The Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN) and Radicle Science announced the establishment of the Annette Dickinson Trailblazer Award this year, which will recognize “bold, disruptive leaders redefining the dietary supplement and functional food industry.”

Nominations will be accepted from May 1 through May 30 through CRN’s platform here.

Annette Dickinson, PhD, blazed the trail for the establishment of the dietary supplement industry as the first staff member of CRN in 1973. She became president of the association from 2002 to 2005 and remained an active consultant and advocate for evidence-based nutrition policy, even after retiring from CRN.

“The Trailblazer Award is an opportunity to honor the kind of bold leadership and impact that Annette Dickinson exemplified throughout her career,” said Steve Mister, president and CEO of CRN. “We look forward to celebrating the inspiring contributions of innovative leaders who are shaping the future of our industry.”

“Trailblazers don’t wait for change, they ignite it. The Annette Dickinson Trailblazer Award honors industry disruptors who are transforming health and wellness through fearless action and visionary thinking,” said Pelin Thorogood, co-founder and executive chair of Radicle Science. “As a mission-driven public benefit corporation, Radicle Science is proud to celebrate those who push boundaries and inspire expansion of what’s possible.”

The award originated last year as the Trailblazing Woman Award, and was won by Yasmeen Nkrumah-Elie, PhD, global director for external research at ChromaDex. Beginning this year, the award now honors the memory of Dickinson.

Any CRN voting member company employee is eligible for nomination, and a panel of judges will select five finalists based on criteria including:

• Leadership: redefining influence through action, impact, and mentorship, and spearheading initiatives that significantly enhance the landscape to develop others in executive, scientific, and leadership roles.
• Innovation: catalyzing change through bold product, scientific, or strategic breakthroughs that address real consumer needs, shifting paradigms, and moving the industry forward through disruptive ideas and bold execution.
• Advocacy: advancing policies and mindsets that support innovation, public health, and industry accountability, igniting momentum, inspiring action, and sparking ripple effects that will extend beyond their own organizations.

Finalists will be announced in July, with a CRN member community vote to determine the winner. The recipient will be recognized at CRN’s Convergence ’25 event, taking place Oct. 8-10 in St. Louis.