Unlocking Opportunities: Why Volunteer with the BDA
In my professional career I’ve always believed in the importance of professional development and giving back to our field. That's why in 2018, I joined the Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition Group (PENG), a specialist group of the British Dietetic Association (BDA), as an ordinary officer. After learning about the PENG committee, their projects & their goals, I became the Education & Events Officer in 2020. Little did I know how volunteer roles would not only enhance my skills but also connect me with incredible professionals and create opportunities I couldn’t have imagined.
Stepping Into My Role
Since stepping into the Education & Events Officer role in January 2020, I’ve been focused on providing valuable continued professional development (CPD) opportunities for dietitians. During covid-19 as a committee we decided to host a webinar as we could not host our annual study day. This soon became a webinar series, and in just three years, we’ve hosted events with over 60 specialist speakers and welcomed more than 4,000 delegates for CPD.
The need for accessible, flexible CPD has never been more apparent, and it's been a privilege to help shape the educational offerings for PENG. On average, we now deliver three webinars, a half-day virtual study day, and a face-to-face study day every year. These events are often in collaboration with other specialist groups and are designed to give dietitians a deeper understanding of parenteral and enteral nutrition, helping them stay current in a rapidly evolving area of practice.
Expanding the Role in 2024
In 2024, we expanded the Education & Events role to include two officers, allowing us to co-organise even more events across the year. This year, we’ve successfully ran three webinars, a half-day virtual study day on nutrition support, and just last week, our two-day study day celebrating PENG’s 40th birthday!
The webinars have covered timely topics like eating disorders, nutrition support following bariatric tourism, and insights from our PENG & ESPEN award winners.
Last week we hosted a two day study event celebrating our 40th birthday where we explored essential topics like:
👶 Nutrition support in pregnancy
🎗️ Enteral/parenteral nutrition in oesophagogastric oncology care
🧒 Transitioning from paediatric to adult dietetic care
We also honored excellence with our 40th Birthday Awards, recognizing leaders in Clinical, Education, Leadership, and Research. 🏆 These awards highlighted the outstanding contributions of individuals driving excellence in nutrition support.
Why Volunteering Matters
Volunteering has been an incredibly rewarding experience, both personally and professionally. It has allowed me to work with experts in the field, develop my skills & knowledge, gain event management and organisational experience, gain experience gaining event sponsorship and contribute meaningfully to the professional development of the profession.
In June 2024, I was honoured to be awarded joint winner of BDA Volunteer of the Year, a recognition I share with my amazing colleagues who nominated me. This award serves as a reminder that volunteering is about more than just giving back—it’s about growing, learning, and shaping the future of dietetics.
Why You Should Get Involved
Volunteering for a specialist group like PENG offers more than just CPD. It allows you to:
Expand Your Network: Meet and collaborate with experts across different areas of dietetics.
Develop New Skills: Whether it's event planning, public speaking and/or leadership, you’ll gain hands-on experience.
Stay Ahead of the Curve: Keep up with the latest research and practices in your specialty.
Make a Difference: Help shape the future of dietetics by contributing to the professional development of your peers.
Whether you're a seasoned professional or just starting out, volunteering with a specialist group is a great way to advance your career while giving back to the profession. It’s an opportunity to learn, grow, and make an impact in ways you might not have imagined.
So, if you're passionate about dietetics and want to contribute to its future, I highly encourage you to consider volunteering with PENG or another specialist group. The rewards—both personal and professional—are immense, and who knows? It could open doors you never even knew were there.
