Lifetime Achievement Award
Professor David Whitaker has been named the recipient of the AOP Lifetime Achievement Award 2024, sponsored by CooperVision
What our Chair, Emma Spofforth, said about Professor David Whitaker
Our Lifetime Achievement Award recognises a person who has dedicated their career to promoting and expanding the role of optics, or someone who has brought the benefits of optics to a wider audience. The recipient of this award demonstrates a wide-reaching impact on the profession.
I couldn’t be more honoured to present this award to Professor David Whitaker, a remarkable optometrist.
With a career spanning five decades, Professor David Whitaker has made an awe inspiring contribution to vision research.
As previous AOP Vice President, and as someone instrumental in the development of the career progression course for optometry he has had a profound impact on the profession.
He is Dean and Head of School, for Healthcare Sciences at Cardiff University, was a Visiting Professor at Nottingham University and has contributed to numerous research excellence panels.
A truly exceptional academic career.
It feels absolutely fantastic. It was a bit of a surprise. There’s always that sense of imposter syndrome, and thinking, ‘am I really worthy of this?’ but I’m incredibly proud, and I thank the AOP immensely.
Headline Sponsor
The AOP Lifetime Achievement Award 2024 was sponsored by CooperVision.
Kindly sponsored by:
