Amanda Avery has worked in Southern Derbyshire for the past 16 years as a dietitian with the community nutrition service. This service has a remit of working with all age groups and Amanda has chaired the Infant Feeding Policy/Under Fives Nutrition Group for a number of years.

Whilst retaining a small clinical workload she has, over the years, specialised more in promoting health and community initiatives and in co-ordinating an annual nutrition training programme for local professionals.

In 2000 she was seconded to the Public Health Directorate in Southern Derbyshire Health Authority to concentrate on developing a strategic framework for tackling obesity. Her report, Tackling Obesity in Southern Derbyshire – A Framework for Action, is a result of that secondment.

Amanda is now back with the community nutrition service, working as the community dietitian with the South Derby and Derbyshire Dales Primary Care Group. Amanda joined Slimming World in September 2001 to project manage the Slimming World on Referral study; a role which has expanded to Slimming World on Referral Partnership Co-ordinator.