GOC appoints Dr Hema Radhakrishnan to Council

GOC appoints Dr Hema Radhakrishnan to Council

The General Optical Council has appointed Dr Hema Radhakrishnan as a registrant member of its Council, beginning 15 March.

Hema is a qualified optometrist with over 20 years of experience in academia. She works as an academic and is a member of the Board of Governors and Senate at the University of Manchester. In addition to teaching optometry students, Hema conducts research on various aspects of myopia, physiological optics and anterior eye.

Hema has leadership expertise in Equality, Diversity and Inclusion and has been passionately working towards reducing health inequalities, nationally and globally. She has held various leadership positions including being the Associate Dean for social responsibility in the faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health at the University of Manchester. Hema is also a qualified management coach who takes pride in working collaboratively with senior leaders to improve experience for professionals and service users. She serves on editorial boards of leading vision science journals and was a member of the editorial board for The College of Optometrists, Optometry in Practice journal from 2015-2023.

Hema has received various awards for her research including the Neil Charman Medal from the College of Optometrists, UK (2015) and inaugural Bernard Gilmartin OPO award (2011) and for her leadership in Equality and Diversity and service development she has received the Making a Difference award (2016), Northern Power Women Award (2020) and McJannet Prize for Global Citizenship (2021).

Dr Hema Radhakrishnan said: “I am delighted to be joining the GOC Council at a significant time of change with the new GOC strategy being developed. I look forward to the opportunity of bringing my skills, perspective and expertise to the Council and working with the GOC leadership to ensure optometrists and dispensing opticians receive high quality training and the patients get the best possible care.”

Dr Anne Wright CBE, GOC Chair of Council, said: “I’m pleased to welcome Hema to the Council. She brings a wealth of skills and experience in the optical sector which will be invaluable as we progress various strategic projects. As part of Council, she will help to ensure the GOC achieves its vision of delivering world-class regulation and excellent customer service, while continuing its vital work of protecting the public by upholding high standards in the optical professions.”