AuSPEN offers members the opportunity for three conference awards - The Bob McMahon Prize, David Russell Prize and AuSPEN Research Prize

The Bob McMahon Prize will be preferentially awarded to an outstanding research presentation which may encompass:

  • Basic science

  • Clinical research

  • Clinical epidemiology


Systematic reviews are considered to be within the research category.

The David Russell Prize will be preferentially awarded to an outstanding Clinical Service Enhancement presentation which may encompass:

  • Translational research / translation of research into practice

  • Quality improvement programs/projects

  • Service development projects

  • Service/program analysis/evaluation

The AuSPEN Research Prize will be awarded to the highest scoring rapid-fire poster presentation. This format provides an opportunity for poster presenters to deliver a short oral presentation during the conference programme.


Eligible abstracts for both posters and oral presentations are considered for these AuSPEN prizes.

Prize Eligibility Criteria

Previous Award Winners

2024 Award Winners

  1. Elizabeth Viner Smith - Dietitians Association of Australia Award for ‘Best Poster by a Dietitian’

  2. Claire Reilly - David Russell Award for ‘Outstanding Clinical Service Enhancement Presentation’

  3. Lisa Murnane - Bob McMahan Award for ‘Outstanding Research Presentation’

2023 Award Winners

  1. Tahnie Takefala - Dietitians Association of Australia Award for ‘Best Poster by a Dietitian’

  2. Emma Osland - David Russell Award for ‘Outstanding Clinical Service Enhancement Presentation’

  3. Heidi Johnston - Bob McMahan Award for ‘Outstanding Research Presentation’

2022 Award Winners

  1. Annie Curtis - Award for ‘Best Poster’

  2. Peter Konstantopoulos - David Russell Award for ‘Outstanding Clinical Service Enhancement Presentation’

  3. Kate Lambell - Bob McMahan Award for ‘Outstanding Research Presentation’

2021 Award Winners

  1. Anna Beaumont - Dietitians Association of Australia Award for ‘Best Poster by a Dietitian’

  2. Irene Defereos - David Russell Award for ‘Outstanding Clinical Service Enhancement Presentation’

  3. Suzie Ferrie - Bob McMahan Award for ‘Outstanding Research Presentation’

2019 Award Winners

  1. Courtney Turner - Dietitians Association of Australia Award for ‘Best Poster by a Dietitian’

  2. Annabel Doolan - David Russell Award for ‘Outstanding Clinical Service Enhancement Presentation’

  3. Lisa Murnane - Bob McMahan Award for ‘Outstanding Research Presentation’

2018 Award Winners

  1. Kym Wittholz - Dietitians Association of Australia Award for ‘Best Poster by a Dietitian’

  2. Miranda Einstein - President's Award for ‘Most Patient-centred Oral Presentation’

  3. Sophie Hogan - David Russell Award for ‘Outstanding Clinical Service Enhancement Presentation’

  4. Ra’essa Doola - Bob McMahan Award for ‘Outstanding Research Presentation’

2017 Award Winners

  1. Jessie Varghese - David Russell Award for ‘Outstanding Clinical Service Enhancement Presentation’

  2. Louise Becroft - Bob McMahan Award for ‘Outstanding Research Presentation’



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