The Award of Excellence is the highest award of the Federation. The Award is made in recognition of outstanding contributions to Conservative Dentistry over a period, normally in excess of 30 years, in one or more of the fields of clinical practice, education, research, contributions to society, leadership and the promotion of professional standards. The Award will normally be given to a prominent European in the field, but may be awarded to an individual whose international activities and involvement in European affairs is judged to have had a major impact on Conservative Dentistry. The number of Awards is limited to one each year to reflect the exceptional achievements of awardees and to encourage the highest possible standards and levels of attainment in Conservative Dentistry in Europe.

Nominations for the Award, judged to satisfy the exceptional high standards required of awardees, will be referred to the Board of the Federation, which will be responsible for final decisions regarding the outcome of all nominations. Each year, the President of the Federation will ask all members of the organisation to identify one or two individuals for consideration at the Annual Board Meeting. At the Annual Board Meeting a shortlist of normally three individuals will be agreed. An Award of Excellence Committee will be established, with the membership being appointed by the Board. The Chairman of the Award of Excellence Committee will invite the short listed candidates to submit their curriculum vitae to the Committee without any indication of the possible outcome, let alone details of the other candidates. Candidates who refuse to submit their curriculum vitae or otherwise refuse to accept the arrangements for the selection of awardees will be excluded. The Award of Excellence Committee will consider and rank the candidates. The Chairman of the Committee will inform the President of the Federation of the agreed ranking. The President will take the ranking to the Board which will determine the awardee. In anticipation of the time required to complete the selection process, the procedure should be commenced twelve months in advance of the anticipated award.

In the event of a nomination being unsuccessful, a new nomination may be made as and when there is evidence of new, meritorious contributions to Conservative Dentistry in Europe or elsewhere in the world. Nominations will be individually judged on their merits and strengths. All deliberations in respect of nominations and awards will be strictly confidential.

Arrangements for the presentation of Awards of Excellence will be determined by the Board of the Federation. Presentation of the Award of Excellence will be made biannually by the President of the Federation at the ConsEuro meeting. The Award will take the form of a certificate and a decorative statue, including the awardee’s name and the year of the Award. The Award will not be accompanied by a monetary prize. Recipients of the Award of Excellence will not be accorded any special rights or privilege in the Federation. At the time of an Award, the Federation will advise all relevant organisations, including the awardee’s national dental association, with a request that the announcement of the Award be widely publicised through, for example, national dental journals and other periodicals.

A list of Award holders will be maintained and from time to time published by the Federation (on the website) in further recognition of the outstanding achievements of awardees.

Once made, an Award of Excellence may only be rescinded in exceptional circumstances and with at least a two-thirds decision of the General Assembly.