GOC looks to appoint two new Council Associates

The General Optical Council is looking to appoint its third cohort of Council Associates, at least one of whom must be a dispensing optician.

The two 2024 appointees will be fully-qualified registrants, interested in learning about the GOC’s work and being on a board. They will join the GOC’s current 2023 Council Associates, Deepali Modha and Jamie Douglas.

Council Associates will attend all Council meetings, where they are encouraged to get involved in the debate and share their valuable perspectives. They will gain further experience of governance through the GOC’s Audit, Risk, and Finance Committee. Associates will be supported throughout their term with development workshops, post-meeting check-ins with their dedicated mentor, and ongoing assistance from the Governance Team.

First launched in 2021, the Associate role was created to bring new perspectives to Council meetings, and to give board/panel experience, development, and training to early career optical professionals. The Council Associate scheme has enriched the GOC’s discussions and ensured a greater diversity of lived experiences to inform its decision making.

Rukaiya Anwar, one of the outgoing 2022 GOC Council Associates, said: “Since joining the GOC as a Council Associate on 31 December 2021, I have been encouraged and supported to contribute to discussions within a safe and welcoming space. Equally, all input by colleagues is considered and thoughts are respected and valued, allowing for collective decision-making.

The Council Associate programme has been instrumental in opening up the discussions to individuals like myself who would have otherwise not had the opportunity to take part until much later on in my career. Having been part of this organisation for the last 18 months, I am very proud of the efforts of the GOC in continuously looking for ways to improve and innovate.”

The GOC is committed to diversifying the membership of its panels and committees to bring them in line with its registrant base. Applications from those who identify as disabled or are from ethnic minority backgrounds are particularly welcomed as these groups are currently under-represented within GOC Council and committees.

See the Candidate Pack for more information on the role and how to apply. The deadline for applications is midnight on Sunday 3 March 2024.

Please note that, unfortunately, for this role the GOC cannot accept applications from students.