ABDO Honorary Fellowship awarded to Julian Wiles

The Association of British Dispensing Opticians (ABDO) has awarded Julian Wiles an ABDO Honorary Fellowship for the major contribution he has made to the Association and profession over many years.

Receiving his award from ABDO president, Daryl Newsome, at the recent IOT Independent Thinking event at the ABDO National Resource Centre, Julian was recognised for his dedication to the dispensing profession: bringing the latest lens technology to market, supporting the Association through his role on the Optical Suppliers Association board, and helping to set up Case Record 51 for the ABDO Pre-Qualification Period Portfolio.

Julian, who is founder and owner Performance Lenses and Younger Optics country manager for the UK and Ireland. was also cited for his contribution to “invaluable CET and CPD to ABDO members”, his collaboration with the Association on sustainability issues, support of the International Opticians Association, and his “many years of unwavering commitment to the dispensing profession”

Julian said: “I have always viewed ABDO as a progressive Association in its support for and enhancement of the role of the dispensing optician. A role which, in my view, is greatly undervalued by the wider profession.

“What strikes me most about ABDO is the support, advice, guidance and wider membership benefits – always just a phone call away. It’s a career-long commitment, delivered by people who genuinely care, and that is a rare commodity in any walk of life.

“I could not be more proud to receive an Honorary Fellowship of ABDO, and I am genuinely humbled and proud to be able to use HonFBDO after my name,” he added.