College Council

Originally from Northern Ireland, Kyla graduated from Aston University in 1996 and completed her Pre Reg year with Dollond & Aitchison in 1997. She has worked for both Dollond and Aitchison, and since the merger, Boots Opticians for 22 years. In this time she has supported and supervised a number of pre-reg optometrists and student dispensing opticians.

Hassnain graduated from Aston University in 2016 and completed his pre-reg with Specsavers in 2017. Currently, he practices as a locum optometrist in a variety of multiple and independent practices. He was the inaugural LOCSU Student ambassador in 2016 and remains an active committee member of the Leicestershire and Rutland LOC since 2019.

David graduated from City University in 1996. Following a period with Boots Opticians, he joined Specsavers in Newmarket as a partner in 2003. He registered as an IP optometrist in 2014 and retains a close working relationship with the hospital eye service. David chaired Suffolk LOC until the end of 2020 and remains a member of the committee. Also, he works part-time as a clinic supervisor at Anglia Ruskin University and has supervised many pre-reg students.

E: david.hill@college-optometrists.org

John started his career as a manufacturer then qualified as a Dispensing Optician before graduating as an Optometrist at Bradford University in 2000. Over the years he has practiced in multiples, owned his own independent group and now currently works in an independent setting and Addenbrookes hospital.

Kez is an Associate Professor at Anglia Ruskin University (ARU), where she has been a staff member since 2006. Her key interests are in low vision and assessment of visual function, and she was awarded the Neil Charman medal for excellence in optometric research in 2017. Kez trained at Aston University for her undergraduate degree (1990) and PhD (1995), and then continued there as a lecturer (1995-2000). She has worked in community practice throughout her career in both independent and multiple settings. With her current independent practice she is involved in glaucoma shared care schemes.

Irene graduated from City University in 1994. She worked in high street community practice until 2007, mostly in Vision Express, Ilford and then the Oxford Street store. Irene then went on to hold a role as a specialist optometrist at Whipps Cross University Hospital until 2012. This included leading a fast-track age-related macular degeneration clinic; undertaking complex adult and paediatric eye examinations and conducting low vision and diabetic eye assessments.

David graduated from Anglia Ruskin University with First Class Honours and gained GOC-registration in 2004. As a Pre-registration Optometrist he won the Institute of Optometry’s Clinical Skills prize the same year.

Joy is currently Professor, Head of Optometry and Director of Studies at the University of Hertfordshire. She holds several positions within academia, for the College of Optometrists, and within the wider profession. She is the current Chair of Optometry Schools Council, and on the Steering Group for the Sector Partnership for Optical Knowledge and Education (SPOKE). Her area of expertise is visual impairment and has various roles within this specialism, including Paralympic Sport.

E: joy.myint@college-optometrists.org

Meera qualified in 2007 from Anglia Ruskin University with a first class honours degree. In her final year she was awarded the AOP prize for the best overall performance in the Legal and Business aspects of Optometry Module. 

Jay graduated from the University of Wales, College of Cardiff and qualified as an optometrist in 2001 after completing her pre-registration year in independent practice.  After a period in working within the multiple sector, she joined a specialist independent practice in 2003 and was involved in diabetic shared care, community minor injury schemes, myopia control and orthokeratology clinics as well as carrying out regular eye examinations and contact lens consultations, which she continued until 2018.

Tony left Aston University in 2003 with a 1st Class Honours degree and qualified in 2004. He then returned to Aston University in 2005 to study for a PhD which he gained in 2008. Tony currently works in independent practice in Darlington. He is a committee member of the Durham LOC. 

E: tony.gibson@college-optometrists.org

Madeleine graduated from Anglia Ruskin University in 2014 and completed her pre-reg in independent and multiple practices in Cambridgeshire. She relocated to Northumberland to become a resident optometrist and completed the IP diploma in 2019. Madeleine also sits on the LOC and contributes to the ICS Eyecare Alliance, while establishing working relationships with the local HES department.

E: madeleine.mould@college-optometrists.org

Council Member - North West

Robert Harper is an Optometrist Consultant at Manchester Royal Eye Hospital, an Honorary Professor of Optometry in the School of Health Sciences at the University of Manchester and a Visiting Professor in Optometry at City, University of London.  His role encompasses clinical practice within the HES, research, undergraduate and post-graduate teaching, and training and continuing education for post-graduate optometrists. He is also actively engaged in examining and wider professional matters.  Areas of clinical and research interest include glaucoma, diagnostic test evaluation, low vision rehabilitation, and enhanced schemes within optometry.  He has presented nationally and internationally for over 3 decades and been lead applicant or co-applicant on grants amounting to over £3 million.  Robert has authored a glaucoma handbook and over 100 papers, including over 70 papers in the peer reviewed literature.  He has fostered links between the HES and community optometry for many years and in 2015 was awarded Life Fellowship by the College for his contribution to the profession.  He is currently an expert panel member for NICE, an external examiner at Cardiff, and an optometry member of the RCOphth external reviewer team.

E: robert.harper@college-optometrists.org 

Matt is a Specialist Optometrist working within the Liverpool Hospital Foundation Trust, UK. He specialises predominantly in glaucoma as well as acute ophthalmology. Matt currently holds the College of Optometrists' IP and Higher Certificate in Glaucoma whilst being in the final stages of the Diploma Glaucoma qualification. Matt is also a visiting lecturer and examiner at the University of Hertfordshire for the College of Optometrists' Higher Qualifications in Glaucoma and Independent Prescribing for post-graduate Optometrists.

Gillian has over 20 years' experience in a wide range of optometry, including primary and secondary care and academia, and currently practices as a consultant optometrist and clinical lead at Wirral University Teaching Hospitals.

Katie qualified as an optometrist from the University of Ulster, Coleraine in 2012. She completed her pre-registration year in Scotland and continued to work as a full-time optometrist until 2016, before returning to Northern Ireland to complete a Master’s in Public Health at Queen’s University Belfast (QUB). Katie has a keen interest in the optometry profession from a clinical and research perspective. She is passionate about strengthening partnerships between optometrists, ophthalmologists and other health care personnel to enhance patient care. She is also interested in early prevention strategies to reduce avoidable vision impairment and blindness for all age groups.

Kathryn Saunders is a Professor of Optometry and Vision Science at Ulster University in Northern Ireland. Her research interests include the development of refractive error in infancy and childhood in typically developing children and in the presence of developmental disability.

Laura is originally from Glasgow and continues to work and live in the Southside of the city. She graduated from Glasgow Caledonian University (GCU) in 2008 and completed her pre-registration year at McCabe Opticians in Barrhead. In 2010 she began her PhD studies. Prior to, and throughout her PhD studies, Laura worked part time as a specialist optometrist in NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde working in the glaucoma, cataract and paediatric clinics. Alongside her PhD studies she also completed the Independent Prescribing qualification in 2014.

Kathryn qualified from Glasgow Caledonian University in 1999 and has worked in Grampian in North East Scotland ever since for both multiple and independent practices. She has supervised pre-registration optometrists in her early career and moved to Professional Services Manager of a large independent group where she mentors and supports optometrists and dispensing opticians at all stages of their career. In this role she has been involved in service development in the practices as well as locally with the Grampian Eye Health Network, where optometry has been the first port of call for all patients with acute eye problems since 2007. She is past Vice-Chair of Grampian AOC, and is an active member of Optometry Scotland which has recently negotiated a new GOS contract for Scotland. She achieved Independent Prescribing status in 2013.

Johnathan qualified from Glasgow Caledonian University in 2000 and undertook his pre-reg in the hospital eye service at St. Paul's Eye Unit, Liverpool. He then worked as a locum across the UK before working with ASDA Opticians for three years. Returning to the hospital sector in 2005, he was involved with Glaucoma and paediatric care, achieving IP status in 2010.

Lucy graduated from City University in 2006 and completed her pre-reg placement with Dollond and Aitchison. Lucy is currently an Independent Practice Owner, having previously worked in Multiples as a Lead Optometrist and also in Refractive Surgery settings.

Colin currently works part-time for the University of Hertfordshire where he is programme lead for independent prescribing. He also works in independent practice in East Sussex, and at Sussex Eye Hospital in Brighton where he works in both A&E and uveitis clinics. He is a senior assessor for the College and an OSCE chief examiner. He is a former member of East Sussex LOC and a current member of the education faculty at the Johnson and Johnson Institute.

Mike is a Consultant Optometrist in Medical Retina at Sussex Eye Hospital, Brighton and a College Assessor. He has previously held posts at City University, University of Auckland, and Moorfields/UCL Post graduate education team.

Mike lived in New Zealand, where he gained an IP qualification in 2006, practicing in community and university.

John graduated from City University in 1985 and worked as an employee of Dollond & Aitchison and subsequently Leighton’s Opticians until taking over his own practice Howie & Tickner Optometrists in 1995.

William graduated from Manchester University and completed his pre-registration at Stirling & Falkirk Royal Eye Infirmaries. He then worked for Duncan & Todd in Wick, a practice based in a remote area of Scotland, where he was the sole resident optometrist and quickly progressed. 

Lewes has been an Optometrist since 2004. He began his career in the multiple sector, before working for a decade in independent practice, including a number of years as a sole practitioner. He has spent time in the Hospital Eye Service and provided domiciliary care, and now works in a multiple practice as part of a large Optometric team.

Kiki is head of optometry development for Specsavers, a visiting lecturer to University of Hertfordshire for postgraduate courses and an honorary associate professor at Plymouth University. Within Specsavers, Kiki leads the development of optometrists across the four nations of the UK and Ireland and helps ensure the support provided is inclusive and tailored to professional and patient needs.

Clare Pearce has worked in optics since beginning her degree in 2001 at Cardiff University. She then began her career in Bridgend Specsavers where she supervised a pre-reg student and became part of the clinical management team. In 2012 she set up an independent practice within a medical centre in Cardiff and feels passionate about building and maintaining good relationships with other professionals within primary care.

Grant is a teacher at the Wales Optometry Postgraduate Education Centre (WOPEC) based at Cardiff University. He qualified from Cardiff University in 2008 and remained in Wales to complete his pre-registration year.