College Council

Hassnain was elected as Council member for the East Midlands in 2020 and Trustee in 2024 and has since helped guide both the Education and Standards and Research committees. He also helped the College navigate through COVID helping to draft guidelines for members and played a pivotal role in the development and implementation of the College’s strategy, with a particular focus on primary care. Hassnain is passionate about building a strong relationship between primary and secondary care and strives to promote the role optometrists can play in an increasingly stretched NHS.

E: hassnain.safdar@college-optometrists.org

Alongside her role at LOCSU, Reena is a Clinic Tutor at Aston University, where she teaches undergraduate and postgraduate optometry students clinical practice skills. She also serves as the CPD Officer for both Leicestershire & Rutland and Walsall LOCs, actively organising regional educational events.

Reena brings a wealth of experience from clinical practice, having worked across community, hospital, and research settings. She continues to practise as a locum optometrist and is committed to empowering clinicians through education and collaboration. She is committed to improving patient outcomes and reducing health inequalities through optometry-led care.

E: Reena.RaniAnand@college-optometrists.org

Kez is passionate about undergraduate optometric education and upskilling of the profession through postgraduate study, and also in the importance of research for the development of optometry as a mature, evidence-led profession. She was elected to College Council in March 2021.

E: keziah.latham@college-optometrists.org

Currently, Seema is a pre-registration clinical supervisor and senior optometrist working in Boots Opticians. She also works for other various independent practices and is a committee member and social media and engagement lead of the Hertfordshire LOC. Seema is passionate about developing, engaging and educating student Optometrists. She is currently studying the higher diploma in Independent Prescribing and would encourage other Optometrists to keep developing themselves to help play an important role in reducing the burden on secondary eyecare services. She was elected College Council member March 2024.

In her spare time, Seema is active in the charity sector to strengthen community bonds, and also enjoys gardening, painting and cooking.

He graduated from Anglia Ruskin University in 2020. After completing his undergraduate degree, he continued his education at the University College London Institute of Ophthalmology and obtained a Master’s Degree in Ophthalmology in 2021. During his time at ARU, he was actively involved in various societies, including the ARU optic society. He served as the academic representative for the Ophthalmology MSc and founded UCL Ophthalmology and Vision Science Society at UCL and ran a podcast during his time at UCL.

He joined the Imperial College Ophthalmology Research Group (ICORG) in 2021, prior to his pre-registration year, and has since been working very closely with them, participating in research as an optometrist.

He completed his pre-registration year at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust. His time spent at Western Eye Hospital focused on training in a variety of multi-disciplinary team, closely collaborating with ophthalmologists, orthoptists, ophthalmic nurses, and advanced ophthalmic practitioners.

Yuan’s passion for optometry lies in the advances within the field; he strongly supports closer collaboration among all ophthalmic professions. He is also passionate about education, advance practice in optometry. He believes that working with college members as a council member can bring a positive impact on advancing the profession.

Alongside her clinical work, Irene developed an extensive academic career. Following the completion of her MSc in Clinical Optometry and PhD, she joined City St George’s, University of London, where she held a number of leadership positions including Head of Department of Optometry and Visual Science and Associate Dean. She is currently Dean of the School of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences at the University of Hertfordshire, leading a large multidisciplinary portfolio encompassing optometry, medicine, pharmacy, nursing, midwifery, allied health professions, social work, psychology, biosciences and public health and sport science.

Irene has made a substantial contribution to the development of optometric education and professional standards in the UK and internationally. She has served on the College Council since 2018, was Chair of the Education and Standards Committee before being elected Vice President and now serves as President of the College. Through these roles she has helped shape professional standards, education policy and the future direction of the profession, working closely with universities, regulators, professional bodies and healthcare partners.

A National Teaching Fellow, Principal Fellow of Advance HE and Fellow of the College of Optometrists, Irene is passionate about advancing excellence in education, professional practice and patient care. She is a strong advocate for equality, diversity and inclusion, widening participation, and supporting the development of future leaders within the profession. She is committed to helping optometry thrive in a rapidly changing healthcare landscape and to strengthening the contribution of the profession within the wider health and care ecosystem.

E: irene.ctori@college-optometrists.org

He has worked in both multiple and independent practice since then and currently works for Boots Opticians in their Professional Learning & Development team. He has spent time at the University of Hertfordshire, teaching clinical skills and supervising in clinics and has been a Pre-registration Optometrist Supervisor. He is a College Assessor and Examiner in the Scheme for Registration.

David is dedicated to supporting personal development in Optometry, both now and under the future GOC Education and Training Requirements. He was elected to Council in 2022.

E: david.jameson@college-optometrists.org

Since qualification she has worked in a variety of roles at Boots Opticians. Her roles have included working as both a resident & mobile Optometrist and within that time she has supervised several Pre Reg-Optometrists. In the last 6 years she has worked as a Clinical Governance Optometrist in the London area within the Professional services team at Boots Opticians. 

Her current role involves working with a wide variety of Optometrists all in different stages in their career and working with different stakeholders across the organisation. Meera is passionate about supporting Optometrists to deliver high clinical standards and compliance with patient centred care. She was elected College Council Member for the London region in February 2020.

E: meera.shah@college-optometrists.org 

In 2005, she joined Moorfields Eye Hospital part-time undertaking specialist contact lens clinics (paediatric, cosmetic, scleral, therapeutics, post-surgical cornea) as well as paediatric extended role, glaucoma, cataract, external disease, complex refraction, adult and paediatric low vision clinics. Her role also involved teaching and supervising clinical staff. In 2009, she was appointed Optometry Education Lead at Moorfields, alongside maintaining clinical commitments, which involved setting up the education section for the optometry department. This involved developing learning and development for staff, providing continuing education and training courses which were delivered nationally, expanding these and developing a highly motivated team to continue to deliver them.

In 2013, she joined UCL, Institute of Ophthalmology and set up the College of Optometrists Higher Qualifications in glaucoma. As the founding programme director, she set up and together with a team, developed and delivered Advanced Clinical Practice in Ophthalmology (for non-medical professionals) Master’s level programmes for which she is also glaucoma module lead. Her work also involves reviewing ophthalmic postgraduate education frameworks for non-medical professionals. Jay continues her clinical and education career and is passionate about developing optometrists in all sectors to take on advanced practice or specialist roles.

E: jay.varia@college-optometrists.org

Chris started working as an Optometrist in Independent practices in Essex before relocating to the North East in 2016. He is currently a committee member for the Northumberland, Tyne and Wear LOC.

Since moving to the North East, Chris has worked for Vision Express in a variety of roles but now works throughout the UK and Ireland in the Professional Services Team with a focus on innovation, business operations and professional development.

Since graduating from the University of Wales, Cardiff in 1999 he has pursued a varied career aiming to experience all aspects of optometry. He has always worked in independent practice, but alongside this he has worked in hospital eye clinics in Warrington and Wrexham, gaining experience delivering Low Vision Services, Specialist Contact Lenses and Paediatrics.

He is currently an active member of Cheshire LOC and clinical adviser on Primary Care Optometry to the Cheshire and Merseyside provider collaborative, working in close collaboration with the Cheshire and Mersey ICB.

He was made a Lifetime Fellow of The College of Optometrists in 2019.

Matt was elected College Council Member for the North West region in March 2019.

E: matt.roney@college-optometrists.org

Gillian holds an MSc in Management Practice and a Doctorate in Philosophy, alongside the College’s Professional Higher Certificate in Glaucoma and a qualification in Independent Prescribing. Her blend of academic achievement and clinical expertise underpins her leadership across complex healthcare systems.

She has worked extensively with NICE and the Care Quality Commission, contributing to national frameworks that strengthen quality, safety, and governance in eyecare services. Alongside her strategic roles, Gillian remains dedicated to education and workforce development. She continues to support the training of future optometrists through her work with the University of Central Lancashire, helping to shape the next generation of clinicians.

E: gillian.rudduck@college-optometrists.org

Katie recently completed her PhD, “Building capacity for diabetic eye screening and management in low-middle income countries: A mixed-methods approach” at QUB. She is working as a postdoctoral researcher at QUB with Professor Tunde Peto and is continuing to locum as an optometrist at weekends. Katie is now working towards becoming an independent prescribing optometrist.

E: katie.curran@college-optometrists.org

Kathryn has published over 100 peer-reviewed scientific papers and is Academic Lead for Optometry at Ulster.  She developed and delivers the College-accredited Professional Certificate in Paediatric Eyecare and in addition to academic and research work, Kathryn remains a practising optometrist with a strong interest in translational research which improves vision care and visual outcomes for people with and without special needs.

E: kathryn.saunders@college-optometrists.org

Ambreen is interested in improving the link between primary and secondary care to enhance patient care and support shared decision-making. She has collaborated with NHS departments and ophthalmologists to co-create digital educational resources for patients. In 2024, she was appointed as Lecturer at GCU where she teaches undergraduate and postgraduate optometrists.

Alongside her academic responsibilities, she continues to locum across Scotland. Her clinical and research interests include cataracts, patient education and public health. Ambreen was elected to College Council in March 2026.

Following the completion of her PhD (entitled “Optical and Biometric Characteristics of the Eye and their Relationship with Emmetropisation”), she became a Lecturer in Optometry at Aston University, where she undertook teaching of undergraduate and postgraduate optometry students, and clinical research in myopia development / management, specifically orthokeratology, low-dose atropine and corneal biomechanics. Whilst at Aston, she undertook her Independent Prescribing placement with the Heart of England NHS Trust and passed the Therapeutics Common Final Assessment (2014). She also completed the Postgraduate Certificate in Learning and Teaching (in Higher Education) and became a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (2015). She also became a Fellow of the BCLA (2016).

Janis took up her current post as a Highly Specialist Optometrist with NHS Lanarkshire in 2017. Her main clinical responsibilities lie within glaucoma, laser, cataract pre-assessment, cornea and referral triage. She has completed the Professional and Higher Certificates in Glaucoma with Moorfields Eye Hospital / University College London and is currently working towards the Diploma. She is involved in the NHS Lanarkshire Community Glaucoma Service (CGS) within which she provides clinical advice and support to NESGAT-qualified optometrists who are managing discharged HES patients in community. Janis was elected College Council Member in March 2024.

She regularly holds peer reviews following accreditation as a College Facilitator and hosts CET events locally. She was elected College Council Member in March 2019.

E: kathryn.trimmer@college-optometrists.org

She is also currently a College Assessor and has been a Visiting Clinical Tutor at City University. She is a committee member of Kent and Medway LOC and was elected College Council member in March 2017.

E: lucy.blown@college-optometrists.org 

Throughout her career, she has pursued various postgraduate qualifications, demonstrating her commitment to ongoing learning and professional growth. Currently, she is studying for the IP qualification whilst juggling a busy family life.

Kiren's passion for optometry extends beyond the clinic; she is deeply invested in further education and ensuring quality eye care for the public. With her multifaceted experience and dedication, she strives to make a meaningful impact in the field of optometry.

Mike also worked in Brighton, where he was a community optometrist with special interest in AMD and has a wide range of experience in optometry and sub specialty ophthalmology.

He has delivered numerous CPD-accredited lectures and workshops, at Optometry Tomorrow and Bitesize, College webinars, PAC and LOC study days.

Mike was awarded Fellowship of the College in 2021.

E: mike.horler@college-optometrists.org

Outside optometry she enjoys cycling and charity work, having served as team leader for human appeal. She is also an avid library go-er and reader; she aims to read at least one book a week.

E: Hafsah.Raja@college-optometrists.org

Alongside his work in optometry, Peter is passionate about personal development, building high performing teams, enabling great leadership and optimising workplace culture. This is borne of significant lived experiences - being a religious cult member for 15 years (1983-1998), working in a corporate environment for 12 years, and an extensive career in primary healthcare meeting people from every walk of life.

Peter is the founder of Coaches and Mentors in Optics (CaMiO) a peer group collective of colleagues in the optical industry who provide coaching, mentoring and wellbeing services. He holds the following coaching accreditations: Accredited Professional Coach with the Association for Coaching, Integrative Coach, Ikigai Life Coach, Resilience Coach, and Belbin Team Roles Practitioner. Peter is currently studying for a PhD focused on workplace culture.

In his spare time, Peter is an active member of the Events and CPD team for Gloucestershire Local Optical Committee.

With experience of multiple and independent practice, domiciliary care, the Hospital Eye Service, and higher education – in his current position as Resident Optometrist at the University of the West of England (UWE) Bristol Eye Clinic, he leads a multidisciplinary team of healthcare professionals to deliver clinical training and eye care to the local and wider communities – he understandings the challenges faced by those that must balance clinical, regulatory, and financial demands and maintain consistency with professional and statutory requirements.

Roles with The College of Optometrists Audit Committee and General Optical Council CPD Registrant Reviewer Team have allowed Lewes a working knowledge of high-level audit and risk stratification and as a member of the Association of Optometrists Virtual Policy Group, College of Optometrists Professional Conduct Committee, and Somerset Local Optical Committee, he has encouraged open, supportive communication to develop beneficial collaborations and partnerships that solve problems and effect change to guarantee the wellbeing of optometrists and safeguard the future of the profession.

E: lewes.hambrey@college-optometrists.org

Angela grew up in Wales and was delighted to return in 2016 to work as Senior Lecturer at Cardiff University, where she teaches Independent Prescribing, Glaucoma Higher Certificate and the Glaucoma Diploma. Alongside this, she is privileged to support colleagues on placement for the Higher Certificate in Glaucoma in the innovative University NHS ‘teach and treat’ glaucoma clinic.

He has held roles as a clinical tutor and associate lecturer since 2023, elected to College Council in the same year. Nkosi has also worked as a local collaborative lead for optometry, furthering relationships between optometry and colleagues across primary and secondary care services. He is the current chair of the Welsh Optometric Committee, working with Welsh Government to deliver optometry for the benefit of the public.

E: Nkosi.Yearwood@college-optometrists.org