Early in my career, I worked across a range of acute and community settings, eventually specialising as a surgical dietitian within hepatico-pancreatico-biliary (HPB) care. I’ve always had a strong interest in health and nutrition and knew early on that I wanted to work in healthcare, but it wasn’t until I became involved in student training within the NHS that I truly considered pursuing a career in education. Moving into higher education allowed me to combine clinical expertise with teaching, mentoring, and research — an environment where I could influence not just individual patients, but the next generation of professionals who will care for them.
We know you’re passionate about dietetic education, can you tell us more about this?
Dietetic education is the foundation of professional competence and confidence. I’m particularly interested in how we prepare students to manage the complexity of modern healthcare — balancing clinical judgement with compassion, adaptability, and clear communication. I believe education should be dynamic, inclusive, and aligned with emerging evidence. My passion lies in developing curricula and placement experiences that reflect real-world challenges and encourage critical, reflective thinking. Ultimately, it’s about ensuring that graduates are not just ready for their first job — but ready for a lifetime of professional growth and leadership.
What is it like providing mentorship and educational practice-based learning across six UK universities?
It’s so rewarding! Working with multiple universities offers a unique opportunity to see the breadth of approaches to training and practice-based learning. It requires strong collaboration with academic teams, placement teams, and students — ensuring that learning experiences are both structured and flexible enough to meet individual needs. Mentorship, in particular, is one of the most rewarding aspects. Supporting students and early-career dietitians to develop their professional identity and clinical reasoning is something I take great pride in.
What made you apply for the role of Communications Officer for BAPEN?
Having volunteered with PENG since 2019 — and serving as their Education Officer since 2020 — as well as contributing to BAPEN’s work over the past six years through the Malnutrition Action Group (MAG) and the Education Committee, I’ve developed a strong appreciation for the organisation’s values and its collaborative approach.
These experiences have shown me the impact of clear, strategic communication in connecting professionals, disseminating evidence, and promoting best practice across disciplines. I applied for the Communications Officer role because I wanted to build on this work — helping to strengthen BAPEN’s voice, enhance engagement, and ensure that the organisation continues to lead the national conversation on clinical nutrition.
What do you hope to achieve in your new role as Communications Officer for BAPEN?
My goal is to follow in Kate’s footsteps and continue to strengthen BAPEN’s voice and visibility — ensuring that our messages reach not only nutrition and dietetic professionals, but also the wider healthcare community, policymakers, and the public. I’m particularly keen to enhance engagement with universities, fostering stronger connections between students, educators, and clinical networks.
Why do you think it is important for professionals working in clinical nutrition and wider to get involved with BAPEN?
Getting involved allows professionals to contribute directly to this mission — by sharing expertise, supporting education, and driving quality improvement. Engagement with BAPEN helps to bridge the gap between research, policy, and clinical practice, ensuring that nutrition remains a core consideration in patient care – and not just as dietitians, but also as nurses, medics and Allied Health Professionals.
By working collaboratively through BAPEN, professionals can help influence national priorities, contribute to meaningful change, and stay connected to a network of colleagues who are passionate about advancing the field. In a healthcare system facing increasing complexity and demand, collective action through organisations like BAPEN is essential to achieving sustained, positive impact.
