New AOP Councillors announced

The AOP welcomes new Councillors across six designated positions

Following the appointment process in April, the Association of Optometrists (AOP) is pleased to announce appointments to six designated posts on its Council.

The appointed Councillors, representing various modes of practice and career stages, bring a range of perspectives and experiences. Their contributions will ensure that a broad range of voices are heard and actively engaged in shaping discussions and decisions.

Adam Sampson, AOP Chief Executive, said: “I am pleased to welcome our newly appointed Council members as they step into their roles representing our members and guiding the profession. Their diverse expertise and insights will be invaluable in shaping our policy work and enhancing the support we provide to our members. We look forward to collaborating closely with the new Councillors to collectively drive progress within optometry.”

Emma Spofforth, AOP Chairman of the Board and Council, said: “We extend our gratitude to all those excellent candidates who applied for the positions in this year’s appointment process, and we commend your commitment to representing the profession. We are delighted to welcome our new Councillors, whose perspectives and expertise will support us in embracing new opportunities for the future and we look forward to working together for the benefit of our members.”

Newly appointed Council members

Councillor	Representing
Rebecca Donnelly	Franchisee and Joint Venture Partner
Niall Hynes	Academic optometrist
Parminder Kaur	Domiciliary care optometrist
Ki Yan Lam	Newly-qualified optometrist
Deepali Poojara	Pre-registration optometrist
Judith Tate	Northern Ireland

The AOP Council is made up of 14 elected members, representing geographical areas across the UK, and 20 councillors with designated positions representing membership groups.

Applications were open from 17 March to 11 April 2025, with the AOP Appointments Committee making the final decision on the designated posts on 23 April.

The undergraduate student council position is yet to be confirmed. Additional details will be shared shortly.

The newly appointed Councillors will be welcomed to the Council at the June AGM.

For more information about the 2025 appointments and the role of Councillors, visit www.aop.org.uk/appointments.