College Council

Hassnain graduated from Aston University in 2016 and completed his pre-reg with Specsavers in 2017. Since qualifying he has been practicing both in primary and secondary care specialising in cataracts and YAG laser. He is now the Director of an Independent practice in Leicester called Evington Eyecare. He remains involved with local optometric affairs through his current role as Vice Chairman for the Leicestershire and Rutland LOC since 2021.

Reena is an experienced optometrist and educator. She currently serves as the College of Optometrists Council member for the East Midlands region and is LOCSU’s Research Lead, where she supports LOCs across England in developing evidence-based case studies and strengthening the clinical case for pathway commissioning through data-led advocacy.

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

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.

Seema graduated from City University in 2011 and holds another degree in Biomedical Sciences in which she achieved a First Class Honours as well as the Dudley Cheeseman prize for best performing student. She completed her pre-registration year with Vision Express and carried on working in various Vision Express stores within Suffolk, Essex and Hertfordshire whilst building up her clinical experience.

Yuan is an optometrist at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust in London. He also practices independently and collaborates with ophthalmologists and other ophthalmic professionals in a variety of settings.

Irene is an accomplished optometrist with over three decades of experience. She embarked on her journey after graduating from City University in 1994. Beginning in high street community practice, she made significant contributions at Vision Express in Ilford and the Oxford Street store until 2007. Irene then transitioned to a pivotal role as a specialist optometrist at Whipps Cross University Hospital, where she led a fast-track age-related macular degeneration clinic and conducted complex adult, low vision, and paediatric eye examinations.

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.

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.

Chris graduated as a Dispensing Optician from the City and Islington College in 2007, completed an MBA from Anglia Ruskin University in 2010 before completing a degree in Optometry from the University of Bradford in 2013.

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

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 practises as a consultant optometrist and a clinical lead at Wirral University Teaching Hospitals.

Ian began his career on the high street, working in both multiples and independent practices. He later moved into domiciliary practice and continues to work in this sector on a part-time basis. The remainder of his time is spent working in the Diabetic Eye Screening Programme, which he has been involved with since 2009.

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.

Janis qualified from Glasgow Caledonian University (GCU) in 2006 before completing her pre-registration and first post-registration year with Specsavers Opticians, Glasgow. She then undertook her PhD studies at GCU (2008 to 2013). During this time, she became part of the Lanarkshire Eye-health Network Scheme (2012) and completed her theoretical Independent Prescribing studies at GCU (2013), whist continuing to practice as a locum optometrist in a mixture of independent and multiple settings.

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.

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.

Kiren is a dedicated professional who graduated from Aston University in 2012. With a strong foundation in optometry, she has been committed to clinical excellence and career development since her pre-registration year. Kiren has served as a valued member of the Kent and Medway LOC committee since 2018, actively contributing to the optometric community.

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.

Hafsah graduated from City University of London in 2019, completing her pre reg at Specsavers and has since pursued professional certificates in Medical Retina and Glaucoma. She has a passion for further education and development and is always looking for opportunities to improve her clinical practise and people skills as she has a wide range of experience in various domains within Optometry . She has enjoyed working at Frimley Park Hospital where she has delved into the macula, veg and Glaucoma clinics.

Having worked as an optometrist for almost twenty years, Lewes brings a breadth of experience and knowledge to council that he uses to ensure the profession and those within it have bright and successful futures.

Ben is a practicing optometrist working in a multiple setting within a busy high street practice. Since qualifying in 2023, he has developed a particular interest in myopia control and medical retina, with a strong commitment to delivering high-quality, patient-centred care.

He graduated from the University of the West of England (UWE) in 2022, where he served as President of the Optometry Society—an experience that helped shape his passion for leadership and peer support.

Keval is the Principal Optometrist & Owner at McAusland Optometrists in Exmouth. With a passion for business and strong conviction around the potential of the independent sector, he can often be found encouraging others to invest in their practices for the benefit of clients & colleagues alike. Keval became Chairman of the Association for Independent Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians (AIO) in 2024.

Angela has over 30 years’ experience in optometry in diverse settings including primary care, specialist hospital practice at Bristol Eye Hospital, University teaching and College of Optometrists examining. She enjoys interacting with fellow optometrists from a wide range of professional backgrounds, and is a committed lifelong learner, always keen to learn something new from colleagues.

Nkosi, originally from Yorkshire, graduated Cardiff University in 2021, qualifying in August 2022, practicing in an independent practice in South Wales. He has continued on as a resident Optometrist, going back to Cardiff for further study towards higher qualifications, with a hope to gain IP qualification amongst others in the future.