Taanya Stevens and Sinuba Naidu have won our Accredited Representative (AR) Andy Williams award for 2025, presented by Martin Woodrow, Chief Executive officer.
Andy Williams was a Senior Employment Relations Officer at the BDA who passed away in 2014 at the age of 52. This eponymous award continues his legacy of tireless and dedicated work for salaried dentists.
Taanya says “The nomination was unexpected but to actually receive the award was an absolute honour. Andy Williams trained me as an AR back in 2002 and I’ve always tried to uphold his standards, having had the role in three different trusts across the country since that time. Sinuba and I work really well as a team at BCHC NHS Foundation Trust endeavouring to protect the work of the Community Dental Service for BDA members, the wider dental team and, most importantly, our patients so to have that recognised is fantastic.”
Taanya and Sinuba work brilliantly well representing and defending the interests of our members employed by Birmingham Community Healthcare (BCHC) NHS Foundation Trust. Their collaboration has proved vital in defending national terms and conditions against attempts at local variation.
One of Taanya and Sinuba’s most notable achievements was a successful campaign to persuade the employer to create nearly 60 new band five posts for dental nurses. This outstanding accomplishment not only addressed critical staffing shortages but also improves working conditions and retention. Their ability to collaborate effectively with colleagues from other unions was vital in achieving this outcome, showcasing their ability to build good relationships and commitment to collective bargaining and solidarity.
Another great achievement was successfully rejecting persistent attempts to impose a medical appraisal and job planning model on dentists in the Community Dental Service through the Joint Local Negotiating Committee.
In addition, through the Joint Negotiating Committee, Taanya and Sinuba played a key role in devising and piloting of a new system for collecting and using exit feedback. This initiative was subsequently rolled out on a trust-wide basis, helping the organisation improve staff retention.
Sinuba says “Taanya and I are thrilled to have been awarded the Andy Williams Dental Accredited Representative Award. It was an honour just to be nominated, and we are very grateful to our regional BDA Employment Relations Officer, Alun McLean, for putting us forward.
It is a privilege to serve as BDA representatives, supporting our members in their work to provide the best possible care for patients while also championing their working terms and conditions.
We see our work as building on the huge steps Andy Williams took in establishing the BDA accredited representative role. His success in negotiating terms and conditions for dentists in the salaried service created the foundation upon which we all stand, and we are proud to continue that legacy.”
Their compassionate approach is equally evident in the support they provide to individual members facing health challenges affecting their work. Taanya and Sinuba have tirelessly advocated for reasonable adjustments and ongoing support, ensuring that members feel valued and supported in difficult circumstances.
Both ARs have been actively engaged in recruiting new members, strengthening the union’s presence and influence within the workforce. Taanya and Sinuba exemplify the very best of trade union representation - strategic, compassionate, and collaborative. Their consistent efforts have made a real difference to the lives and working conditions of countless members.