ABDO awards

The ABDO Awards recognise distinguished members and supporters of the Association and the profession who have gone above and beyond in their dedication and service.

ABDO members are invited to nominate colleagues for the following awards:

• Life Membership
  Awarded to distinguished members who have shown both exceptional leadership within the profession and dedicated service to ABDO over a sustained period. Typical recipients are those who have represented ABDO, usually in a voluntary capacity, on internal and external committees, and at Board level, and achieved a substantial impact.
• Medal of Excellence
  Awarded to members who have shown excellence in serving the interests of the Association and the profession. This may include making a substantial contribution at regional or local level.
• Honorary Fellowship
  Awarded to non-dispensing opticians who have been of great service and support to the Association over a sustained period and played a substantial role in promoting the role of dispensing opticians.

We very much value the fact that we have many longstanding and loyal members, but longevity in the profession alone is not sufficient to be considered for an award.

The ABDO Awards Committee carefully reviews all nominations before presenting their recommendations to the ABDO Board for approval. Please ensure nominations are reflective of the awards’ significance and are accompanied by detailed information highlighting the nominee’s unique contributions.

In addition to the specific criteria relating to each award, the Committee shall examine whether a nominee meets the following criteria, recognising that these may not all be appropriate for recipients of the Honorary Fellowship:

• A record of substantial professional achievement
• Active participation in Association activities, initiatives, or events, which may include participation at regional or local level
• Significant unpaid or voluntary work for the Association
• High standards of professional and personal conduct
• A long and deep commitment to the Association

The list of awards presented previously can be found here.

Deadline for nominations: 30 October 2025

• Submit online using the form below
• Awards will be presented at the ABDO graduation ceremony on 19 May 2026

Please contact Jane Burnand jburnand@abdo.org.uk  if you have any questions about the process or need support with your nomination.

The nominee will only be contacted if their nomination is approved.

Nomination form

Please complete all sections below. Do not include web links, as only written content will be considered by the Awards Committee. If you wish to nominate an individual for more than one award or nominate more than one individual for an award, please use a separate form for each nomination.

Guidance for nominators
Please show how the individual you are nominating meets the specific criteria for the relevant award.

The Awards Committee will also consider the following factors when assessing nominations (where applicable):

• A record of substantial professional achievement
• Active participation in Association activities, initiatives, or events (national, regional or local)
• Significant unpaid or voluntary work for the Association
• High standards of professional and personal conduct
• A long and deep commitment to the Association
• Nominees for Life Membership and the Medal of Excellence must be ABDO members

Please keep these criteria in mind when submitting your nomination. Incomplete or vague nominations may not be considered.