Professional Matters Optometry & Dispensing
New AOP Council announced
New AOP Council announced
The Association of Optometrists (AOP) is pleased to announce its new Council representatives.
Henrietta Alderman, AOP Chief Executive, said: “I’m delighted to be welcoming our new Council, in a new structure designed to represent the full range of our membership. Throughout the pandemic, we have seen tremendous commitment from optometrists to provide eye care. This election is yet another example of that dedication, with more members stepping forward and participating in the process than in previous years.”
Ms Alderman continued: “I would like to sincerely thank our current and departing Councillors for all their hard work in very exceptional circumstances.”
Incoming Chair of AOP Council, Julie-Anne Little said: “It’s great to see such enthusiasm in the profession to share experiences and tackle issues together. The new structure also offers a different dynamic with an increased number of posts that reflect the diverse roles of our members.”
New Councillor, Kris Cottier, who will be the first to serve in the role for Locum optometrists, said: “I am humbled to be appointed to the AOP council to be the voice of freelance and locum optometrists. The past year has been a challenge to the profession in general and I welcome the opportunity to highlight the ongoing challenges of freelance and locum work.”
AOP Councillors will begin their terms of office on 9 June 2021. The full list can be found at www.aop.org.uk/elections
Newly elected and appointed Council members:
| Councillor | Representing |
| James Brawn | Wales |
| Jagdeep Kaur Gill | London |
| Rachel Hiscox | South East England |
| Kamaljit Kalsi | Wales |
| Stephanie Kearney | Scotland |
| Inderpal Ghuman | Undergraduate student optometrists |
| Luke McRoy-Jones | Pre-registration optometrists |
| Phillip Buckhurst | University lecturers (nominated by the Optometry Schools Council) |
| Ali Yasen | Newly-qualified & early career optometrists |
| Kris Cottier | Locum optometrists |
| Paul Chapman-Hatchett | Domiciliary care optometrists |
| Fatima Nawaz | Independent prescribing optometrists |
| Jasmine Kaur Matharu | Hospital optometrists |
| Kevin Thompson | Directors of independent practices |
| Josephine Evans | Employees of independent practices |
| Mehul Patel | Directors of multiple practices |
| Karan Vyas | Employees of multiple practices |
The AOP Council elections took place between 12 March and 26 March 2021. AOP members were invited to vote in the seven constituencies where there were more candidates than vacancies: Scotland, North West England, East Midlands, West Midlands, London, South East England, and Yorkshire and the Humber.
The AOP Board appointed other Councillors to represent different sectors of the membership. In 2021 for the first time this includes Councillors representing directors of independent practices, directors of multiple practices, domiciliary care optometrists, employees of independent practices, employees of multiple practices, independent prescribing optometrists and locum optometrists.
