In 2015 LCGB announced a new award for Outstanding Contribution to Breastfeeding as an IBCLC, and this Award is designed to celebrate and draw attention to the impact of IBCLC lactation consultants’ contribution to the support of breastfeeding in the UK as part of our goal of promoting and advancing the role.
In 2023 Sarah Oakley won the award. Sarah is an educator, a subject expert, a leader, a founding member, former chair and current committee member of the Association of Tongue Tie Practitioners. Sarah also deserves recognition for her national leadership and work to ensure safe and effective tongue tie services for families.
In 2022 Emma Pickett won the award. Emma has a long history in the volunteer sector, as a leader, an educator, an author and a speaker.  She is an advocate for volunteer sector breastfeeding support including breastfeeding peer supporters and breastfeeding counsellors, as well as for skilled support and resources that meet the individual needs of breastfeeding and lactating families.
In 2021 Philippa Pearson-Glaze won the award. Philippa has developed a comprehensive resource via an easy to navigate website, covering a wide range of topics of interest to nursing families and to those supporting them.
In 2020 all LCGB members won the award. LCGB was aware that during the pandemic each and every one of our members made a powerful and significant contribution, however large or small, adapting how they worked and creatively adjusted services.
In 2019 Deborah Robertson won the award. Deborah has single-handedly trained many of today’s cohort of IBCLCs in the UK. Her skill as a teacher, her professionalism, her high ethical standards, and her deep love for breastfeeding, mothers and babies, has contributed to the training of hundreds of today’s IBCLCs.
In 2018 Pamela Morrison won the Award in recognition of her work with mothers and babies not only in the UK, but also in many other parts of the world, especially with WABA, and her expertise and knowledge of HIV.
In 2017 the Award went jointly to Helen Gray and Clare Meynell who were nominated in celebration of their persistence, determination and dedication in pursuing the first UK WBTi report.
In 2016 the award was presented to Viv Sleeman, who has long been active in support of breastfeeding and of LCGB. (Read Viv's Obituary)
The first award in 2015 was given to Karla Napier, who is now in private practice but was previously an Infant Feeding Advisor with NHS Lothian for 12 years.
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Sarah has a busy and well-established independent practice supporting mothers, their babies and families, applying her skills as an IBCLC, nurse, HV and tongue tie practitioner. She worked as a volunteer breastfeeding counsellor for the Association of Breastfeeding Mothers 6 years and ran a weekly breastfeeding support group as a volunteer for 12 years.
Sarah is also an infant feeding and tongue-tie educator - delivering training to healthcare professionals and breastfeeding supporters in the public, private and volunteer sector.  She is active on social media, offering guidance and support to practitioners and families alike. She has also written a five-star-reviewed book. She is prolific .. and one of the leaders in her field!
Emma directly provides breastfeeding support in her voluntary capacity to women and families in her local community and via the national breastfeeding help line; she has a small private practice as an IBCLC; she has been active at a national level; as part of the APPG on Infant Feeding and Inequalities, with the Baby Feeding Law Group, (BFLG) and with the emerging Breastfeeding Alliance, all with considerable strategic and diplomatic skills; Emma was chair of the Association of Breastfeeding Mothers, Jan 2013 - Feb 2022, and she continues her education role with the ABM.
She is also the author of three books:
- You've Got It In You: a positive guide to breastfeeding for new parents
- The Breast Book: a puberty guide with a difference - it's the when, why and how of breasts (for 9-14yr olds)
- Supporting breastfeeding past the first six months and beyond: a guide for professionals and parents.
Philippa has developed a comprehensive resource via an easy to navigate website, covering a wide range of topics of interest to nursing families and to those supporting them. Breastfeeding.Support collates the evidence from many sources, proving links to articles and videos for those wishing to learn, read more and have practical breastfeeding information all gathered in one place. Philippa’s website enables families to better understand normal baby behaviour, how lactation works, and help them make decisions and fulfil their feeding goals.
Philippa is the owner and editor of https://breastfeeding.support , an evidence-based website sharing helpful breastfeeding tips and resources.
Email to all members 28th November 2020:
During the AGM we made our announcement for the 2020 Outstanding Contribution to Breastfeeding Award.
We are aware that during the pandemic each and every one of you has made a powerful and significant contribution, however large or small, adapting how you work and creatively adjusting services. It's been tough for families and a challenging time for everyone supporting breastfeeding.
Each of you has made an outstanding contribution to breastfeeding during this difficult year.
We therefore decided that this year’s Award for Outstanding Contribution to Breastfeeding would be awarded to every one of our members!
Congratulations to all of you! And a huge thank you for everything you have done to support families during this very difficult year.Zoe Faulkner
Chair, LCGB
Deborah has single-handedly trained many of today’s cohort of IBCLCs in the UK. Her skill as a teacher, her professionalism, her high ethical standards, and her deep love for breastfeeding, mothers and babies, has contributed to the training of hundreds of today’s IBCLCs. Deborah’s dedicated work over the years has produced skilled breastfeeding specialists who are supporting mothers and babies all across the country, transforming the landscape of breastfeeding support within the NHS and beyond
Pamela Morrison has worked with breastfeeding mothers and babies for over 30 years and has a particular specialism in breastfeeding in the context of HIV and managing low weight gain in exclusively breastfed babies.
This year’s award winners have facilitated and brought together many related breastfeeding organisations and driven forward a national system for assessing breastfeeding strategy, policy and support in the United Kingdom. They have liaised with both organisations and individuals and facilitated working together for the shared aim. The legacy of these connections and relationships will hopefully continue
In 2016 the award was presented to Viv Sleeman, who has long been active in support of breastfeeding and of LCGB.
“I am truly honoured to receive this award. I’m grateful to my NHS Lothian colleagues for supporting me over the years, to LCGB and La Leche League for the professional education and nurturing they continue to provide, and to all the mothers and babies who have so kindly allowed me to learn through their experiences.”
