Credentialled Diabetes Educators of the Year announced at ADC 2025
- tobyvue
- 12 hours ago
- 3 min read
Helen Lamech has been named the 2025 Jan Baldwin National CDE of the Year, headlining a group of outstanding educators from across Australia recognised for their significant contributions to improving the lives of people living with diabetes.
Announced on 21 August at the Australasian Diabetes Congress (ADC) on the Gold Coast, Ms Lamech, from the Northern Territory, was visibly emotional as she received the award on stage.
“I am so shocked and thank you for whoever voted for me,” Ms Lamech said.
Celebrating excellence in diabetes education
The CDE of the Year Awards recognise individuals who have shown outstanding commitment, innovation and impact in diabetes education and support.
In addition to the national award, winners were announced across three special categories:
Consumer Choice CDE of the Year: Karen Shann
Early Career CDE of the Year: Amy Zheng
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander CDE of the Year: Shirley Kusu
A CDE of the Year was also awarded in each state and territory, each receiving a $1000 professional development scholarship:
Queensland: Karen Shann
Australian Capital Territory: Kirstin Turner (unable to attend)
Victoria: Dawn Prescod (unable to attend)
Western Australia: Pixie Barrie (unable to attend)
Northern Territory: Jaimee Anderson and Helen Lamech (tie)
South Australia: Isla Yiannoullou (unable to attend)
New South Wales: Sian Bramwell
Tasmania: no submission was received
Ms Lamech was selected from this group of state and territory winners and awarded the Jan Baldwin National CDE of the Year title and a $5000 scholarship, as well as the opportunity to speak at the ADC.
Honouring Jan Baldwin’s legacy
ADEA President, Ann Bush, reflected on the origins of the award and its enduring legacy.
"These awards evolved from the Jan Baldwin Award, named after an innovative and influential diabetes educator," she said.
"We acknowledge Jan's husband, Bob Walsh, who usually attends but is unable to this year.
"But we do warmly welcome her nephew, Dean Adams, here today."
Ms Bush said she remembered Ms Baldwin as "an amazing mentor to many of us when ADEA first started, so this is such an honour to be able to award these today".
“This year, we received a large number of nominations nationwide, making the judges’ task especially challenging," she said.
"We thank Eli Lilly Australia, who has supported this award since 2014, enabling winners to receive scholarships for professional development.”
Industry support and recognition
Kevin Lim, Associate Vice President Medical, Eli Lilly Australia and New Zealand, congratulated all winners and acknowledged the impact of every CDE.
"Every year, we realise the impact that ADEA members are having on people with diabetes," he said.
"We have this commitment to supporting ADEA into the future. I congratulate all the winners of the awards today.
"I also realise that for everybody who comes up on stage today, there are hundreds of others who are out there serving patients and doing it as silent heroes."
Mr Lim encapsulated "the gratitude that every member of Eli Lilly has for the diabetes educators in the room through a poem", which included:
With every test, with every chart
They teach with signs and with heart
Explaining carbs with highs and lows
The path that every patient knows
They listen close, they understand
With empathy in every hand
They turn confusion into grace
And help each soul find their own pace
For more on the awards and past recipients, click here.
