Announcing the Winner of the Rose Acton Award: Emma Dyson
The Rose Acton Award was created to honour Rose’s legacy – her courage, compassion, and drive to make impactful change. This year, we are proud to announce Emma Dyson as the 2024/25 recipient of the award.
Emma, a 27-year-old doctor turned entrepreneur, has dedicated her career to transforming healthcare. During her six years in the NHS, she earned four Clinical Excellence Awards and contributed to important public health research. Yet, despite these achievements, she was deeply troubled by shortcomings in care delivery. This led her to take a bold step – leaving clinical practice to co-found Mana, a venture dedicated to revolutionising care for conditions like fibromyalgia and rheumatoid arthritis. Mana’s mission is to provide innovative monitoring solutions that empower patients and clinicians with targeted, effective treatments.
She applied for the Rose Acton Award to help sustain Mana’s momentum during its critical early phase, ensuring that patients often overlooked by traditional healthcare systems receive the care they deserve.
As Emma says:
“Though I never met Rose, her blog deeply humbled me. Her warmth, humour, and resilience were vividly apparent – qualities I greatly admire and strive to emulate in my own journey.”
A Legacy of Courage
Courage has defined Emma’s career, both in medicine and beyond. Whether advocating for patients, challenging institutional biases, or standing up to sexism, she has consistently taken a stand for what’s right. Now, at Mana, she channels this same courage into challenging outdated healthcare systems and advocating for better, more equitable care for rheumatic patients.
A Relentless Drive for Impact
Emma’s passion for meaningful change has been evident throughout her journey. From coordinating care for homeless patients in A&E to launching a medical teaching programme during COVID, she has always sought to make a tangible difference. Even outside medicine, she has demonstrated extraordinary discipline – competing in sport at an international level.
A Worthy Recipient
In the words of Rose’s father, Charles:
“After carefully considering all aspects of each candidate’s submission for the Rose Acton Award, we felt that Emma Dyson emerged as the most worthy recipient. Emma beautifully incorporated Rose into her answers, sharing powerful, specific examples that resonated deeply. She clearly holds the same principles and attributes as Rose—always striving to do the right thing, passionately committed to her venture, and determined to make a meaningful difference. We hope you all concur with our choice and that Emma continues to go from strength to strength with her new venture.”
We are honoured to recognise Emma Dyson as this year’s Rose Acton Award winner. Rose’s legacy lives on in those who share her commitment to compassion, courage, and change – and we have no doubt that Emma will continue to carry that forward.
Congratulations, Emma!
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About the Rose Acton Award
Rose Acton was a foundational member of the Zinc team, who sadly passed away in December 2020, age just 28, after being diagnosed with grade 4 glioblastoma. Rose was a Founder in the Mission 1 Venture Builder, and launched a business focused on improving the mental and emotional health of women experiencing challenges with fertility and pregnancy loss. From there, she then joined the Zinc family, where she made a huge impact with her work, and on the team, before her sudden diagnosis. The Rose Acton Award goes to a woman, invested in by Zinc, who we consider to be an exceptional founder, and honours our late colleague Rose’s values.
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